Covering Ground or Taking up Space?

My topic today is the LA Dodgers' outfield. I have seen CF Andruw Jones' new, ever-expanding physique, and I am not impressed. The Dodgers' website lists him at 6'1", 210, and looking at him, I find that hard to believe.

His career fielding percentage is .991. That number hasn't declined this year since he has not committed an error, and he has not committed more than 3 errors in a season since 2001. These are great stats but they are not indicative of the fact that his range has declined greatly over the past four years or so. Oh, and he is only 30. More balls are dropping in front of him and in the gaps. Not only has he become a defensive liability, but he is not hitting my weight (160, give or take), let alone his own. His average is .100 as he has 4 hits in 40 at-bats through 12 games thus far, only one of which went for extra bases (a double). He has also struck out 14 times in those 12 games.

The Dodgers really have an interesting dilemma in their outfield. Juan Pierre signed a 5 year/$44 million contract going into last season, so he has three expensive years remaining after this season. They committed to Jones for two years and were the only team dumb enough to deal seriously with his agent, Scott Boras. They also continue to hype prospect Matt Kemp. He is a big right hander who hits for power to all fields and is capable of hitting for high average as well, although he has been inconsistent in his stints in the majors.

They also have a guy I have liked for a couple of years named Andre Ethier who is a left handed hitter. He has good pop in his bat and hits for high average. Defensively, is an average corner outfielder. His playing time is really being compromised because of the contracts dished out to Jones and Pierre. He is 25 and is beginning his third full season with a .295 career average and does not strike out much.

They also have a young, switch-hitting fifth outfielder named Delwyn Young, not to be confused with Twins' outfielder Delmon Young. He is also 25 years old and has almost no time in the bigs. In limited time last year with the Dodgers, he was able to collect 13 hits in 34 at-bats, striking out only 5 times and homering twice.

Also, I am sure you are interested in the Dodgers' minor league outfield depth situation, so:

In AAA Las Vegas
Jason Repko has also long been an outfielding prospect for the team, but is almost out of minor league options and probably does not have a future with the team. They also have a 23 year old named Xavier Paul, who might be one to keep and eye on.

Beyond that, there is not much going on in the Dodgers' system outfield-wise above Class A. GM Ned Coletti will either be eating some contracts over the next few years, or dealing away some young talent. It will be tough to unload Pierre's contract simply because of the pricetag and lack of production compared with that of his days in Florida. Andruw Jones might be appealing to some teams in the next year or so, but he will have to start hitting the ball the way he did for years in Atlanta. He will also have to find his second gear in the outfield and stop watching balls drop all around him.