Dodgers Trade Aaron Harang To Rockies

Apr 062013
 

With Chad Billingsley slated to come off the disabled list on Wednesday, the Dodgers traded veteran pitcher Aaron Harang to the Colorado Rockies for equally veteran but not as prosperous catcher Ramon Hernandez.

The move sends Harang, who has not pitched this year, to the Rockies with $7 million dollars, while no reports of gaining payroll from the $2.3 million owed to Hernandez. This move likely puts youngin’  Tim Federowicz out and back down to AAA. Ramon figures to be the backup to A.J. Ellis, hasn’t seen a productive year behind the plate since 2006 where he hit belted a career high 95 RBI’s and 23 home runs.

This is an interesting as the league is starved for pitching, I feel like they could have gotten a bit more for Harang. Hernandez was optioned by the Rockies, so if he can’t cut it as a 2nd string over there, how is that going to look here? All they can hope for is a veteran catcher helping A.J Ellis into another productive season. On the plus side, Chad Billingsley will made a bigger splash than Harang multiplied by Hernandez, so I guess it will work out. The next question is what to do with Chris Capuano?

 04/06/2013  Posted by at 1:28 pm Dodgers News, Transactions 2 Responses »

Dodgers 2013 Opening Day Roster Appears Set

Mar 312013
 

Last week we saw the Dodgers release Riley Welch, Kazuki Nishijima, Jordan Roberts, Mark Lowe, Gregory Pena, and Kyle Russell. Russell was the only big surprise there, just because of his raw power.

The Dodgers also optioned Javy Guerra to AAA after a rough spring, dealing with injuries, and therefore limiting his appearances. The Dodgers former closer is not going to have to fight his way back on to the Major League roster, something that won’t be so easy. I still think he is trade bait at this point.

Tony Gwynn Jr. was also assigned to AAA, once the super speedy outfielder, now he has fallen way down on the depth chart. The solid play by Carl Crawford and the emergence of Yasiel Puig on the scene may force the Dodgers to let Tony Gwynn Jr. try to resume his career elsewhere.

Jesus Flores, Chris Withrow, Wilkin Castillo, Shawn Tolleson, and Juan Abreu were also optioned to the minors. With Flores heading to the minors, this likely means Tim Federowicz has made the club as the backup to A.J. Ellis.

The Dodgers also released three players in Dallas McPherson, Ramon Castro, and Nick Evans.

That brings us to today where the Dodgers officially announced that Kevin Gregg, Peter Moylan, Matt Wallach, and Alfredo Amezaga had been reassigned. I’m absolutely shocked about Gregg, I thought he was a lock to make the big league club. Apparently Colletti and Mattingly agree, unfortunately there just isn’t room on the roster for him at the moment. Once the Dodgers are able to move their surplus of starting pitching I’m sure Gregg will be back.

In addition, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Alex Castellanos, right-hander Stephen Fife, utility man Elian Herrera and right-hander Josh Wall to Minor League camp. Super bummed about Castellanos and Herrera. Let me let out a huge sigh for a moment…sucks.

So barring an injury or trade here is the Opening Day roster.

Lineup
C – A.J. Ellis
1B – Adrian Gonzalez
2B – Mark Ellis
3B – Luis Cruz
SS – Justin Sellers
LF – Carl Crawford
CF – Matt Kemp
RF – Andre Ethier

Bench
B – Tim Federowicz
B – Nick Punto
B – Juan Uribe
B – Jerry Hairston Jr.
B – Skip Schumaker

Rotation
1 – Clayton Kershaw
2 – Zack Greinke
3 – Josh Beckett
4 – Hyun Jin Ryu

Bullpen
CL – Brandon League
ST – Kenley Jansen
RP – Ronald Belisario
RP – J.P. Howell
RP – Paco Rodriguez
RP – Matt Guerrier
RP – Chris Capuano
RP – Aaron Harang

Disabled List

DL – Hanley Ramirez
DL – Chad Billingsley
DL – Scott Elbert
DL – Ted Lilly

 03/31/2013  Posted by at 12:25 pm Dodgers News, Transactions No Responses »

Dodgers Release Mark Lowe

Mar 252013
 

The Dodgers have released non-roster invitee Mark Lowe, according to Dylan Hernandez. The writing has been on the wall for weeks after Lowe put up a 4.15 ERA in nine appearances in the Cactus League, with six strikeouts and three walks in 8⅔ innings. To make matters worse, the couple times I saw Lowe on the mound this spring Lowe’s fastball had absolutely no life to it. There was zero chance Lowe was going to make the big league club out of Spring Training. Lowe was expected to exercise his opt out clause if he wasn’t added to the active roster by Mar. 26, so I guess that’s that. Lowe will probably catch on to a bullpen needy club after having some moderate success over the last few seasons.

 03/25/2013  Posted by at 7:00 pm Dodgers News, Transactions No Responses »

Dodgers News: Spring Roster Moves

Mar 072013
 

The Dodgers officially announced today that Dallas McPherson, Gregory Infante, Nick Evans, Ozzie Martinez, and Kelvin De La Cruz have been reassigned to the minor leagues. Also announced, Wander Beras was released by the Dodgers today. Not even minor league depth for Beras, tough break for him.

With today’s cuts announced that leaves the following non-roster invites left on the Dodgers spring club.

Pitchers (5)

Juan Abreu rhp
2012 highest level: Triple-A
2013 age: 28
Outlook: Abreu is pitching well so far this spring, striking out five, walking two, and allowing zero runs earned in 4.2 innings pitched. If he can continue to pitch this well and keep the walks to a minimum he could force his way into the Dodgers bullpen.

Kevin Gregg rhp
2012 highest level: MLB
2013 age: 35
Outlook: Gregg has put forth a good spring as well as he looks to crack into the Dodgers bullpen. Probably the early favorite of the non-roster invitees.  Gregg hasn’t allowed a run in four innings of work this spring, however, he only has one strikeout. The good news is he hasn’t allowed a walk either. My money is on seeing Gregg in the Dodgers bullpen on opening day.

Mark Lowe rhp
2012 highest level: MLB
2013 age: 30
Outlook: Lowe may be next on the chopping block, as he has allowed five runs, four earned, in four innings of work. With a 9.00 ERA, Lowe has been less than impressive this spring. With there being a surplus of right-handed talent in the Dodgers bullpen I wouldn’t be suprised at all to see Lowe assigned to the minors in the coming days.

Peter Moylan rhp
2012 highest level: MLB
2013 age: 34
Outlook: Moylan isn’t getting younger and he isn’t pitching like it either. Moylan won’t be part of the Dodgers bullpen much longer, he’s been a flat out disaster this spring. I’m predicting walking papers anytime now.

Matt Palmer rhp
2012 highest level: MLB (Padres)
2013 age: 34
Outlook: More walks than strikes, more losses than wins, nine runs allowed, and even though only two of those were earned, Palmer is a liability on the mound. The Dodgers have too much right-handed talent to put up with these shenanigans much longer.

Catchers (4)

Wilkin Castillo
Bats: Switch-hitter
2012 highest level: Triple-A
2013 age: 29
Outlook: Well, one of these four catchers may hang around and beat out Tim Federowicz, who is hitting only .214, for the backup catching job. I don’t think it’s going to be Castillo that does it. The Dodgers seem intent on getting someone with a lot of experience to handle backup duties. Castillo is going to great lengths to prove he wants a job, and Castillo has looked really good this spring. Castillo is batting .462 with six hits, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases in 13 at-bats. Castillo hasn’t appeared in the majors since he was with the Cincinnati Reds back in 2009. A darkhorse to crack the Dodgers bench, but ultimately I see him in minor leagues with the Dodgers serving as organizational depth.

Ramon Castro
Bats: Right-handed
2012 highest level: n/a
2013 age: 37
Outlook: After sitting out the 2012 season, Castro may be on his way to getting a job as A.J. Ellis‘ backup. Castro is hitting .333 this spring, with 1 homerun, and 1 double in nine at-bats for the Dodgers. He’s the more stereotypical backup catcher the Dodgers have had over the years, and from what we have heard over the last few months it seems that Castro is exactly the kind of guy the Dodgers are looking for once again. Do not be surprised at all if you see Castro on the Dodgers bench come opening day.

Jesus Flores
Bats: Right-handed
2012 highest level: MLB
2013 age: 28
Outlook: Well, it’s not good. His spring has been dismal, and in 2012 as part of the Washington Nationals it was more dismalness. Yes I made up a word there, I found it very fitting, so deal with it. Flores may get offered a minors assignment, but it’s certainly not out of the question to see Flores get released. The only thing Flores has going for him is the Dodgers are looking for as much catching talent as they can find, so we may see a few more rounds of Jesus Flores.

