Transactions – Page 24 – Dodger Thoughts

April 9 pregame: Josh Beckett returns

On April 9, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Josh Beckett has officially come off the disabled list to pitch tonight’s game for the Dodgers against a player he was once in a trade with, Anibal Sanchez.

To make room for Beckett on the roster, Jose Dominguez was optioned to Albuquerque.

With Beckett’s return, the Dodger pitching staff crowds up some more, and Dominguez’s travels offer only a temporary respite. Brian Wilson (left) marked his 10th day on the disabled list with a bullpen session of about 20 pitches off the Dodger Stadium mound today.

Beckett is not expected to have a long first outing, Don Mattingly said, adding that Paul Maholm would be available out of the bullpen tonight.

What else can I tell you?

Tigers at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Matt Kemp, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Tim Federowicz, C
Josh Beckett, P

“The sensation that Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley felt while pitching Sunday in a rehab start was scar tissue breaking in his surgically repaired elbow and not a major setback in his comeback from Tommy John surgery,” reports Earl Bloom for MLB.com.
Tuesday’s showdown between Kenley Jansen and Miguel Cabrera has been documented by Grant Brisbee of SB Nation as “the best at-bat in MLB so far” in 2014, while for Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, it was a reminder of “what makes baseball great.”
A.J. Ellis is celebrating his 33rd birthday today by beginning his rehab from Tuesday’s knee surgery.
Homerless streaks are in the news because of Kansas City’s early season drought. As Joe Posnanski notes for Hardball Talk, the 1963 and 1967 Dodgers had some of baseball’s biggest season-opening homer droughts.
Briefly a Dodger Seth Rosin was designated for assignment by Texas. Rosin pitched in three games for Texas, allowing no runs in three innings across his first two, then three runs in one inning on Monday.

Dodgers acquire lefty Hynes from Indians, DFA Baxter

By Jon Weisman

On April 6, 2014

In Transactions, Uncategorized

[mlbvideo id=”28915217″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Colt Hynes, a 28-year-old lefthander who had 58 strikeouts and two walks in 47 1/3 innings in Triple-A last season, has been acquired by the Dodgers from Cleveland in exchange for Double-A righty Duke von Schamann.

Hynes was added to the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, forcing the Dodgers to designate Mike Baxter for assignment.

Hynes has been a reliever all of his career, except for 21 starts for Tucson in 2012. Hynes pitched 17 innings for San Diego with a 9.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts before being acquired by Cleveland on the last day of October.

Von Schamann, who pitched seven innings of two-hit shutout ball with two strikeouts for Chattanooga on Friday, had a 4.67 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 131 innings split between Rancho Cucamonga and Chattanooga last year.

Baxter, an outfielder and pinch-hitting specialist acquired in October from the Mets, went 0 for 7 in four games this year for Los Angeles.

April 4 pregame: Happy Home Opening Day

By Jon Weisman

On April 4, 2014

In Offense, Pregame, Transactions

Giants at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P

By Jon Weisman

Though Matt Kemp has been activated, he is not in today’s starting lineup. As SportsNet LA’s Allanna Rizzo notes on Twitter, Don Mattingly said that he hopes to ease Kemp into action in the later innings today and that Kemp would likely start on Saturday. Mike Baxter has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

The Dodgers have brought out the same starting eight position players in the same batting order for the fourth consecutive game, the first time the team has done this since they put out this group for five consecutive games, from May 12-16, 2009:

Juan Pierre, LF
Rafael Furcal, SS
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Russell Martin, C
James Loney, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Casey Blake, 3B

In other notes, Hyun-Jin Ryu will “join Van Lingle Mungo (1937) and Don Drysdale (1965) as the only Dodgers pitchers to start in three of the first six games since 1914,” according to Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.

Update: Matt Kemp will start and bat second after all, playing center field in place of Yasiel Puig, who was scratched after showing up late today. Andre Ethier will play right field.

Matt Kemp, ready to rock

By Jon Weisman

On April 4, 2014

In Health/injuries, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”19534345″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

The Bison’s back in town.

