Transactions – Page 2 – Dodger Thoughts

Andre Ethier to be on NLDS roster

On October 2, 2016

Dodgers at Giants, 12:05 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Chase Utley, 2B
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Andre Ethier will be on the Dodgers’ roster for the National League Division Series, Dave Roberts said before today’s regular-season finale at San Francisco.

Ethier joins fellow outfielders Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Josh Reddick, Andrew Toles, Howie Kendrick, Kiké Hernández, though Ethier’s role would primarily be off the bench. Roberts praised the quality of Ethier’s at-bats since his return in September from six months on the disabled list.

With Ethier on the squad, that leaves at most one more opening for a position player. Right now, Charlie Culberson seems to be the leading candidate, if that slot doesn’t go to an extra pitcher. Potentially, Hernández’s spot would also be in jeopardy, which would be surprising given his presence in the big leagues essentially all season.

Dodgers face difficult task trimming roster for playoffs

By Jon Weisman

On September 26, 2016

In Postseason, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

With their place in the 2016 postseason assured, the Dodgers now have the final six games of the regular season to measure out rest to certain players — and begin final evaluations of who will go on the postseason roster.

Somehow, the Dodgers have to trim their 40-man squad — with every single player on it active — down to 25 by Game 1 of the National League Division Series on October 7. It won’t be easy.

Dodgers call up Chris Taylor — McCarthy to follow

By Jon Weisman

On September 23, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Andrew Toles, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

Chris Taylor has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, bringing the Dodgers’ active roster to 39 players with the activation of tonight’s starter, Scott Kazmir, from the disabled list.

Dave Roberts also said today that Brandon McCarthy would be activated from the disabled list before the season ends, perhaps as soon as this weekend — at which point the Dodgers will have an unprecedented 40 actually active players.

Taylor has a .271 on-base percentage and .382 slugging percentage in 59 plate appearances for the Dodgers this year, highlighted by the July 15 game in which he doubled, tripled, hit a grand slam and drove in six runs.

In Triple-A this year, Taylor had a .397 OBP while slugging .474 for Tacoma in the Mariners organization and the Dodgers’ team in Oklahoma City.

Alex Wood activated from disabled list

By Jon Weisman

On September 20, 2016

In Health/injuries, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Andrew Toles, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Rich Hill, P

By Jon Weisman

Out of action since May 30, Alex Wood has been activated from the disabled list by the Dodgers.

Dodgers call up Micah Johnson

By Jon Weisman

On September 19, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCLXI: Kershully
Howie Kendrick, LF
Kiké Hernández, CF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Chase Utley, 2B
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Micah Johnson, who was on the Dodgers’ roster early this year but hasn’t been in the big leagues since April 10, was recalled by Los Angeles before tonight’s series opener against the Giants.

The 25-year-old Johnson, who stole 84 bases in the minors in 2013, gives the Dodgers an extra pinch-running option off the bench, as well as fielding depth. He played second, third, center and left for Triple-A Oklahoma City this year.

Joey Curletta goes to Phillies in Ellis-Ruiz deal

By Jon Weisman

On September 15, 2016

In Transactions

The Dodgers have completed the Carlos Ruiz-A.J. Ellis trade by sending minor-leaguer Joey Curletta to the Phillies as the player to be named later.

The 22-year-old outfielder had an .834 OPS and 13 homers in 77 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and .652 OPS with four homers in 29 games with Double-A Tulsa this year.

Curletta was a sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft.

— Jon Weisman

A Hill of beans in this crazy world

By Jon Weisman

On September 11, 2016

In Health/injuries, Managing, Minor leagues, Postgame, Pregame, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”1157258183″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Marlins, 10:10 a.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Josh Reddick, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Andre Ethier, LF
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

I guess my wife and I picked the wrong day to take the family to Disneyland.

Exactly 51 years and one day after Sandy Koufax threw the last perfect game by a Dodger pitcher, Rich Hill nearly did the same (in a 5-0 Dodger victory). And in the process, he became the first Dodger pitcher since Hiroki Kuroda in 2008 to throw seven perfect innings — and the first ever to do so without facing another batter.

The controversy arose from the latter fact. In the overnight chatter since Hill was removed, many have had a chance to weigh in, and so with the Dodgers’ next game already about to start, I’m just going to highlight a few points …

Clayton Kershaw reunited with baseball

By Jon Weisman

On September 9, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCLIX: Kersho and the Two Strings
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Andrew Toles, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw is off the disabled list and back on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who made the move official this afternoon.

Cary Osborne caught us up on Kershaw this morning. Moments ago, Dave Roberts told reporters that the Dodgers will take things “inning to inning” tonight,” but that the schedule calls for Kershaw to make his next start on four days’ rest Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

In between, the Dodgers will have Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda pitching against the Marlins, followed by rookies Jose De León and Julio Urías at New York. The latter two will have had more than a week’s worth of rest.

Roberts added that he expected to see Urías in the bullpen in October.

To create room on the 40-man roster for Kershaw, the Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Carlos Frias from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he has been on the disabled list since July 12, and placed him on the big-league 60-day DL.

