The Los Angeles Dodgers have a glut of infielders heading into spring training, and they may be forced to keep one, Alex Guerrero, on the big league roster even if he's not one of their top options. The Cuban import, signed to a four-year, $28 million deal last season, has told the organization that he will not give them permission to option him to Triple-A this season.
"The team does not know what they are going to do, but all I can control is keep working hard and they will get the final word," Guerrero said. "I don't want to go down. I'm not going down. I feel like I can get better here at this level and play every day. I think that's what every player wants. You want to be in the Major Leagues and play as much as you can."
In a brief stint at the MLB level last season Guerrero flopped, hitting .077 in 11 games. His minor league production was far greater; he slashed .329/.364/.619 in 258 plate appearances at Triple-A.
The Dodgers are not sold on Guerrero's defense at second base, and now have offseason pickup Howie Kendrick blocking his path to playing time. Juan Uribe is settled in as the Dodgers' primary third baseman, and Justin Turner has the fast track on being the No. 1 utility option. For his part Guerrero believes that last season was an adjustment period and he'll be a better overall player in 2014.
"Last year for me was one where I gained a lot of experience, learned a lot of things I didn't know or didn't have any idea about," Guerrero said. "Things like the style of play, different rules, and customs they use here in the United States. I am a lot more familiar now with the game here."
Guerrero's refusal to go down could spell doom for Darwin Barney's chances of making the big league roster.
[MLB.com]
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