Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Category: Transactions (Page 18 of 36)

In case you missed it nightcap: Up, down and away

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On March 16, 2015

In In case you missed it, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Today’s resounding comeback victory — 10-5 after trailing 4-0 — didn’t forestall Austin Barnes, O’Koyea Dickson or Erisbel Arruebarrena being optioned to minor league camp after the game.

Here are some notes and news to take in before bedtime …

  • It’s a fantabulous night for a moondance, and for reading this Eric Nusbaum profile at Vice Sports about “The Likable, Unlikely Career of Juan Uribe.”
  • Zack Greinke went back to his old slider grip during an outing today that he considered an improvement, reports True Blue L.A.’s Eric Stephen, who adds an interesting quote from Greinke about the Alamo and Ozzy Osbourne.
  • Chad Gaudin hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 2013, but count him among the relievers making a strong bid to be a factor in the bullpen this year, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Gaudin pitched a perfect sixth inning today, striking out Stephen Vogt and Mark Canha.
  • Yimi Garcia, who threw a scoreless inning today, has retired 13 of 15 batters he has faced this spring.
  • New commissioner Rob Manfred visited the Dodgers today, as Gurnick notes, and part of the conversation was the long-overdue return of the All-Star Game to Los Angeles. No MLB team has gone longer without one than the Dodgers, who last hosted in 1980.
  • The official dedication of the Charley Steiner School of Sports Communication at Bradley will be held March 31.
  • Two oldie but goodie former Dodgers each signed minor-league deals today: 37-year-old Rafael Furcal with the Royals and 38-year-old Randy Wolf with the Blue Jays.
  • At ESPN.com, Anna McDonald writes about how Major League Baseball is dealing with anxiety and depression among its players.

 

Dodgers send five starting pitchers to minors

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On March 16, 2015

In Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”47274383″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

A’s at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Justin Turner, 1B
Darwin Barney, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Juan Uribe, 3B
Andre Ethier, LF
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kike Hernandez, 2B
(Zack Greinke, P)

By Jon Weisman

Five pitchers who all figure to start games at some point for Triple-A Oklahoma City — Zach Lee, Chris Reed, Mike Bolsinger, Joe Wieland and Carlos Frias — were optioned to minor-league camp before today’s game.

Erik Bedard, Chad Gaudin and David Huff are among the potential minor-league starters or swingmen that remain with the big-league club for now.

Reliever quartet sent to minor-league camp, but numerous options remain

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On March 14, 2015

In Bullpen, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Pitchers Julio Urias, Chris Anderson, Ryan Buchter and Josh Ravin — all non-roster invitees to Spring Training — today became the first four sent from Major League camp to the minor-league side this year.

Urias (18) and Anderson (22) are top starting pitching prospects, while Buchter (28) and Ravin (27) provide relief depth. The quartet had combined to allow four runs in 10 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers still have six non-roster relievers in camp, to go with 11 on the active roster, not to mention a few swingmen. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Righty relievers, no options: Chris Hatcher, Brandon League, Dustin McGowan, Juan Nicasio, Joel Peralta
  • Lefty relievers, no options: J.P. Howell
  • Righty relievers, can go to minors: Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia, David Aardsma, Mike Adams*, Chad Gaudin, Ben Rowen, Sergio Santos
  • Lefty relievers, can go to minors: Daniel Coulombe, Adam Liberatore, Paco Rodriguez, David Huff
  • Righty relievers on disabled list: Kenley Jansen, Chris Withrow

*Adams requires retention bonus if not added to Major League roster five days before Opening Day.

Most logically, the Dodgers would start the season with the six no-option relievers and one of the four remaining lefty relievers (with such other lefties as Erik Bedard and Joe Wieland working starter innings in the minors). But with three weeks and change remaining until the season opener, there’s still time for that logic to change.

Mike Adams is latest reliever to come to camp

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On March 1, 2015

In Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Ten-year MLB veteran righty Mike Adams, who had a 2.89 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings for the Phillies last year, has joined the Dodgers on a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league camp.

In his career, Adams has a 2.41 ERA with 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings — from 2009-11, his ERA was 1.42 in 177 1/3 innings with 192 whiffs. He was sidelined from early June until September last year with a shoulder injury.

Adams will wear No. 0, positioning him to become the second active Major Leaguer to wear that number for the Dodgers, after Al Oliver in 1985. (Brian Wilson wore No. 00.)

The 6-foot-5 righty will compete for a spot on the Dodger bullpen with such other righties as Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia, David Aardsma, Chad Gaudin and Sergio Santos.

Dustin McGowan added to pitching staff

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On February 23, 2015

In Health/injuries, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”34627767″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Continuing to place bets on pitchers on the mend, the Dodgers have signed former Toronto righty Dustin McGowan. Recently signed Brandon Beachy, as planned, will go on the 60-day disabled list to make room for McGowan on the 40-man roster.

McGowan, who turns 33 on March 24, has had surgery to repair his labrum (2008), ACL (2009), rotator cuff (2010) and shoulder (arthroscopic, 2012) and was also on the disabled list in 2013 with an oblique strain.

In 2014, he pitched 82 innings — his most since 2008 — allowing 116 baserunners while striking out 61. He made eight starts in 53 appearances, and in his career, he has started 68 games and relieved in 90.

As a reliever in 2014, McGowan had a 3.35 ERA, allowing 50 baserunners in 43 innings while striking out 36.