According to the Dodgers’ PR department, Matt Kemp “is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list prior to today’s game (though not in today’s starting lineup),” looking to make a fresh start after a series of injuries derailed most of his past two seasons.

“I’m as ready as I can be, and (I’m) excited to get out and compete again,” Kemp told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. “I’ve done all the practicing I can do, I’ve done the rehab. I’ve busted my butt and now I hope all the work has paid off.”

Photos by Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Coming off a near-MVP season in 2011, Kemp had a monstrous .446 on-base percentage and .726 slugging percentage and had played in 399 consecutive games, making a strong case as the best player in the game (watch the video above to refresh your memory of his prowess), when he went on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

He has been beset by injuries to his hamstring, shoulder and ankle since then, lowering his production to a .330 OBP and .430 slugging in 145 games. That’s mostly due to the first three months of the 2013 season, the first three months he played after labrum surgery, when he had a .309 OBP and .355 slugging in 57 games. When he was able to get in the lineup in the second half of the season, he went 18 for 54 with four homers, a .400 OBP and .630 slugging.

Even in the post-injury portion of 2012, Kemp had a .332 OBP and .462 slugging with 11 homers in 72 games, production that most players would settle for.

[mlbvideo id=”27237653″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

How well Kemp will perform at the outset of his return is impossible to know, though isn’t that really true of any player? In any case, the time to find out, as Gurnick reports, is now.

Manager Don Mattingly said the club has rejected the thought of further Minor League rehab action for Kemp, even if it means the team must bite the bullet and let him work through the rust.

“Physically, in his mind, Matt feels he’s ready,” Mattingly said. “He’s said he’s not afraid to do all the things he has to do. In a sense, we can only trust him. He’s been honest with us. He doesn’t want to get embarrassed. He wants to do well.”

Kemp understands the skepticism.

“I just want them to have faith in me and trust what I say,” he said. “I’m ready. I told them at the beginning of Spring Training, ‘If I’m not ready, I’m not going out there.’ I’m telling the truth if I say I can compete with those guys. I have no doubt at all. I’ve had good years. Everybody has their own opinion, but I know the type of player I am capable of being. Everybody has doubters, but I don’t let that affect me.

“Honestly, my legs are in great shape. I’ve done all the tests, but you can never simulate Major League game situations. I’ve gone first to third, I’ve been sliding, I definitely can do that. It’s all cool. My shoulder feels great, that’s the least of my concerns. The focus on that is over.”

If you argue that it’s too optimistic to expect a return to his 2011 form, it’s also too pessimistic to assume Kemp can’t surpass his 2013 performance. There’s no doubt about the effort Kemp has put into a long and excruciating rehab, or his desire to be as good as he ever was. It’s hard not to be eager to see what happens.

April 2 pregame: Lather, rinse, repeat

By Jon Weisman

On April 2, 2014

In Offense, Pregame, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”31756453″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Dee Gordon, 2B
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

For all their early season injuries, the Dodgers have the exact same starting eight position players, batting in the same order, for the third straight game.

That hasn’t happened since September 3-5, 2012, when Don Mattingly offered the following octet:

Mark Ellis, 2B
Shane Victorino, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Luis Cruz, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C

* * *

Tyson Ross, the starting pitcher for the Padres tonight, struck out 10 of 20 Dodgers the last time he faced them, on September 1. The first time he faced them, on April 17, he got his first Major League hit but hurt his shoulder on the swing and didn’t pitch again for 15 days. The 6-foot-5 Ross, who turns 27 this month, had a 3.17 ERA and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings last year (2.93 and 9.6 after the All-Star Break), and at Petco Park, his ERA was 2.03.

* * *

My favorite stats after four games:

Team OPS leaders: Dee Gordon .962, Juan Uribe .941
Team starting pitching: 23 2/3 innings, 1.14 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 9.1 K/9
A.J. Ellis: on pace for 162 walks.
Chone Figgins: on pace for 81 walks, zero at-bats
No Dodger starter has hit into a double play.

* * *

Update: Jose Dominguez has been recalled from his assignment to Albuquerque, as the Dodgers officially placed Brian Wilson on the disabled list.

Scheduled Dodger starting pitchers for the three-game series against the Giants are Hyun-Jin Ryu on Friday, Paul Maholm on Saturday and Zack Greinke on Sunday.

