Tweet
Gagne says Dodgers owner needs to open wallet
The Dodgers suffered through their second-worst season since they moved west from Brooklyn in 1958, and it's unclear what lies ahead.
Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, for one, hopes the future includes owner Frank McCourt spending more money.
"You need to add a 40-home-run guy and a guy who hits .310, that's two hitters," Gagne told The Los Angeles Times. "You need to re-sign Jeff Weaver, the innings he gives us are priceless.
"The Dodgers make money. The fans show up. You have to give back. As a business, you have to make money. But you have to take risk to make money and in baseball that means paying for players."
A season after winning their first NL West championship in nine years, the Dodgers were 71-91. It was manager Jim Tracy's first losing season with L.A., and the team's worst since 1992, when they went 63-99 under Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda.
Tracy and the Dodgers parted ways on Monday.
The Dodgers' payroll was just over $83 million for the 2005 season, and $13 million of that went to Darren Dreifort, who spent the entire season on the disabled list.
The Dodgers changed owners in February 2004, with McCourt buying them from News Corp.
When informed of Gagne's comments by The Times, McCourt said he was disappointed Gagne voiced his concerns in the media rather than talking to him directly. But he emphasized that he has given general manager Paul DePodesta permission to spend what it takes to make the Dodgers winners again.
"We want to win as much as Eric Gagne does," McCourt told the newspaper. "We will spend what it takes to win. I've said it over and over and over again, so all our fans hear it loud and clear."
Gagne, a free agent after the 2006 season, told the newspaper that if he doesn't see improvement next season, he won't hesitate to leave for another team.
"I close games; I can't save losses," Gagne told the newspaper. "I'll be in a situation in a year where I can choose a team that wants to win. I love the Dodgers and want to be a Dodger. I really like the McCourts and their attitude. I want them to know that they can make a lot of money by winning.
"We have resources for trades. We have a lot of money. This year, we didn't have the Dodger brand. They bought the brand and we have to put that back in the minds of fans and throughout baseball, that we are the Dodgers."
A big reason for the Dodgers' struggles was the loss of Gagne, who pitched in just 14 games before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in June. He had saved 152 games the previous three seasons, but had just eight saves in 2005 before the surgery.
The Dodgers were decimated by many more injuries, too. Third baseman Jose Valentin, outfielders J.D. Drew, Milton Bradley and Jayson Werth, and shortstop Cesar Izturis missed extensive playing time after entering spring training as projected first-stringers.
Source: AP
Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, for one, hopes the future includes owner Frank McCourt spending more money.
"You need to add a 40-home-run guy and a guy who hits .310, that's two hitters," Gagne told The Los Angeles Times. "You need to re-sign Jeff Weaver, the innings he gives us are priceless.
"The Dodgers make money. The fans show up. You have to give back. As a business, you have to make money. But you have to take risk to make money and in baseball that means paying for players."
A season after winning their first NL West championship in nine years, the Dodgers were 71-91. It was manager Jim Tracy's first losing season with L.A., and the team's worst since 1992, when they went 63-99 under Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda.
Tracy and the Dodgers parted ways on Monday.
The Dodgers' payroll was just over $83 million for the 2005 season, and $13 million of that went to Darren Dreifort, who spent the entire season on the disabled list.
The Dodgers changed owners in February 2004, with McCourt buying them from News Corp.
When informed of Gagne's comments by The Times, McCourt said he was disappointed Gagne voiced his concerns in the media rather than talking to him directly. But he emphasized that he has given general manager Paul DePodesta permission to spend what it takes to make the Dodgers winners again.
"We want to win as much as Eric Gagne does," McCourt told the newspaper. "We will spend what it takes to win. I've said it over and over and over again, so all our fans hear it loud and clear."
Gagne, a free agent after the 2006 season, told the newspaper that if he doesn't see improvement next season, he won't hesitate to leave for another team.
"I close games; I can't save losses," Gagne told the newspaper. "I'll be in a situation in a year where I can choose a team that wants to win. I love the Dodgers and want to be a Dodger. I really like the McCourts and their attitude. I want them to know that they can make a lot of money by winning.
"We have resources for trades. We have a lot of money. This year, we didn't have the Dodger brand. They bought the brand and we have to put that back in the minds of fans and throughout baseball, that we are the Dodgers."
A big reason for the Dodgers' struggles was the loss of Gagne, who pitched in just 14 games before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in June. He had saved 152 games the previous three seasons, but had just eight saves in 2005 before the surgery.
The Dodgers were decimated by many more injuries, too. Third baseman Jose Valentin, outfielders J.D. Drew, Milton Bradley and Jayson Werth, and shortstop Cesar Izturis missed extensive playing time after entering spring training as projected first-stringers.
Source: AP