Analysis: Dodgers ink Blake & Loretta

While the Yankees and Mets have been busy on the mound, the Dodgers were active on the infield, re-signing third baseman Casey Blake and bringing in free agent Mark Loretta from Houston. I mentioned Loretta briefly yesterday, so let's tackle that move first. For one year and $1.25 million, I really like his addition. Loretta is above average with the glove at second and third base, and can hold his own at shortstop. That versatility makes him much more valuable in the National League, where he can be easily inserted in double switches. He's not a power hitter, and doesn't have any real speed to speak of, but knows what he's doing with the bat as a .297 career average and .361 on-base percentage would attest. In 261 at-bats with the Astros this year, he hit .280 with only 30 strikeouts and walked 29 times. The Dodgers have him penciled in as a super-sub type, and that's the perfect role for Loretta at this point in his career -- the two months where he played the most this year, April and August, ... (link)