* * *

From the Dodger press notes: “The Dodgers have limited the Padres to three or fewer runs in each of their last 10 games, winning eight of those contests dating to June 22, 2013. Los Angeles has posted a 1.13 ERA (11 ER/88.0 IP) in that span. The last time the Dodgers held any opponent to three or fewer runs in 10 consecutive games was April 8-Sept. 9, 2003 against the Diamondbacks (source: Stats, LLC). If the Dodgers hold San Diego to three or fewer runs tonight, it would be their longest such streak against a single opponent since a 12-game run against the Cubs Aug. 26, 1991-Aug. 21, 1992.”

* * *

More news: “The Dodgers will welcome back former Dodger outfielder Raul Mondesi as part of Dominican Heritage at Viva Los Dodgers this Sunday. Mondesi, current mayor of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, will be holding a clothing drive to benefit his hometown of San Cristobal. He will accept donations of gently-worn clothing and will sign autographs for fans. Fans that bring a donation will be placed in a priority line for autographs. … Mondesi will also throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to Sunday’s game.”

Dodgers claim Carlos Triunfel for Albuquerque

By Jon Weisman

On April 2, 2014

In Minor leagues, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”24887751″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers today claimed infielder Carlos Triunfel on outright waivers from Seattle, added him to the 40-man roster and optioned him to Triple-A Albuquerque.

In his 27-game MLB career, the 24-year-old Triunfel is 11 for 66 with one walk. Spending most of last year with Triple-A Tacoma, Triunfel had a .328 on-base percentage and slugged .394.

A native of the Dominican Republic, he received a $1.3 million signing bonus at age 16, according to John Sickels of Minor League Ball, and made his pro debut in 2007 at age 17. In 2009, according to Sickels, “he played just 11 games due to a horrifying leg injury that included a broken fibula and torn ankle ligaments.”

In his 2013 assessment, Sickels adds:

Interestingly, despite the stocky height/weight listing, when I’ve seen him in person he’s actually shown more quickness around the infield than he did three or four years ago. It looks to me like he’s put in a lot of work on defense. His reactions are better, his footwork is cleaner, and while he’s not going to win any gold gloves at shortstop, you could play him there on a short-term basis without killing yourself.

He’s always had a very strong throwing arm, and his throws are more accurate than they used to be. He’s performed well in brief action at second base and third base, so he does fit the utility profile positionally.

March 29 pregame: Kershaw to disabled list

By Jon Weisman

On March 29, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Angels, 6:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, DH
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Andre Ethier, CF
Justin Turner, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
(Dan Haren, P)

By Jon Weisman

So it has happened: Clayton Kershaw is heading for the disabled list.

It’s not the first time he has missed a start in his career, though that is rare in itself. But it is the first time he has been placed on the DL.

Don Mattingly gave reporters the news today. From Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.:

Kershaw was throwing off flat ground in right field with trainer Stan Conte earlier Saturday, gradually increasing the intensity and distance of his throws. Once he felt something, on the 27th throw, he immediately ceased throwing.

“We have to save Clayton from Clayton. If it was up to him, I’m sure he’d want to go farther. We can’t allow him to do that,” manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s getting better, but it’s not at a point where we can go any farther. It kind of tells you he’s hit a ceiling at this point, and had to stop.”

Kershaw could next pitch as early as April 8 against Detroit. That potentially could be a matchup of 2013 Cy Young Winners: Kershaw and Max Scherzer.

Jose Dominguez, meanwhile, was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Seth Rosin, Javy Guerra no longer Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On March 26, 2014

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Seth Rosin is now a Texas Ranger and Javy Guerra is now a member of the Chicago White Sox, with each organization having claimed the pitchers on waivers from the Dodgers.

Guerra was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on March 16, and the 10-day window for the Dodgers to make a move with him expired today.

Rosin, as we’ve discussed throughout Spring Training, had a potential expiration date as a Dodger all along. He was a Rule 5 draftee by the New York Mets from Philadelphia who was then traded to Los Angeles. He had to remain on the Dodgers’ active roster all season or risk being sent back to the Phillies. Forced to make a decision on Rosin because of an overflow of arms in the bullpen, the Dodgers placed him on waivers, where Texas picked him up.

