Forget It, Juan... It's Mannywood
Juan Pierre's off-and-on stint with the Dodgers is over for good
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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 07: Juan Pierre #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers lays down a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game One of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium on October 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Juan Pierre;Yadier Molina
First, Juan Pierre was displaced by Andruw Jones, Then, along came Manny.
Now, Pierre is moving again -- this time to the White Sox, according to Sports Illustrated. SI's website reports that the Dodgers will receive two players to be named and pay Pierre $3 million in 2010 and $5 million in 2011.
That's about half of his remaining five-year contract that expires at the end of the 2011 season.
Pierre signed a $44 million contract with the Dodgers in 2006 after stints with the Rockies, Marlins and Cubs. He bounced around in LA because of a big signing and a big, fat mistake.
He moved from center field to left to make room for Jones in 2008. It was a move the Dodgers could have done without as Jones' batting average dropped to .158 and his midsection ballooned dangerously close to C.C. Sabathia-like proportions.
Jones was released after the season to join the Texas Rangers and complain about Dodgers fans.
Pierre then moved to the bench after Ramirez joined the club and had a section of seating named after him. The speedy outfielder saw action during Ramirez's 50-game suspension in 2009 and batted .308 in 145 games.
"Juan always put the Dodgers first, even when it wasn't in his personal best interest," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "In this day, that is a rare attribute. When he and I spoke at the end of the season, we agreed that if an opportunity presented itself in which his chance to play would be enhanced, we would pursue it and that's what we've done. He deserved the chance to play more."
The Pierre deal was first reported by Tim Brown of Yahoo.
