Agent says M.Giles 'never finalized anything' with Dodgers
With rookie Blake DeWitt hitting .556 and handling himself very well both at the plate and in the field, perhaps the Los Angeles Dodgers' third base situation is more stable than they anticipated.
One thing is clear, though: If the Dodgers add depth, maybe it will be former Philadelphia third baseman Wes Helms once he clears waivers, or someone else. But it won't be Marcus Giles.
While Giles' brother, Brian, said Wednesday night that Marcus had changed his mind and had agreed to play third base at Triple-A Las Vegas. Joe Bick, the agent for Marcus Giles, said Thursday no dice.
"We had talked to the Dodgers initially about going to Las Vegas to get time in at third base, but I don't think that opportunity is still there," Bick said Thursday. "Obviously, there was some urgency to the Dodgers' needs and this was one possible solution.
"But we never finalized anything. He didn't take a physical."
And wherever Marcus Giles' next step is -- if there is one -- alas, it apparently will not be with the Dodgers.
"As of right now, I have nothing else that is a possibility with Marcus," Bick said.
Giles had agreed to sign with the Dodgers a couple of days ago but reneged after he already had started driving from Lake Havasu, Ariz., to Las Vegas. Brother Brian said Wednesday that he thought Marcus simply needed another day to sort things out and that it was his understanding that Marcus was still going to join the Dodgers.
But brotherly communication apparently only goes so far.
While the Dodgers will go with DeWitt for now -- he's started all three of their games, including Wednesday night's -- the lack of depth at the position concerns the Dodgers. They've spoken with the Phillies about Helms, who was designated for assignment Wednesday to make room for reliever Rudy Seanez.
Helms is owed $2.9 million in salary this season, and the Phillies have 10 days to trade or release him. If a club waits until he's released, they can sign him for the major-league minimum of $390,000, with the Phillies responsible for the rest.
