First Cuts of Spring – Nothing Unexpected (Except Why Not More?)

Gavin Stone is pictured, and NO, he is not one that should have been optioned.  He is looking at the #5 SP.

The Dodgers have optioned RHPs Landon Knack, Ricky Vanasco and Nick Frasso, catchers Hunter Feduccia and Diego Cartaya and OF Andy Pages, and re-assigned LHP Stephen Gonsalves, RHPs Jesse Hahn, Michael Petersen and Eduardo Salazar and OF Travis Swaggerty to minor league camp.

That leaves 14 position players from the 40 man roster remaining in MLB camp.  Miguel Vargas is the 14^th position player.  40 man pitchers still unassigned to MiLB camp or to the opening day roster:

• P. Feyereisen
• Matt Gage
• Michael Grove
• Kyle Hurt
• Emmet Sheehan
• Gavin Stone
• Gus Varland

IMO, the leading #5 SP is Gavin Stone, until Walker Buehler returns. But he has options, and as a SP, he will not be needed in Seoul.  A reliever is more necessary for the March 20 and March 21 game.   Stone and others will undoubtedly travel with the team and pitch in the exhibition games.  Ryan Yarbrough, Bobby Miller, and James Paxton would all be in position for long relief if needed (or piggy back if you will).

Whatever additional pitchers are taken to Seoul but not expected to be on the roster would form a Taxi Squad of sorts.  They could be added immediately in case of injury.

That would also include 2-3 position players.

It is also just as likely that if Stone is named the #5 SP, he would not be optioned, and could also used as a long reliever (piggy back).

I believe that teams that have to start eight days prior to the other MLB teams should be able to have 28 man roster for those early opening days.  But my opinion does not go very far with the Commissioner’s Office.

It would also appear that the four reassigned pitchers and Travis Swaggerty do not have opt outs.  That leaves the following NRI still with the club:

• Nabil Crismatt – RHP
• Kevin Gowdy – RHP
• Elieser Hernández – RHP
• Daniel Hudson – RHP
• Dinelson Lamet – RHP
• J. McFarland – LHP
• Justin Wilson – LHP

• Chris Okey – C
• Dalton Rushing – C
• Austin Gauthier – 2B
• Kevin Padlo – 1B
• Trey Sweeney – SS
• Drew Avans – OF
• Jose Ramos – OF
• Ryan Ward – OF

All of the position players are under team control, except perhaps Chris Okey and Kevin Padlo.  All seven pitchers are true MLB pitchers signed to MiLB contracts hoping to catch on with the MLB team.  How many have opt outs is unknown.  Daniel Hudson is the most likely to be named to the Opening Day roster.

Opt outs can come in multiple forms.  Some require the player to be named to the Opening Day roster or the player becomes a FA.  Some contracts call for the player to be named by June 1 (or any other agreeable date), some by ASG…

There are no position player positions open, but there could be a couple of pitcher positions open for Seoul, that could be changed for the domestic season opener against St. Louis, March 28.

On Sunday, we got a glimpse of things to come.  Mookie, Shohei, and Freddie all singled to open the game.  That was followed by a pair of sacrifice flies from Will Smith and Max Muncy.  The Dodgers had a 3-0 lead after the 1^st.

Four of the top five in the batting order each appeared with 3 PA and were gone by the 5^th inning.  Will Smith stayed in the game and was removed once he was HBP in the 6^th.  All they did:

• Mookie – 3-3, 2 runs, double
• Shohei – 3-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, triple
• Freddie – 1-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, 1 HBP
• Will Smith – 1-2, 1 RBI, sac fly
• Max Muncy – 1-2, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR

That is 9 for 14, 6 runs, 7 RBI, 2 sac flies, double, triple, and HR, and 1 HBP.

Max Muncy’s HR in the 4^th was the last hit the Dodgers hit on Sunday.  Smith was the only base runner after Max’s HR.

On the other side, Gavin Stone was brilliant for 3.0 IP.  He allowed 2 singles, with 1 K, on 35 total pitches.  It appears that Stone is no longer tipping his pitches.

Michael Grove allowed a 2 out run scoring double in the 5th , but then appeared to hit a wall in the 6^th.  Stephen Gonsalves relieved Grove and allowed a run scoring single.

Gus Varland continued his somewhat mediocre (being kind) spring by allowing a double, a SB, and ground out for another run.  This was Varland’s 4^th game.  He has 3.2 IP.  He has surrendered 4 runs (all earned), 7 hits, 2 HBP, and 5K.

TJ McFarland appeared in his 4^th game and looks like he can pitch well on a MLB team.  In 4.0 scoreless IP, he has allowed 2 hits, and registered 5K.  Alex Vesia has one option remaining.  Could AF option Vesia and put McFarland, the more effective LHRP on the 26 man?

Dinelson Lamet ran into a little trouble in the 9^th/  Kevin Gowdy appeared in his 4^th game and got the final out on a force out ground ball to 3B, Chris Owings, for the save.

The LAD position players are going to score a lot of runs.  The rotation has the chance to be stellar.  The bullpen could also be something special.  They are not the only team with talent, but even when including Atlanta, I cannot believe there is a more talented team in MLB.  And do not forget, the Dodgers depth far exceeds Atlanta’s (IMO).

The Dodgers have an off day on Monday, and then have 9 ST games remaining before they take off for Seoul.