LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers continued their pursuit of Nomar Garciaparra in person Thursday, as the free agent met with general manager Ned Colletti.
"It went great from my perspective," said Colletti. "We talked about a lot of things, including positions. He's a real good guy. I'd never met him. He's an impressive guy."
With an impressive bat. Garciaparra has been an All-Star shortstop and, this past season, a third baseman, while Colletti just signed Rafael Furcal and Bill Mueller to play those positions.
But Colletti believes his biggest current hole is not a position in the field, but one in the batting order. Specifically, the five slot behind cleanup hitter Jeff Kent. The top of the tentative lineup would have Furcal, Miller, J.D. Drew and Kent. A healthy Garciaparra would be the best available candidate to bat fifth.
Defensively, Garciaparra would be a first baseman initially. When Cesar Izturis returns from elbow surgery in July, he might become a second baseman, with Kent moving to first and Garciaparra trying the outfield.
Garciaparra comes with some risk. He's 32 and has battled Achilles tendon and groin muscle injuries the past two seasons. He earned $8.25 million last season with the Cubs.
The Dodgers are appealing to Garciaparra's comfort level. He's a Southern California native who owns homes in the area, and he'd have familiar faces nearby in former Red Sox Mueller, Derek Lowe and manager Grady Little.
The Dodgers are believed to be vying with the Yankees, Indians and Astros for Garciaparra, who is expected to make a decision in a matter of days. The current Dodgers first-base situation appears to be a platoon of Hee-Seop Choi and Olmedo Saenz.
Colletti said he continues to pursue other options. Among those options are believed to be free agent outfielders Reggie Sanders and Kenny Lofton.
Colletti said he also spoke Thursday with the agent for pitcher Jeff Weaver, who is not expected to accept the club's offer of salary arbitration by the Monday deadline. The Dodgers can continue negotiating with Weaver until Jan. 8.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/...ontent_id=1282796&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp
"It went great from my perspective," said Colletti. "We talked about a lot of things, including positions. He's a real good guy. I'd never met him. He's an impressive guy."
With an impressive bat. Garciaparra has been an All-Star shortstop and, this past season, a third baseman, while Colletti just signed Rafael Furcal and Bill Mueller to play those positions.
But Colletti believes his biggest current hole is not a position in the field, but one in the batting order. Specifically, the five slot behind cleanup hitter Jeff Kent. The top of the tentative lineup would have Furcal, Miller, J.D. Drew and Kent. A healthy Garciaparra would be the best available candidate to bat fifth.
Defensively, Garciaparra would be a first baseman initially. When Cesar Izturis returns from elbow surgery in July, he might become a second baseman, with Kent moving to first and Garciaparra trying the outfield.
Garciaparra comes with some risk. He's 32 and has battled Achilles tendon and groin muscle injuries the past two seasons. He earned $8.25 million last season with the Cubs.
The Dodgers are appealing to Garciaparra's comfort level. He's a Southern California native who owns homes in the area, and he'd have familiar faces nearby in former Red Sox Mueller, Derek Lowe and manager Grady Little.
The Dodgers are believed to be vying with the Yankees, Indians and Astros for Garciaparra, who is expected to make a decision in a matter of days. The current Dodgers first-base situation appears to be a platoon of Hee-Seop Choi and Olmedo Saenz.
Colletti said he continues to pursue other options. Among those options are believed to be free agent outfielders Reggie Sanders and Kenny Lofton.
Colletti said he also spoke Thursday with the agent for pitcher Jeff Weaver, who is not expected to accept the club's offer of salary arbitration by the Monday deadline. The Dodgers can continue negotiating with Weaver until Jan. 8.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/...ontent_id=1282796&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp
