Updated: Dec. 6, 2006, 1:45 PM ET
Dodgers close to replacing Maddux with ace Schmidt


By Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com





The Dodgers, who lost three players to free agency on Tuesday, are close to reloading in a big way Wednesday.
Free-agent pitcher Jason Schmidt (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5340) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=lad) are closing in on a three-year contract worth $47 million, a source told ESPN.com.
While Dodgers officials weren't available to confirm the report, the team has been in the market for a starting pitcher, especially after losing Greg Maddux (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=3933) to the Padres on Tuesday.
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti previously worked as a front-office executive while Schmidt was pitching for the Giants.
Schmidt's $10 million option for 2006 was exercised by the Giants, but knew they might lose him as a free agent this offseason. The 33-year-old right-hander seemed ready for a change of scenery from San Francisco, which has endured two straight losing seasons and three in a row out of the playoffs.
Some scouts seemed more interested in Schmidt this season than Oakland's Barry Zito (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6394), who is expected to leave the A's and sign with a big-spending team.
Schmidt was the Giants' lone All-Star this season and went 11-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 213 1/3 innings

Good.

I was not excited about throwing money away to a past his prime pitcher. Leave that kind of stuff to the Yankees.

Good.

I was not excited about throwing money away to a past his prime pitcher. Leave that kind of stuff to the Yankees.
LOL I love that fact that a Cubs fan is bashing the way the yankees do business when your team has been run by people who couldn't run a dairy queen effectively for the past 80 years. Since cashman has taken over full control of the team their have been no past their prime pitchers and their won't be any this off season either.

LOL I love that fact that a Cubs fan is bashing the way the yankees do business when your team has been run by people who couldn't run a dairy queen effectively for the past 80 years. Since cashman has taken over full control of the team their have been no past their prime pitchers and their won't be any this off season either.

You guys are about to sign Andy Petitte.

And, do the names Randy Johnson or Kevin Brown ring a bell?

You guys are about to sign Andy Petitte.

And, do the names Randy Johnson or Kevin Brown ring a bell?
LOL @ Comparing Andy Pettitte to those guys. He's only 34 years old which is NOT OLD, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball in the 2nd half of last season and in the whole 05 season and to top it off it's a short term contract in this market of overpaying for crap. There is NOTHING negative to say about this signing for the yankees unless you're just determined to bash them for whatever they do...

You guys are about to sign Andy Petitte.

And, do the names Randy Johnson or Kevin Brown ring a bell?


Andy Pettite to a 1 yr deal. Good business decision.

The Randy thing was dumb, but that was definetly not Cashmans move. Trading Jeff Weaver for Kevin Brown seemed like a steal, both suck, but we didnt sign Brown to an extension.

Yankees are playing it smart this offseason, thanks to Cashman.

Andy Pettite to a 1 yr deal. Good business decision.

The Randy thing was dumb, but that was definetly not Cashmans move. Trading Jeff Weaver for Kevin Brown seemed like a steal, both suck, but we didnt sign Brown to an extension.

Yankees are playing it smart this offseason, thanks to Cashman.


I thought you wanted Schmidt?
I think Pettite would be a smart signing.

I thought you wanted Schmidt?
I think Pettite would be a smart signing.You can't pay Schmidt 16 million a year. Thats absurd.

You can't pay Schmidt 16 million a year. Thats absurd.
When healthy, though, he is a top pitcher. How often he will be healthy is the question.

IMO, thi smeans Zito gets 6 years, 102 million. Minimum.:rolleyes:

The same guy who had 11 W's last season gets close to $50 mill.:character41:

When healthy, though, he is a top pitcher. How often he will be healthy is the question.

IMO, thi smeans Zito gets 6 years, 102 million. Minimum.:rolleyes:

If that's the kind of $ Zito ends up getting, good luck on the Mets dishing out that kind of dough.

I thought you wanted Schmidt?
I think Pettite would be a smart signing.

Yeah, I wanted Schmidt, still do. The contract he got was alittle steep, but I wouldnt have said a peep if the Yankees gave him that deal. 3 year deal for Schmidt is a good deal. He really wanted to stay out west it seems.