After all the spending the Dodgers have been doing lately, adding a veteran like Scott Rolen at the tail end of his career would be practically free by comparison. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, manager Don Mattingly has been in contact with the third baseman this offseason and would love to see him in Dodger blue.
Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Considering Rolen isn’t likely to cost much at this point, this wouldn’t be a terrible idea for Los Angeles, who doesn’t have a solid option at the hot corner despite their recent acquisition frenzy. The question, of course, is whether Rolen has anything at all left after suffering the effects of aging and multiple shoulder surgeries.
There’s no question that the 37-year-old has put together an excellent career, one possibly bound for Cooperstown when he does finally call it quits. FanGraphs values Rolen’s career at an even 75.0 WAR, and he’s a .281/.364/.490 hitter in 17 seasons of work. While his hitting ability has all but disappeared the last few seasons, he still fields his position well according to UZR and could provide that intangible veteran leadership quality everyone’s always talking about.
Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.