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Waiting for a Piazza Delivery
Rumors are swirling that the Dodgers and Mets are talking about a potential Shawn Green for Mike Piazza swap. If this is true, it will mean that Paul DePodesta will have joined Tommy Lasorda, Kevin Malone, Dan Evans, and probably Dave Wallace in being another Dodger GM who has tried to reacquire Mike Piazza. Hindsight is 20/20, but it's pretty obvious today that the Mike Piazza trade was the worst move in Dodgers history. The Dodgers refused to sign the greatest hitting catcher ever in the prime of his career to what was effectively a market-level contract in a great economy. In return, the Dodgers got a worthless season from Bobby Bonilla, a worthless season and everlasting hatred from Charles Johnson, absolutely nothing out of Jim Eisenreich, Manuel Bairros' undistinguished minor league career, and of course, three years of headaches from Gary Sheffield.
LAist would absolutely love to see Mike Piazza back in Dodger blue. Who wouldn't? But six years later, it doesn't make much sense. Sure, from a contract standpoint it's a wash. But Piazza has become a major liability at the catcher position, and it's questionable if he can even play there for more than 20 games and stay healthy. Piazza was also pretty bad defensively at first base, where is offensive value is shot anyways. He basically needs to go to an AL team where he can DH, because he can't play in the field anymore, and his body can barely handle the stress.
Shawn Green may not be the same player anymore either, but at least he gives the Dodgers a versatile option who can probablt hit about as well as Piazza in any case.
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