The timing will never be better. Last night, the Dodgers lost outfielder J.D. Drew for 6 to 8 weeks after a Brad Halsey pitch broke Drew's left wrist. The injury is just the latest to plague the Dodgers, who still don't know when they're getting Milton Bradley back from a finger injury.
L.A. needs outfield bodies, and fast, because they still have a shot in the mediocre National League West. But few teams have a proven outfielder lying around to spare, at a reasonable cost. The Devil Rays, for instance, would only jack up the price for Aubrey Huff, knowing the Dodgers' predicament.
But there is one outfielder available who would be a perfect short-term fit for L.A. right now: Frank Catalanotto.
Catalanotto is hitting a solid .284 with an OBP in the .350 range. He can play left or right field, and although he's really only useful against righties, he would make a devastating platoon with another ex-Jay, Jayson Werth. When Bradley and Drew return, he would be an ideal pinch-hitter and spot starter. And he's signed to a relatively cheap contract through the end of next season, so L.A. could either keep him around for '06 or deal him again to a team seeking a veteran bat at a contained cost.
Moreover, the Jays wouldn't have to ask for much (though Russ Martin sure would look nice catching for New Hampshire right now), because the trade would allow them to slide Gabe Gross into left field on a full-time basis, which is what this team really needs going forward. Cat's salary isn't the drag on the club it used to be, thanks to the payroll increase, but he's taking up vital space on the roster, and every few million dollars helps when shopping for free agents.
So there you have it: Frank Catalanotto from JP Ricciardi's Jays to Paul DePodesta's Dodgers for some minor-league spare parts. Gabe Gross goes into left field as the Jays retool on the fly while getting younger, cheaper and better defensively; the Dodgers get a "professional hitter" who can play either corner and approach .300 and who won't cost them anything important. To me, it looks like a no-brainer. What does it look like to you?
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