I know, I know the headline is perhaps the cheesiest of The Baseball Index era–an era which is approaching one year by the way. But I like the tie in with the holiday season.

The other headline I was thinking of was “The Jamey Carroll Sweepstakes Comes To An End.” Which would have been fitting because there was a serious sweepstakes for the 35-year-old.

I am not joking either. There were about 10-12 teams showing interest in Carroll. You can make the argument that Carroll was the most sought after free agent on the market this winter.

However, the team that eventually landed Carroll’s services were the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Carroll landed with the Dodgers

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers inked the utility infielder to a two-year, $3.85 million deal. Carroll hit .276/.355/.340 in 93 games with the Cleveland Indians last season.

I am guessing Carroll signed with the Dodgers for one main reason–playing time. Most teams who were after Carroll looked at him as strictly a utility player.

The Dodgers give Carroll a chance to start. With Orlando Hudson and Ronnie Belliard departing as free agents, 24-year-old Blake DeWitt is currently the only second baseman on the roster.

The Dodgers will give DeWitt every opportunity to win the starting second base job in spring training, but if he doesn’t pan out, Carroll will step in.

Carroll is a career .273 hitter in eight seasons with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, and Indians.

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By The Baseball Index