Mark Loretta passed his physical to complete a deal to give him one year, $1.25 million deal. Loretta will be the main utility infielder, particularly at shortstop with the expected retirement of Nomar.
With the utility shortstop set, the Dodgers have still to set an everyday shortstop. The two-year deal with a third year option based on performance is still on the table for Rafael Furcal, but he reportedly wants at least a four-year deal from the Dodgers.
The Dodgers also forwent a contract for Takashi Saito, who became a free agent on Friday. The Dodgers also made free agency of Scott Proctor, Angel Berroa, Yhency Brazoban, and Mario Alvarez. Free agency still leaves the Dodgers as an option for 2009 for all of them. All it does is take away arbitration, which could keep Saito at a $2.5 million deal that the Dodgers wanted to cap when Saito wanted $3.5 million.
One of the big three FA’s, CC, is off the table with a seven-year deal with the Yankees. That leaves Teixeira and Manny as the most sought-after free agents, and Ned Colletti is reportedly willing to wait out a deal with Manny.
