Transactions – Page 20 – Dodger Thoughts

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Ahead of tonight’s deadline to protect players before the December 11 Rule 5 draft, the Dodgers selected the contracts of pitchers Zach Lee and Chris Reed and outfielder Scott Schebler to the team’s 40-man roster.

The Dodgers have 39 players on the 40-man, after reliever Onelki Garcia was claimed on waivers by the Chicago White Sox. Garcia, who allowed two runs in 1 1/3 big-league innings with the Dodgers in 2013, missed most of 2014 because of arm surgery before a brief return at season’s end for Rancho Cucamonga.

— Jon Weisman

Andre Ethier and the 1988 draft

By Jon Weisman

On November 20, 2014

In History, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

And with the 1,390th pick in the 1988 amateur draft, the Dodgers select 6-year-old outfielder Andre Ethier …

Well, not exactly, but over at Grantland, Ben Lindbergh did something I’ve always wanted to do but never attempted — see how far back you can trace the acquisition of a given player.

Amazingly, he’s done it for all 30 MLB teams, and as you can see above, he routes Andre Ethier all the way back to the 1988 draft, when the outfielder wasn’t quite two months past his sixth birthday. (Click the image to enlarge.)

Dodgers acquire outfielder Kyle Jensen

By Jon Weisman

On November 17, 2014

In Transactions

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Two weeks after the acquisition of infielder Ryan Jackson, the Dodgers have picked up outfielder/first baseman Kyle Jensen from the Miami Marlins in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.

The 26-year-old Jensen had a .331 on-base percentage, .481 slugging percentage, 27 homers and 29 doubles for Triple-A New Orleans in 2014. A right-handed hitter, Jensen has 128 homers in 705 games, mostly playing right and left field.

The Dodgers’ 40-man roster now stands at 37.

— Jon Weisman

We didn’t stop the hires: Gabe Kapler, Billy Gasparino join Dodger front office

By Jon Weisman

On November 7, 2014

In Front office, Transactions

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB8CF6Bmi3I&w=550&h=309]
By Jon Weisman

The past 24 hours in the Dodger front office should be sponsored by Hires Root Beer.

The third and fourth people to officially join the executive staff since Thursday evening are Gabe Kapler as director of player development and Billy Gasparino as director of amateur scouting. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has more on the newbie newbies.

Dodgers name Farhan Zaidi as general manager, Josh Byrnes to oversee scouting and player development

By Jon Weisman

On November 6, 2014

In Front office, Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has officially named his top two lieutenants in the front office, announcing Farhan Zaidi as the franchise’s 11th general manager and Josh Byrnes as senior vice president of baseball operations.

The 37-year-old Zaidi had been the assistant general manager and director of baseball operations in Oakland, while Byrnes was most recently executive vice president and general manager of the Padres.

“It is very exciting for us to be able to add two exceptional, veteran baseball executives like Farhan and Josh,” Friedman said. “Farhan’s primary focus will be the Major League team and player acquisitions while Josh will concentrate on the oversight of scouting and player development. However, they will both work closely with me on all aspects of baseball operations in our efforts to make the Dodgers’ front office and team the best it can possibly be.”

Dodgers acquire infielder Ryan Jackson

By Jon Weisman

On November 3, 2014

In Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

There is a new Dodger to announce: Ryan Jackson.

The team claimed the 26-year-old infielder, who is 2 for 24 with a walk in his MLB career, from San Diego and added him to the 40-man roster.

Jackson had his best minor-league season in 2011 with the Cardinals’ Double-A team in Springfield, posting a .334 on-base percentage and .415 slugging percentage.

Note: If you’ve never really seen MLB’s authentication process at work, the video of Jackson’s first career big-league hit above will show it to you. An interview with his parents on the day of his MLB debut is below.

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The day Ryan Jackson was born, Kirk Gibson hit a 14th-inning homer to beat the Cubs and @OrelHershiser got the save. http://t.co/nIdDSUkEAO

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) November 3, 2014

Dodger comings and goings: Ramirez, Wilson, Elbert

By Jon Weisman

On November 3, 2014

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have made a qualifying offer to Hanley Ramirez for the 2015 season, which he has until November 10 to accept.

If Ramirez declines the one-year deal, as every other player has since MLB instituted since this process began two seasons ago, he will remain a free agent. The Dodgers can continue to negotiate with him if they choose, but will receive draft-pick compensation (between the first and second rounds in 2015) if he signs with another team.

Meanwhile, Brian Wilson has exercised his option to return to the Dodgers for 2015, but Scott Elbert — designated for assignment in July before returning to the organization and ending up on the 2014 playoff roster — has become a free agent.

Chad Billingsley’s legacy a dividing line for Dodger fans

By Jon Weisman

On November 3, 2014

In Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

For some, Chad Billingsley never stopped being the pitcher who imploded in the 2008 National League Championship Series, failing to make it out of the third inning in either of his two starts and condemned for supposed spinelessness along the way.

For me, Billingsley — one of the five best pitchers the Dodger system has produced in the past 25 years — remains a pitcher to admire, even accounting for his struggles.

The two sides of Billingsley illustrate a rift between fans that is even more pointed than the Old School-New School debate that for so long has dominated baseball conversation.

Simply put: Should a player be defined by his failures or his successes?

Dan Haren confirms return for 2015

By Jon Weisman

On October 30, 2014

In Transactions

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Right-handed pitcher Dan Haren has exercised his option to play for the Dodgers in 2015.

Haren had a 4.02 ERA and 4.09 FIP with the Dodgers in 2014, striking out 145 batters in 186 innings while allowing 222 baserunners. In his final 10 starts of the 2014 season, Haren had a 2.43 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. He turned 34 in September.

His best start came June 30 against Cleveland, when he allowed two baserunners in seven shutout innings on the night the Dodgers moved into first place in the National League West after a 9 1/2-game deficit.

— Jon Weisman

Did Dodgers win the WAR last offseason?

By Jon Weisman

On October 20, 2014

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

For entertainment purposes, I’m about to oversimplify something that’s far more complex than how I’m presenting it.

Nevertheless, I was curious what the Dodgers gained and lost in wins above replacement (WAR) from their moves during the 2013-14 offseason. And putting all other considerations aide, the scales almost balanced.

The Dodgers received 2.1 WAR from their 2014 additions, according to Fangraphs, while those who left the team after the 2013 season produced 1.8 WAR with their new clubs.

The big weight on the scale was Justin Turner, who delivered 3.2 WAR all by himself. Chone Figgins (0.6) was also useful in his abbreviated tenure. They more than made up for the departures of Elian Herrera, Nick Punto, Justin Sellers, Mark Ellis and Skip Schumacher.

The biggest loss for the Dodgers in WAR was Ricky Nolasco (1.2), who had a 5.38 ERA and 4.30 FIP in the first year of his four-year deal with Minnesota. Edinson Volquez (0.7), who signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh, was more of a bargain, though not as much as his 3.04 ERA might suggest.

In the bullpen, Ronald Belisario, Javy Guerra and Shawn Tolleson combined for 0.8 WAR, which isn’t much but proved better than what Chris Perez (-0.8) delivered.

Seth Rosin never pitched in a game for the Dodgers after being acquired on the day of the Rule 5 draft, but I included him here as someone they had and then let go.

Among the 2013 Dodgers who didn’t play in the big leagues in 2014: Nick Buss, Jerry Hairston Jr., Peter Molyan and Michael Young.

Obviously, there are long-term issues, both coming and going, that I’m ignoring in this post, which is completely focused on the past season. Nor does it take into account salary, or 2013 free agents who returned to Los Angeles. But if you’re curious, here are the numbers …

Roger Bernadina elects free agency

By Jon Weisman

On October 14, 2014

In Transactions

Roger Bernadina crosses home plate after hitting the Dodgers’ final three-run homer of 2014. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Roger Bernadina, the speedy outfielder who ended up leading the 2014 Dodgers in hitting — yeah, that’s right — has declined a minor-league assignment, as permitted by the MLB service time he has accumulated, and elected to become a free agent.

With a single and a home run on the final day of the regular season, the 30-year-old Bernadina finished with a 1.159 OPS in nine plate appearances with the Dodgers. He was also tied for 10th place on the team with two hit-by-pitches.

Bernadina, who had been signed to a minor-league deal in July and was called up September 6, has a .307 on-base percentage and .354 slugging percentage in 1,480 career plate appearances.

— Jon Weisman

Dodgers hire Andrew Freidman as president of baseball operations — Ned Colletti to remain as senior advisor

By Jon Weisman

On October 14, 2014

In Front office, Transactions

Andrew Friedman (J. Meric/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

Andrew Friedman, the 37-year-old architect of four playoff appearances and a trip to the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays, is joining the Dodgers in the newly created position of president of baseball operations.

Ned Colletti, the Dodgers’ general manager since 2005, will remain in the organization as a senior advisor to president and CEO Stan Kasten. A news conference will be held at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.

Friedman is six years older than Paul DePodesta was when the latter was named general manager in February 2004. And it’s those six years, plus three more as Rays executive vice president of baseball operations, that probably will impress those who would otherwise doubt someone so young and who came to baseball after starting his working career with Bear Stearns and MidMark Capital.

Though they finished 77-85 in 2014, the Rays had a run of six consecutive winning seasons — five of them with at least 90 victories — despite operating with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. At age 31, he became the youngest-ever winner of the Sporting News’ Executive of the Year award.

“Andrew Friedman is one of the youngest and brightest minds in the game today and we are very fortunate to have him join our organization,” said Kasten. “The success he has had over the past nine years in molding the Tampa Bay Rays team has been incredible.”

Lest you think Friedman was a baseball neophyte when he joined the Rays, he went to Tulane on a baseball scholarship as an outfielder.

Since Colletti joined the Dodgers, the team has had eight winning seasons and five playoff appearances in nine years.

