Dodgers rumors: Alex Rodriguez, Shane Victorino

Following their free-spending summer, the Los Angeles Dodgers may be willing to take on third baseman Alex Rodriguez and his hefty remaining contract, speculates Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

Thinking out loud: Why wouldn’t the Dodgers take on Alex Rodriguez? The Yankees would gladly eat some of the contract. With Carl Crawford joining them in May (or sooner) after his surgery, the Dodgers will likely not re-sign Shane Victorino, saving a few bucks (not that money matters).

Rodriguez followed his worst regular season performance with an extremely lackluster showing in the playoffs. He’s been benched, he’s 37 years old and he’s owed $114 million over the next five seasons.

No team would want this type of player, would they?

Cafardo believes the Dodgers could be a fit, due to the interest they’ve shown in acquiring over-priced veterans using their seemingly never-ending budget. LA has said it plans on using Hanley Ramirez at shortstop, which would leave the hot corner vacant. They have also said they believe Luis Cruz can be the team’s everyday third baseman in 2013.

While the Dodgers already have several commitments to veteran players on their books, Cafardo doesn’t envision the team re-signing outfielder Shane Victorino. After being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies this summer, Victorino only hit .245/.316/.351 with LA.