Relief pitchers remaining on the Dodgers’ active roster are Jose Dominguez, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Brandon League, Chris Perez, Paco Rodriguez, Brian Wilson, Chris Withrow and Jamey Wright. The Dodgers will need to trim at least one more name before the domestic opener Sunday at San Diego.

Start with 25 players, finish with 50

By Jon Weisman

On March 18, 2014

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

For all the fuss over who’s on the Opening Day roster, about half the players the Dodgers use in a typical season typically aren’t. Last year, it was exactly half.

Of the 50 players who wore the uniform for the 2013 Dodgers, 14 began their season in the Dodger farm system, four on the disabled list and seven in other organizations.

Note that Aaron Harang was on the Dodgers’ Opening Day active roster but did not pitch for them in 2013. That doesn’t happen a lot. He was traded April 6 to Colorado for Ramon Hernandez, who was in roster limbo after being designated for assignment before the end of Spring Training.

The Dodgers received 920 plate appearances (15 percent of the team total of of 6,145) and 312 innings (21 percent of the team total of 1,450 1/3) from players who replaced the original 25 in 2013. Top contributors were Yasiel Puig (432 plate appearances), Scott Van Slyke (152) and Dee Gordon (106) at the plate, and Ricky Nolasco (87 innings), Stephen Fife (58 1/3) and Chris Withrow (32 2/3) on the mound.

The 2013 Dodgers on April 1

Opening Day 2013 roster (25): Josh Beckett, Ronald Belisario, Chris Capuano, Zack Greinke, Matt Guerrier, Aaron Harang, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Brandon League, Paco Rodriguez, Hyun-Jin Ryu, A.J. Ellis, Tim Federowicz, Luis Cruz, Mark Ellis, Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Punto, Justin Sellers, Juan Uribe, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Jerry Hairston, Skip Schumacher

Disabled list (4): Chad Billingsley, Scott Elbert, Hanley Ramirez, Ted Lilly

Triple-A Albuquerque (12): Elian Herrera, Stephen Fife, Alex Castellanos, Josh Wall, Dee Gordon, Chris Withrow, Shawn Tolleson, Javy Guerra, Matt Magill, Scott Van Slyke, Nick Buss, Peter Moylan

Double-A Chattanooga (2): Yasiel Puig, Jose Dominguez

Other organizations (7):

Chicago Cubs: Carlos Marmol
Miami Marlins: Ricky Nolasco
San Diego Padres: Edinson Volquez
Texas Rangers: Michael Young
Triple-A Rochester (Minnesota Twins): Drew Butera
Designated for assignment (Colorado Rockies): Ramon Hernandez
Unsigned: Brian Wilson

Post-Arizona status report for the Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On March 17, 2014

In Analysis, Spring Training, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

There’s definitely a weird feeling to this Spring Training interregnum between Arizona and Australia — not that it won’t feel even weirder next week, when the Dodgers follow their two regular season games Down Under with four off days and then a pair of Freeway Series exhibitions against the Angels.

Nevertheless, with no game action until the Dodgers scrimmage against Team Australia on Thursday, and the Dodgers having set their 30-man travel squad for Sydney, this does seem like an appropriate time to take a little bit of stock.

Read More

You’d think it was Father’s Day

By Jon Weisman

On March 10, 2014

In Postgame, Spring Training, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Why yes, I have noticed that a certain Even Steven approach to the Dodger exhibition season. Cyndi Lauper is putting out her new single, “Tie After Tie,” as we speak.

Today’s 8-8 deadlock with Oakland widened the Dodgers’ Cactus League record to 4-6-4 and gave them ties in nearly 30 percent of their contests. In their past 10 games, the Dodgers are 2-4-4. Their past six games have been as easy as 1-2-3.

Last year, Los Angeles played 15 extra-inning games out of 162 in the regular season.

