The Dodgers have acquired outfielder Juan Encarnacion from the Florida Marlins, for a player to be named later.

Juan Encarnacion, whose career high in walks is 37 (against 601 at-bats in 2004).

Juan Encarnacion, whose EQA of .267 in 2003 is barely above the league average.

Juan Encarnacion, who is basically a slightly younger - and arguably weaker - version of Jolbert Cabrera.

Cabrera in 2003: Age 30, 347 AB, 32 doubles, 6 home runs, 27 walks + HBP, 62 strikeouts, .332 OBP, .438 slugging, .271 EQA.
Encarnacion in 2003: Age 27, 601 AB, 37 doubles, 19 home runs, 41 walks + HBP, 82 strikeouts, .313 OBP, .446 slugging, .267 EQA

Dan Evans, I've been in your corner. But this had better be an intermediate step, a secondary acquisition. I can wait for the big one - don't get me wrong. I'm just saying, it had better be coming.

Encarnacion's .313 on-base percentage hits my gullet like a cold hot dog - I can barely stomach it. I know the Dodgers have money to spend, but Encarnacion, who is due for a raise after making about $3.5 million in 2003, had better not get in the way of a real difference-maker.