By Josh Boyd
December 4, 2002

On Wednesday, the Dodgers and Cubs continued this winter's trend of swapping bad contracts to allow for roster and payroll flexibility. Los Angeles got rid of first baseman Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek, while Chicago dumped Todd Hundley. The Dodgers also received outfielder Chad Hermansen and paid $2 million to help balance the deal financially.

Karros, who waived his no-trade rights, is due $8 million in 2003 and will vest a $9 million club option for 2004 should he get 500 plate appearances next year. Grudzielanek was due to make $5.5 million in 2003 before agreeing to defer some of that money, and the Cubs have a $6 million option on him for 2004. Hundley has two years and $12.5 million remaining on a four-year, $23.5 million contract that has been one of the worst free-agent signings ever.

Karros, 35, is coming off his worst offensive season since he won the National League rookie of the year in 1992. He hit .271 with a career-low 13 home runs and 73 RBI in 142 games in 2002, posting a meager .722 on-base plus slugging percentage. After eclipsing 30 homers five times in six seasons, he has hit a total of just 28 in 2001-02. Already a liability as a runner and defender, Karros has little value unless he hits for power. He also fell out of favor in the Dodgers clubhouse and never established himself as a veteran leader despite his tenure. In 1,601 career games, Karros, the franchise's Los Angeles career home run leader, has hit .268-270-976.

Grudzielanek, 32, is a former Expos all-star who joined the Dodgers in a 1998 seven-player deal orchestrated by then-Los Angeles interim general manager Tommy Lasorda. Like Karros, Grudzielanek often has been viewed as a negative clubhouse presence and his skills are diminishing. He hit .271-9-50 with a .665 OPS in 150 games this year. He's no longer a basestealing threat and is only serviceable on defense. He has batted .282-57-382 in 1,097 career games.

Karros and Grudzielanek should be off the Cubs' payroll next year, freeing up the $6.5 million the club would have owed Hundley in 2004. They provide a fallback if first baseman Hee Seop Choi and second baseman Bobby Hill can't establish themselves as big league regulars in 2003. Grudzielanek also is versatile enough to see playing time at shortstop and third base.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers spread out their bad contracts over two years rather than one, giving them more room under the new $117 million luxury-tax threshold for 2003. Los Angeles spent $120 million on its 40-man roster in 2002 and hopes to sign a marquee free agent along the line of Cliff Floyd or Jeff Kent this offseason. The Dodgers also have a hot prospect ready to take over second base in Joe Thurston, who hit .334-12-55 with 39 doubles, 13 triples and 22 stolen bases at Triple-A Las Vegas this year.

Hundley, 33, returns for his second stint in Los Angeles after two dismal seasons in Wrigley Field. He hit a career-high .284 with 24 home runs for the Dodgers in 2000, but faded to .187 in 2001 and .211 last year in reserve roles. He will backup Paul LoDuca and, if Los Angeles doesn't find an outside replacement for Karros, compete for playing time at first base with Mike Kinkade. Hundley hasn't thrown well since having reconstructive elbow surgery, though he did manage to erase 26 percent of basestealers in 2002. A two-time all-star while with the Mets, he has batted .235-200-588 in 1,204 games.

Hermansen, 25, was the 10th overall pick by the Pirates in the 1995 draft and had considerable success early in his pro career. But he has been a bust at the major league level and Pittsburgh finally gave up on him in a July 31 deadline trade with the Cubs. He has hit .200-13-32 in 174 major league games, including .207-8-18 in 100 contests this year. He's a decent runner and defender, but unless he develops some plate discipline (156 strikeouts, 36 walks in 460 at-bats) he won't be of much help.