The Dodgers allowed a game-tying five runs in the eighth inning today, but it could have been worse. Brian Wilson, still mixing the occasional knuckleball, had a visit to the mound from an assistant trainer in the eighth inning (no, I’m not making a connection there), but the team reported no trouble to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Wilson was charged with two runs, while Carlos Frias, who retired none of his four batters, was charged with three.

Los Angeles looked great at the outset, with Andre Ethier lovingly smashing a three-run home run in the first inning, Juan Uribe following with a solo shot, and Hyun-Jin Ryu scattering a run and four baserunners over five innings, striking out four.

[mlbvideo id=”31494067″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

Miguel Olivo added a three-run double (not to mention a stolen base) in helping boost the Dodgers’ lead to 8-3. In addition, J.P. Howell and Dee Gordon each turned in fine defensive plays.

[mlbvideo id=”31496463″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

[mlbvideo id=”31495283″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

Following the game today, the Dodgers optioned pitcher Matt Magill and reassigned Frias, J.C. Boscan, Brendan Harris and Clint Robinson to minor-league camp. Harris is the second of the pre-Spring Training infield candidates to miss the cut, following Justin Sellers, who was sent to Cleveland.

Magill has had a nice exhibition season, with six strikeouts against five baserunners in 5 2/3 innings.

And, a postscript: I know the story here is Zack Greinke and Matt Kemp progressing in their rehab, but what really tantalized me was the thought of seeing Kemp bat against Julio Urias. The 17-year-old gave up a sacrifice fly to Kemp in the intrasquad game, but also struck him out.

In short, call it Even Steven.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prvm5ZFPIrE&w=550&h=413]

March 4 pregame: Ten reassigned from Major League camp

By Jon Weisman

On March 4, 2014

In Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Mariners vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Andre Ethier, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Juan Uribe, 3B
Clint Robinson, 1B
Justin Turner, SS
Chone Figgins, 2B
(Brian Wilson, P)

By Jon Weisman

The first round of springtime reassignments took place this morning. Pedro Baez, Nick Buss, Stephen Fife, Yimi Garcia and Jarret Martin were optioned to minor-league camp, while Sam Demel, Griff Erickson, Daniel Moskos, Chris O’Brien and Chris Reed were reassigned to minor-league camp.

It all amounts to the same thing; the difference has to do with being on the 40-man roster vs. being a non-roster invitee.

As previously announced, today is a bullpen day while the Australia unbound Zack Greinke gets his calf back on track. Scheduled to follow Brian Wilson are Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez, Jamey Wright and Chris Withrow.

Carl Crawford returns to the defensive end of things today, in left field.

Item from the Dodger press notes: “Scott Van Slyke’s father, Andy, will be in uniform for Seattle this afternoon as he enters his first season as the Mariners’ first base coach.”

And in other news this morning, Ted Lilly, who threw his last Major League pitch for the Dodgers on June 4, has been hired by the Cubs as a special assistant in the front office, writes Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

Which Dodger player was traded for which Dodger announcer?

By Jon Weisman

On March 4, 2014

In History, Transactions, Uncategorized

By Jon Weisman

It was 10 years ago this July that a 23-year-old prospect with three games of Major League experience was involved in a blockbuster trade that included one of the greatest shortstops of his generation.

Now, they’re both in the world of the Dodgers.

July 31, 2004
As part of a 4-team trade: The Boston Red Sox sent Nomar Garciaparra and Matt Murton to the Chicago Cubs. The Minnesota Twins sent Doug Mientkiewicz to the Boston Red Sox. The Montreal Expos sent Orlando Cabrera to the Boston Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs sent Francis Beltran, Alex Gonzalez and Brendan Harris to the Montreal Expos. The Chicago Cubs sent Justin Jones (minors) to the Minnesota Twins.

Garciaparra, of course, later became the Dodgers’ 4+1 hero and is now a SportsNet LA and KLAC AM 570 analyst. Harris, who signed with the Dodgers in November, is one of the crew vying for time in the Dodger infield.

[mlbvideo id=”20006559″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

With Beltran and Gonzalez, Harris was in the last group of Major Leaguers to be acquired by the Expos before they would become the Washington Nationals. The Dodgers would be Harris’ seventh-major league team if he makes the active roster at any point. In 1,876 plate appearances over eight seasons, Harris has a .314 on-base percentage while slugging .381. He peaked in 2007 with Tampa Bay, going .343/.434 in 576 plate appearances with 12 homers.