Matt Wallach
Bats: Right-handed
2012 highest level: Double-A
2013 age: 27
Outlook: The Dodgers own catching talent hasn’t done much to show he deserves a shot in the majors this spring. Wallach is hitting .167  with a .375 OBP in 6 at-bats. Not a very big sample size to judge here, especially with Castillo and Castro hogging all of the at-bats. It doesn’t appear like the Dodgers are expecting much from Wallach this spring, and I expect him to open up the 2013 season starting down in the minors.

Infielders (3)

Alfredo Amezaga
Bats: Switch-hitter
2012 highest level: Triple-A
2013 age: 35
Outlook: Probably the biggest surpise so far this spring. Amezaga is hitting .273 with a .304 OBP in 22 at-bats this spring. Outplaying Juan Uribe both offensively and defensively, though almost everyone is, Amezaga is certainly stating his case. Ultimately the Dodgers bench is clogged with players of Amezaga’s talent. Barring an injury I just don’t see Amezaga sticking around the majors past March. If given the option of Amezaga or Elian Herrera, I’m going to take Herrera any day of the week.

Brian Barden
Bats: Right-handed
2012 highest level: Hiroshima Carp
2013 age: 32
Outlook: I honestly know very little of Brian Barden, actually I don’t know anything about Brian Barden. Seriously, what a spring this guy is having. Barden is hitting .579/.636/.684 in 19 at-bats, small sample of what’s to come? History certainly doesn’t make it seem likely, not for a career .211 hitter anyway. Unless he learned how to play baseball in Japan, he’s got nothing more than a hot bat, plain and simple.

Omar Luna
Bats: Right-handed
2012 highest level: Double-A
2013 age: 26
Outlook: Another youngster outperforming Juan Uribe this spring. Perhaps the Dodgers found themselves a nice talent. He’s a career minor leaguer and I expect 2013 to be another notch in his belt. I could definitely see him being the Elian Herrera of 2013. Definitely has some potential, so throw him in Double-A and see what happens.

Outfielders (2)

Tony Gwynn Jr.
Bats: Left-handed
2012 highest level: MLB (Dodgers)
2013 age: 30
Outlook: It’s not looking good for Gwynn Jr. these days. His numbers this spring, hitting a mere .182 in 11 at-bats. He is out of options and isn’t fitting in with the Dodgers long-term plans. I expect to see him get released or traded for a PTBNL if a team is willing to roll the dice on him.

Jeremy Moore
Bats: Left-handed
2012 highest level: did not play (injured)
2013 age: 26
Outlook: Well it’s better than his other left-handed counterpart. He’s done some damage this spring, hitting .444/.524/.722 with 5 doubles, and 4 RBI’s in 18 at-bats. He certainly has shown potential, but I just don’t see him cracking the big league roster. Especially with Yasiel Puig hanging around.

In other news, Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi, 44, tried out for the Dodgers today at Camelback Ranch. He failed to impress and wasn’t offered a deal. The veteran southpaw is trying to latch onto a major league bullpen, the Dodgers can be scratched from the list.

 03/07/2013  Posted by at 9:40 pm Dodgers News, Dodgers Rumors, Thinking Blue, Transactions No Responses »

Dodgers Avoid Arbitration with Ellis, Belisario

Jan 192013
 

The Los Angeles Dodgers have avoided arbitrary with both of their arbitration eligible players. On Friday, the dodgers came to terms on one-year deals with catcher A.J. Ellis and right-handed relief pitcher Ronald Belisario.

Ellis agreed to a $2 million deal, up from $490,000 in 2o12 and Belisario signed for $1.45 million after making $480,000 last season.

Ellis is coming off a successful season where he had a batting average of .270 and an on-base percentage of .373 with a slugging percentage of .414 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs.

Belisario had an impressive year as well.  After missing the entire 2011 season because of visa problems in his home country and serving a 25-game suspension last season for testing positive for cocaine in a routine drug test, he had a record of 8-1 with an earned run average of 2.54 and a very impressive WHIP of 1.07 over the span of 71 innings.

 01/19/2013  Posted by at 3:27 am Dodgers News, Transactions No Responses »
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