Delino DeShields, Brett Butler, Henry Rodriguez, Orel Hershiser, Roger McDowell, and Jim Gott. Intrigued yet? Try this:
1. Jerry Browne 2b
2. Paul Zuvella ss
3. Joe Carter 1b
4. Cory Snyder rf
5. Danny Gonzalez dh
6. Brook Jacoby 3b
7. Joey Belle lf
8. Brad Komminsk cf
9. Andy Allanson c
p. Tom Candiotti
That would be selected teammates of Rudy Seanez on the 1994 Dodgers, his first go-round in LA, and the starting lineup of the Cleveland Indians on September 7, 1989, for whom he made his major league debut.
That’s right: according to the LA Times, the Dodgers are bringing back the guy who played with some figures of ancient history for another shot at it in 2008.
Right-hander Rudy Seanez has re-signed with the Dodgers, inking a non-guaranteed major league contract that could be worth up to $1.3 million, according to a baseball source.
The one-year contract calls for a base salary of $550,000 and a $150,000 bonus if the 39-year-old Seanez makes the Dodgers’ opening-day roster. If Seanez isn’t on the roster because of an injury he sustains in spring training, he will be paid the entire base salary. He will receive about a quarter of that as a termination fee if he is cut for performance reasons.
Seanez could earn up to an additional $600,000 in bonuses based on his number of appearances. Seanez will collect $75,000 for pitching in his 45th game, another $100,000 for his 50th, $125,000 for his 55th and $150,000 for both his 60th and 65th.
Seanez pitched in a career-high 73 games last season for the Dodgers, posting a 6-3 record and 3.79 earned-run average. He earned $1.2 million last season, including $500,000 in bonuses, and became a free agent this off-season.
First of all, I like that this info came from “a baseball source.” It’s one thing to have your source call you and say, “I hear the Dodgers are signing Andruw Jones!” or “Santana’s definitely going to the Mets!” What’s your reaction when you get the breathless call about “hot Rudy Seanez info!”?
As for the signing itself? Sure, why not? It’s non-guaranteed, it’s only for $1.7 million even if he collects all of his incentives, and it’s not like you can ever have too many arms in the pen. Besides, with the top 4 in the pen pretty well set (Saito/Broxton/Proctor/Beimel), and either Loaiza or Schmidt likely to claim a spot depending on health and who wins the 5th starter spot, Seanez isn’t exactly auditioning for a high-pressure role here.
Area of concern: Seanez is 38, pitched a career-high in games last year, and was markedly better in the first half (3.12 ERA) than after (4.54 ERA).
And to the end of the previous sentence, I’ve now written 452 words on a mediocre elderly middle reliever who just got a non-guaranteed deal. Just ten more days, people!
- Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness 
