Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez Not on Los Angeles Dodgers’ Radar

Despite reports to the contrary, it would appear as though the Los Angeles Dodgers will not be pursuing free agent right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez. MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick learned from a source within the organization that the team feels that they already have enough future payroll commitments in the $200 Million they owe to Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chad Billingsley, and Josh Beckett. With a contract extension for Clayton Kershaw also looming, the team just simply doesn’t feel the need to make another significant investment in a starting pitcher. Gurnick also cites Zach Lee and Chris Reed as potential depth options that are already within the organization.

Gonzalez was recently declared a free agent by Major League Baseball after defecting from Cuba. He established residency in El Salvador before spending much of the past month working out for teams in Mexico. Multiple teams have been linked to the 26 year old in recent weeks, but many have believed that the Dodgers would be the favorites to sign him. Peter Gammons recently suggested that he could be looking at a deal in the neighborhood of $50 Million over five years.

MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez reported last night that Gonzalez had narrowed his suitors to five teams, but the identities of those organizations are not known publicly. Sources within the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels organizations have stated that they are out of the mix, despite having scouted him extensively.

It is believed that Gonzalez could sign as early as this week, but with the Dodgers bowing out it is unclear who the potential favorite might be to land his services.