“Ned Colletti has played a major role in the success of the Los Angeles Dodgers over the last nine years, and I’m thrilled that we are able to retain him as a special advisor to me,” said Kasten. “Ned’s knowledge and experience in the game covering 33 years will be a great asset to the club as we continue to add and build our player development system.”

Dodgers outright Stephen Fife to AAA

By Jon Weisman

On October 13, 2014

In Transactions

Stephen Fife crossed paths with fans at Camelback Ranch in March. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have activated Stephen Fife from the 60-day disabled list and outrighted him to their new AAA affiliate in Oklahoma City.

Fife made one appearance for the Dodgers in 2014, a six-inning start against the Marlins on May 4 in which he allowed four runs. Eventually, after struggling to a 7.01 ERA in 43 2/3 innings with AAA Albuquerque, he had Tommy John surgery in August.

In 91 career innings with the Dodgers, Fife has had a 3.66 ERA.

Dodgers bring back Scott Elbert

By Jon Weisman

On September 12, 2014

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Designated for assignment in late July, lefty reliever Scott Elbert has made his way back to the Dodgers, who selected his contract from Triple-A Albuquerque.

To make room for Elbert on the 40-man roster, pitcher Red Patterson was designated for assignment.

Since clearing waivers and accepting an assignment to the Isotopes in August, Elbert allowed seven runs, 14 hits and three walks in 7 1/3 innings while striking out six, but that was skewed when he gave up five runs while getting one out at Las Vegas on August 8. From August 14 to the end of the season, Elbert pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts.

Looking to make his first big-league appearance since August 26, 2002, Elbert gives the Dodgers a second left-handed reliever while they await possible returns by Paco Rodriguez and Onelki Garcia, both of whom are already on the 40-man roster. Rodriguez threw a simulated game today.

In his previous two seasons with the Dodgers, Elbert had a 2.32 ERA from 2011-12 with 63 strikeouts in 66 innings against 54 hits and 27 walks.

Patterson pitched in one game for the Dodgers, going 4 2/3 innings in the second game of a May Day doubleheader victory at Minnesota and allowing one run. At Albuquerque, the 27-year-old had a 5.79 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings.

Update: Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has more on Elbert and Rodriguez.

… “Paco was good,” said manager Don Mattingly. “The way he’s been throwing, bouncing back continues to be the concern. If he’s good after today, we’ll make a decision possible tomorrow.”

Elbert hasn’t pitched in a Major League game in two years. Since then, he has had three elbow operations, including Tommy John reconstruction.

“I’m pain free. I feel like a normal player,” said Elbert. “Obviously, my velocity is not where it once was. I’m able to compete. I’m around 90, 91 mph. If I’m 90 percent of what I was, it’s still pretty good.”

Elbert said the final hurdle in his rehab was trusting that everything was fixed. He thanked the Dodgers for being patient and said being taken off the roster was “a blessing in disguise,” because it allowed him to regain his form without a deadline. He said there were times he wondered if he’d ever get back. …

Dodgers add speedy outfielder Bernadina to bench

By Jon Weisman

On September 6, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers added an extra outfielder and perhaps more importantly, a pinch-runner, in bringing up Roger Bernadina from Triple-A Albuquerque.

The 34th player on the active roster, the 30-year-old Bernadina has stolen 59 out of 71 bases (83.1 percent) in a 539-game Major League career, as well 204 out of 261 (78.2 percent) in the minors. A reserve with the Isotopes this year who started the year with Cincinnati, Bernadina had a .380 on-base percentage and .351 slugging percentage in 71 plate appearances.

Bernadina has also played more than 1,000 innings in center field in his career. He was signed to a minor-league deal in July.

Speaking of center field, Yasiel Puig is suffering from a stomach ailment, according to manager Don Mattingly, who moved Joc Pederson back into the starting lineup. Mattingly said that the Dodgers would learn later today whether Puig would be available off the bench.

Mattingly said he chose Pederson over Andre Ethier for defensive reasons, adding that he loves Ethier and knows that being relegated to the bench is not a great situation for him, but that there are only so many spots available.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Transactions (Page 20 of 36)

Zach Lee, Chris Reed and Scott Schebler join 40-man

Andre Ethier and the 1988 draft

Dodgers acquire outfielder Kyle Jensen

We didn’t stop the hires: Gabe Kapler, Billy Gasparino join Dodger front office

Dodgers name Farhan Zaidi as general manager, Josh Byrnes to oversee scouting and player development

Dodgers acquire infielder Ryan Jackson

Dodger comings and goings: Ramirez, Wilson, Elbert

Chad Billingsley’s legacy a dividing line for Dodger fans

Dan Haren confirms return for 2015

Did Dodgers win the WAR last offseason?

Roger Bernadina elects free agency

Dodgers hire Andrew Freidman as president of baseball operations — Ned Colletti to remain as senior advisor

Dodgers outright Stephen Fife to AAA

Dodgers bring back Scott Elbert

Dodgers add speedy outfielder Bernadina to bench

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