Scott Rolen

CBS is reporting that the Dodgers are evaluating Scott Rolen as a potential pickup at 3B.

The Dodgers have evaluated free-agent third baseman Scott Rolen as a potential target,[according] to ESPN's Buster Olney.

The Reds haven't heard from Rolen on whether he will retire or play this season, [according] to the Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay.

If Rolen chooses to play, he'll have at least two suitors, although his chances of playing time are likely greater in Los Angeles, where Luis Cruz is projected to be the starting third baseman for the Dodgers. The Reds are expected to start Todd Frazier at third regardless of whether Rolen is on the team or not.

Rolen, who turns 38 on April 4, hit .245/.318/.398 with eight home runs in 330 plate appearances in 2012.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the latest rumors from bloggers Chris Cwik, Jack Moore and R.J. White, follow [@MLBRumorsCBS].

His numbers from last season don't inspire me, especially at 38 and Rolen has never been a great clubhouse guy. I'd rather see Luis Cruz repeat last season's production if the Dodgers can't get a true upgrade.

 

Scott Rolen still hasn't decided on retirement.

Rolen turns 38 years old in April and registered a weak .698 OPS over the last two seasons in Cincinnati, but the Reds have expressed some amount of openness to bringing him back and the free agent third baseman has yet to officially close any doors on his playing career. John Fay, who is the Reds beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, thinks that Rolen will ultimately call it quits.

Dodgers need to forget Scott Rolen. I agree that we need to give Luis Cruz his due and day in the sun. He earned his shot.

Yikes, makes no sense to be done with Uribe, then pick up Scott "Sign Me Before I Retire" Rolen.

Luis Cruz was da man last season. Rolen is a injury riddled old washed up hasbeen. For a bench player sure. He could play a few games here and there so he won't get injuried playing too much or get tired and slump. Rolen goes through bad slumps. Luis Cruz is gonna kill it this season.

I'll take "washed up clubhouse disturbers" for $400 Alex....



UM NO WAY... he needs to retire. He was good 10 years ago.   

uh-oh...very ominous to have an issue met with general agreement.

NO, NO, NO, and I don't care if Magic Johnson wanted to play 3rd first.  This guy doesn't need to be anywhere around this team.  Cruz is the starter and we can spell him, lets just hope his last season continues.

I'm  not sure that Cruz is the answer for us at 3rd but I am sure that Rolen is not.  Surely with all the SP we have we can entice someone into giving up a 3rd baseman that would, at least, be a legit backup in case Cruz was a flash in the pan.  That being said, I hope Cruz is the real deal.  He showed a lot of heart sticking with it in the minors for as long as he did and I think he can teach some of our stars how to play as a team instead of always trying to pound the ball.

I hope Cruz can handle full time, but I just don't see it. He did a nice job for us last year, but his numbers were career numbers for him, including minor leagues. We had quite a few guys fill in last year and do a good job, Hairston, Herrera, and Gwynn filled in nicely the first of the year, then they tailed off. Cruz filled in the second half of the season, so who knows if he would have tailed off or not. We need a power hitting third baseman, I'd personally like to see Mcpherson work out, but I don't see that either.

It is hard to predict how Cruz will do if given the 3B job.  Now that opposing pitchers have seen a little of him I have to believe they'll figure how to get him out more often than last season when he was pretty much an unknown at the major league level.  I think we'll find out how well Luis Cruz adjusts to the pitchers and hopefully McGwire will work with Cruz on that issue.

I'm still not interested in Rolen, so if the Dodgers do decide Cruz isn't the long term answer, I hope they look elsewhere for the solution.  With the exception of Ron Cey and Adrian Beltre, 3B has always been a "problem position" for the Dodgers.  I'm not convinced they've solved that problem yet on a long term basis. 

The latest report on Scott Rolen is that he wants to play again in 2013.  Assuming that is true,  the Dodgers may well end up with Rolen.  Whether he starts, or not,  would remain to be seen.

While I, and most everyone here who has commented on Scott Rolen,  hopes the Dodgers don't sign Rolen,  we have to acknowledge that Dodger Brass seems to feel differently.  Even Mattingly has talked to Rolen about coming to L.A..  I don't think he would have had that conversation unless he had the backing of Dodger Officials.

I suspect we'll know between now and ST whether these surmises pan out.  Cincinnati now has Frazier and Hannahan to play 3B,  so it doesn't look like the Reds would really have a need for Rolen.

It looks like what we fear about the Dodgers signing Rolen may come to fruition.     

Cruz was Mr Clutch last year for the Dodgers. But I do agree, he's probably not the long-term answer. I also agree that since Ron Cey, Beltre has been the only servicable 3B'man on the team, save for Todd Zeile's 30 HR cameo in 1997. Cruz will go OK this year, but LA's brass should sign a big-time 3B in the 2013-2014 off-season. Is there a decent one coming off-contract? Can't think of any at the moment...

Nick 

I'd like to see us swing a trade for Carpenter in ST. Louis.  We have plenty of pitching to give up for him and he's stuck behing David Freese  Last season 296AB/.294 Avg/.365OBP/.460Slg/44R/6HR/46RBI--
A superstar no but lots of upside and he's a plus defender.  Question is will the Cards want a arm and a leg for him if they are even interested in trading him.

I'm not sure the Cardinals would be too interested in trading Matt Carpenter, unless the Dodgers made a ridiculous offer, as he pencils in as the Cardinals primary infield reserve........and he also can play in the OF.

He doesn't have a lot of power with respect to hitting HR's, but does hit for extra bases and has a nice OBP.

I'm not too optimistic that the Dodgers would go for Carpenter given their present lineup.   

One other possibility in this is moving Hanley Ramirez to 3B and putting Cruz at SS where a dropoff in his batting average wouldn't be a huge issue.

Ramirez was supposed to work on his defense at short over the offseason in the Dominican, but was not able to as the result of a minor shoulder injury. He basically played DH.

A lot of this depends on Hanley's ego. Last year he seemed open to playing wherever the Dodgers needed him, but he had issues in Miami when they brought in Jose Reyes.