In doing so, the Dodgers have broken the known record for most players on the DL in one year with 28.

The 26-year-old Frias, who had a 3.95 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 43 1/3 minor-league innings this year, pitched in one game for the Dodgers in 2016, throwing four shutout innings July 7 against the Padres. He is tied for 14th all-time for the Dodgers in innings pitched with a single-season ERA of 0.00.

Dodgers have baker’s dozen in bullpen — and counting

By Jon Weisman

On September 5, 2016

In Bullpen, Pregame, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”1126762083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 5:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Luis Avilan has been recalled for the third consecutive month by the Dodgers, boosting the current relief corps to 13.

Behind this week’s scheduled starting rotation of Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart against Arizona and Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Maeda at Miami, the Dodgers have the following in the bullpen:

Right-handed pitchers (9): Pedro Baez (expected to be recalled Tuesday), Joe Blanton, Jesse Chavez, Louis Coleman, Josh Fields, Casey Fien, Kenley Jansen, Bud Norris, Josh Ravin

Left-handed pitchers (5): Luis Avilan, Grant Dayton, J.P. Howell, Adam Liberatore, Julio Urias.

Having neared his workload limit, Urias has been shifted to the bullpen, though the Dodgers haven’t definitely said he won’t make another start. Jose De Leon, who made his debut Sunday, doesn’t have an obvious next date to take the mound.

Following a bullpen session today, Alex Wood is scheduled for a short simulated game soon. Out since May, Wood is expected to return in a short relief role later this month.

Clayton Kershaw to start for Dodgers on Friday

By Jon Weisman

On September 4, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Padres at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Chase Utley, 2B
Austin Barnes, C
Charlie Culberson, SS
Jose De Leon, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers’ official roster move today was to make Jose De Leon their 31st player on the active roster and their first to take the mound today against San Diego.

But they also signaled a bigger roster move to come later this week. According to Dave Roberts, Los Angeles plan to send National League Cy Young Award candidate Clayton Kershaw to the mound Friday at Miami for the start of the Dodgers’ 10-game road trip.

If he resumes his big-league campaign Friday and works regularly on four days’ rest, Kershaw would theoretically have five regular-season starts remaining: September 9 (at Marlins), September 14 (at New York Yankees), September 19 (vs. Giants), September 24 (vs. Rockies) and either September 29 (at Padres) or September 30 (on five days’ rest at Giants).

Obviously, that’s just on paper — there’s a lot of road between now and the end of the month.

Dodgers recall Puig, Barnes and Fields, activate Coleman and Ravin

By Jon Weisman

On September 2, 2016

In Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig will be back in the Majors for the Dodgers’ September stretch run, joined by catcher-infielder Austin Barnes and pitchers Louis Coleman, Josh Fields and Josh Ravin.

Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Julio Urías, P

Since he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 2, Puig played in 24 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with a .422 on-base percentage, .605 slugging percentage, five homers and nine walks against 11 strikeouts.

“For us, Yasiel’s done everything that was asked of him,” Dave Roberts said today in an interview with MLB Network about Puig, who will start tonight. “As we talked through things, we felt ultimately that he makes us better, with him keeping his end of the deal. It’s all about Yasiel becoming a better person, a better teammate, but also helping the Dodgers with baseball games.”

Yasiel Puig on his return: "It feels a little strange, but I'm glad to be given the opportunity." pic.twitter.com/sCzX3l0054

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 2, 2016

Said Puig to reporters this afternoon: “I earned the demotion to Triple-A. I feel that I’m now a better person, and I’m here to show it.”

Puig has a .320 on-base percentage, .386 slugging percentage and .706 OPS this season for the Dodgers. Between his return from the disabled list and his trip to the minors, he had a .390 OBP while slugging .440.

He joins a Dodger outfield that has Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Josh Reddick, Andrew Toles, Kiké Hernandez and (though mainly an infielder) Rob Segedin.

Andre Ethier, who has played three nights in a row in rehab games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (including seven innings in right field Thursday), might not be far behind.

The 26-year-old Barnes wraps up his second season in Oklahoma City with a .380 on-base percentage, .443 slugging percentage and 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts, along with 43 walks against 53 strikeouts. In brief action with the Dodger this year, Barnes is 3 for 23 with three walks and a double.

Coleman pitched four shutout innings in rehab outings from August 22-30, allowing five hits while walking none and striking out six. With the Dodgers, he has a 3.70 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 37 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings. He had made six straight scoreless appearances before going on the disabled list August 3 with right shoulder fatigue.

Fields has pitched two innings for Oklahoma City since he was optioned August 23. He had allowed five earned runs and 18 baserunners in 9 2/3 innings as a Dodger since his August 1 acquisition from Houston.

Placed on the disabled list August 15 with right triceps inflammation, Ravin pitched in one rehab inning August 30 for Rancho Cucamonga, allowing a hit and a run with a strikeout. He has two shutout innings with the Dodgers this year.