Among other claims to fame, Harris was the last MLB batter to hit in the Metrodome in Minneapolis, making the final out in Game 3 of the 2009 American League Division Series for the Twins against the Yankees.

[mlbvideo id=”7048233″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

By the way, in case you’re wondering what the Dodgers were doing on July 31, 2004, they were trading Reggie Abercrombie, Koyie Hill and Bill Murphy for Brent Mayne, Steve Finley and the 2004 National League West title.

[mlbvideo id=”12575807″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

March 2 pregame: Who plays center in Kemp’s absence?

By Jon Weisman

On March 2, 2014

In Defense, Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Padres vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, LF
Tim Federowicz, C
Alex Guerrero, 2B
Justin Turner, DH
(Josh Beckett, P)

By Jon Weisman

One of the intriguing questions for the Dodgers this spring, with Matt Kemp likely to start the season on the disabled list, is which of the remaining outfielders will play center field. Today, Yasiel Puig is the middleman, with Andre Ethier lining up in right. Come March 22, we’ll see.

Joc Pederson (pictured above), who would be a center-field candidate should the Dodgers have the unfortunate event of multiple outfield injuries, is in left field today.

Puig is also batting leadoff for the first time in 2014 Cactus League play. After Josh Beckett makes his spring debut on the mound, Paul Maholm, Stephen Fife, Sam Demel and Daniel Moskos are scheduled to follow.

In other pregame news:

Justin Sellers, who was designated for assignment February 22 after Erisbel Arruebarruena was signed, has been traded to Cleveland for cash considerations.
Nothing definitive has been announced on Zack Greinke, but the Dodgers’ cautious approach to his right calf issue is decreasing his chances of going to Australia, as Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. writes.
Ross Stripling is meeting with doctors this afternoon to go over the results of his MRI, the Dodgers said.
Chad Billingsley had what is being termed “normal” soreness after throwing breaking balls for the first time in nearly 11 months, reports Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Billingsley plans to include cutters in his next bullpen session Tuesday.
Pedro Baez, Nick Buss, Jose Dominguez, Tim Federowicz, Stephen Fife, Onelki Garcia, Yimi Garcia, Javy Guerra, Matt Magill, Jarrett Martin, Paco Rodriguez, Seth Rosin, Dee Gordon, Scott Van Skyke and Chris Withrow have signed their 2014 contracts, the Dodgers announced.
A GIF-filled review of Alex Guerrero’s initial efforts on defense is provided by Daniel Brim at Dodgers Digest.
Former Dodger reliever Guillermo Mota has reportedly retired, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star (via MLB Trade Rumors). In two separate stints with the Dodgers, Mota had a 2.79 ERA with a 1.126 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 in 294 innings.

Dodgers sign two from open tryout

By Jon Weisman

On February 28, 2014

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers signed two players from Thursday’s open tryout at Camelback Ranch, righthanded pitchers Danny Keller and Steven Edlefsen.

Edlefsen, 28, is a seven-year veteran of the Giants organization, including 26 2/3 innings in the majors from 2011-12 with a 6.75 ERA and 15 strikeouts against 54 baserunners.

Keller, a 21-year-old Woodland Hills native, has three seasons of low-level experience on the Brewers’ farm.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Transactions (Page 24 of 36)

April 9 pregame: Josh Beckett returns

Dodgers acquire lefty Hynes from Indians, DFA Baxter

April 4 pregame: Happy Home Opening Day

Matt Kemp, ready to rock

April 2 pregame: Lather, rinse, repeat

Dodgers claim Carlos Triunfel for Albuquerque

March 29 pregame: Kershaw to disabled list

Seth Rosin, Javy Guerra no longer Dodgers

Start with 25 players, finish with 50

Post-Arizona status report for the Dodgers

You’d think it was Father’s Day

March 4 pregame: Ten reassigned from Major League camp

Which Dodger player was traded for which Dodger announcer?

March 2 pregame: Who plays center in Kemp’s absence?

Dodgers sign two from open tryout

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