go west

Marcus Thames will move across country to play ball this season, signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday after spending 2010 with the New York Yankees. Thames, from Louisville and East Central Community College, reportedly will play some left field and first base for the Dodgers, facing primarily left-handed pitching. L.A. got him for the bargain price of $1 million for one year, with some incentives built in. (Still think Atlanta should have made a run at Thames.) If he gets the at-bats, he’ll provide the pop the Dodgers are seeking. Thames has 113 career homers in 1,761 at-bats. That translates to 30 homers over a 162-game season; he’s just never played regularly. He’s also never played in the National League.