Dodgers sign Brandon Beachy to one-year deal

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On February 21, 2015

In Health/injuries, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”16167209″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have added some established pitching depth for down the road by signing former Braves righty Brandon Beachy to a one-year contract with a club option for 2016.

Beachy, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, won’t be active when the season starts — just like Chris Withrow, who has been moved to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Beachy on the 40-man roster. But at age 28, Beachy is a strong comeback candidate, having posted a 3.23 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 1.13 WHIP and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings in his 267 2/3-inning MLB career.

In 2011, Beachy had 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings, the fourth-best mark ever for a rookie starting pitcher.

Beachy had Tommy John surgery on June 21, 2012 and after five starts in 2013 (the last four in August), repeated the procedure on March 21, 2014. He’ll wear No. 37 with the Dodgers.

Beachy joins Joe Wieland, Mike Bolsinger, Carlos Frias, Erik Bedard, Zach Lee, Chris Anderson and Chris Reed among those who could take a turn in the Dodger starting rotation sometime this season.

David Aardsma officially joins Dodgers

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On February 19, 2015

In Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”29228349″ width=”510″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Righty reliever David Aardsma has officially signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers, becoming the 19th non-roster invite to Spring Training at Camelback Ranch, where pitchers and catchers are being welcomed today.

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Luis Matos to manage Great Lakes Loons

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On February 12, 2015

In Minor leagues, Transactions

Screen Shot 2015-02-12 at 7.23.17 AMBy Jon Weisman

Seven-year MLB veteran Luis Matos will manage the Dodgers’ Single-A affiliate in Great Lakes, succeeding Bill Haselman.

Last week, it was announced that Haselman has moved to manage Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in place of P.J. Forbes, who resigned for family reasons.

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Bill Haselman to manage Rancho Cucamonga as P.J. Forbes resigns

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On February 2, 2015

In Minor leagues, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Bill Haselman, who managed the Dodgers’ Single-A Great Lakes affiliate in 2014, will move to manage Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2015, succeeding P.J. Forbes, who has resigned for family reasons.

Haselman returns to the California League, where he won a 2013 title with Class A Inland Empire (Angels).

The Dodgers have not yet announced the new manager for Great Lakes. Forbes has managed 11 seasons in the minors, the past two with the Dodgers.

“While we wish P.J. and his family all the best, we now look forward to welcoming Bill Haselman to Rancho Cucamonga,” Quakes vice president and general manager Grant Riddle said at the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes’ website. “We’re familiar with Bill from his earlier time in the league and we’re excited to get him in a Quakes’ jersey and welcome him to the Quakes’ family.”

Dodgers officially sign Bedard, Rowen to minor-league deals

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On January 28, 2015

In Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”33494069″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

Pitchers Erik Bedard and Ben Rowen have officially been signed by the Dodgers to minor-league contracts with invites to big-league camp at Spring Training.

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Arruebarrena, Seager, Urias among 17 non-roster Spring Training invitees

By

On January 9, 2015

In Minor leagues, Transactions

Steve Saenz/Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

Steve Saenz/Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers announced that they have invited 17 non-roster players to Spring Training in 2015, including infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena, who has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Here’s the list:

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Minor-league catcher Pratt Maynard retires

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On January 9, 2015

In Transactions

Steve Saenz/Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

Steve Saenz/Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

By Jon Weisman

Pratt Maynard, the Dodgers’ third-round pick in the 2011 draft, has retired from baseball because of injuries.

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Dodgers officially sign Brett Anderson, designate Erisbel Arruebarrena for assignment

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On December 30, 2014

In Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”34955929″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have officially announced the signing of pitcher Brett Anderson to a one-year contract today, making room for him on the 40-man roster by designating shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena for assignment.

Anderson, who will turn 27 before Spring Training begins, has thrown 318 2/3 innings over the past five seasons while battling injuries (including 43 1/3 innings last year for Colorado with a 2.91 ERA), so sure, it’s optimistic to lock him in for 30-plus starts in 2015.

But the potential for the appearances he does make is high — he has a career 112 ERA+ — and fits with the Dodgers’ defensively enhanced infield.

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Brian Wilson released as turnover continues

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On December 19, 2014

In Status report, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”37068283″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

With the official release of Brian Wilson today, preceded by recent acquisition Ryan Lavarnway being claimed on waivers by the Cubs and Kyle (that’s Kyle) Jensen being designated for assignment, the Dodger 40-man roster is back at, well, 40. But it’s not your slightly older sibling’s 40.

Let’s catch up on who’s new:

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Jimmy Rollins zips from red to blue

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On December 19, 2014

In Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”32035811″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

Baseball forces you to make some interesting adjustments. Jimmy Rollins’ biggest might not be switching from Phillies red to Dodger blue, but letting go of any residual memories of green and gold.

Rollins grew up in Oakland and greeted a conference-call question about his childhood allegiance today with a laughing “Are you trying to rub 1988 in my face or something?”

On the other hand, once he resolved to let go of his 18-year association with the Phillies organization, the Dodgers were his first choice for a new team.

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Attendance

1991-2013
Dodgers at home: 1,028-812 (.558695)
When Jon attended: 338-267 (.558677)*
When Jon didn’t: 695-554 (.556)
* includes road games attended

2013
Dodgers at home: 51-35 (.593)
When Jon attended: 5-2 (.714)
When Jon didn’t: 46-33 (.582)

Note: I got so busy working for the Dodgers that in 2014, I stopped keeping track, much to my regret. 

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