Luis Avilan, a winning pitcher Wednesday thanks to Toles’ grand-slam heroics, was only temporarily on the team as the 26th man for the second game of the doubleheader, and officially returned to Triple-A today. Because he was optioned August 25, he isn’t eligible for a permanent recall until Sunday.

So as they start September, the Dodgers have 15 pitchers and 15 position players on their active roster — with more to come.

Dodgers recall Casey Fien, option Pedro Baez

By Jon Weisman

On August 30, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Rob Segedin, 1B
Carlos Ruiz, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Charlie Culberson, SS
Andrew Toles, CF
Rich Hill, P

By Jon Weisman

Casey Fien has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers, who have optioned Pedro Baez to Double-A Tulsa.

Baez has been on the Dodger active roster all season — he’s seventh on the team in innings pitched and second behind Joe Blanton among relievers.

He had a superb July, pitching 14 2/3 shutout innings with 14 strikeouts, though he allowed three inherited runs to score July 30. However, though he has maintained his strikeout rate in August, Baez has allowed 23 baserunners in 12 innings with a 7.50 ERA this month.

Fien has a 3.80 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 23 2/3 innings as a Dodger, including 1 2/3 shutout innings this month. The Dodgers expect to add at least one other right-hander later this week with the anticipated return of Louis Coleman from the disabled list.

How much will Dodgers fatten roster in September?

By Jon Weisman

On August 28, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Cubs at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Rob Segedin, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Charlie Culberson, 2B
Brock Stewart, P

By Jon Weisman

September 1, the date that active rosters can expand to as many as 40 players, has been in the Dodgers’ sightlines for some time — the seemingly perfect quirk in the schedule to serve a team that has depth in its pitching staff but not length.

Today, Dave Roberts told reporters that the Dodgers plan to activate Louis Coleman from the disabled list before Friday’s game (Thursday is actually an off day for Los Angeles, except for the Dodgers All-Access event) and also bring back reliever Casey Fien from the minors.

That would give the Dodgers a minimum of 14 pitchers, pending more possible additions as the month progresses. A recall of Luis Avilan and Josh Fields, who pitched recently for the Dodgers, would give them 16 arms. Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Josh Ravin are on the 15-day disabled list, and so with the flick of paperwork, the pitching staff could number as many as 20.

Hopes remain for the return from the 60-day disabled list of Clayton Kershaw to the starting rotation and Alex Wood to the bullpen, and then you possibly have 22 pitchers. (That seems like a lot.) In those cases, however, someone currently on the 40-man roster would have to be displaced.

That’s why, despite his strong finish at Triple-A Oklahoma City and highly regarded prospect status, Jose De Leon — who is not on the 40-man roster yet — might not see action for Los Angeles this year. It hasn’t been ruled out, but it’s predicated on the status of the aforementioned score of pitchers.

Two seasons, 80 Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On August 27, 2016

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Dodger Stadium is the land of opportunity. In a month shy of two seasons, the Dodgers have used the equivalent of two 40-man rosters.

On Friday, Carlos Ruiz became the 80th person to play for the Dodgers since Opening Day 2015.

Carlos Ruiz to start tonight, Brock Stewart recalled

By Jon Weisman

On August 26, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”1096464783″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Carlos Ruiz, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Chase Utley, 2B
Bud Norris, P

By Jon Weisman

As expected, Carlos Ruiz is in the starting lineup for his Dodger debut tonight, with Shawn Zarraga being optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Zarraga, as you can see in the video above, did enjoy the thrill of being an official Major Leaguer, however briefly. He arrived Thursday via private jet, as Michael Clair notes at MLB.com’s Cut4.

As the newest big leaguer told MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, “It was a 12-seater and it was just me and the pilot, but I got to sit next to him and that was cool.”

In addition, the Dodgers have recalled Brock Stewart from Triple-A. Stewart, who was optioned August 15 to make room for the activation of Casey Fien, threw five innings of shutout ball August 19 for Oklahoma City.

So, how are the Dodgers making room for Stewart on the roster this weekend? They have optioned Kenta Maeda — yes, that’s right — to the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers, whose season concludes on Sunday. That means he can be recalled immediately after that day, without a 10-day waiting period.

As Dave Roberts said today, the plan is that Julio Urías will start for the Dodgers on Saturday and Maeda will take the mound Monday in Colorado, leaving Sunday as TBD.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Transactions (Page 2 of 36)

Andre Ethier to be on NLDS roster

Dodgers face difficult task trimming roster for playoffs

Dodgers call up Chris Taylor — McCarthy to follow

Alex Wood activated from disabled list

Dodgers call up Micah Johnson

Joey Curletta goes to Phillies in Ellis-Ruiz deal

A Hill of beans in this crazy world

Clayton Kershaw reunited with baseball

Dodgers have baker’s dozen in bullpen — and counting

Clayton Kershaw to start for Dodgers on Friday

Dodgers recall Puig, Barnes and Fields, activate Coleman and Ravin

Dodgers recall Casey Fien, option Pedro Baez

How much will Dodgers fatten roster in September?

Two seasons, 80 Dodgers

Carlos Ruiz to start tonight, Brock Stewart recalled

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