Earlier this week, non-40 man NRI Gavin Stone, Jake Reed, and Adam Kolarek were sent out to MiLB camp. Gavin Stone figures to be added to the 40 man and 26 man at some point this season.
As Spring Training is winding down, the Dodgers still have 47 players they need to pare down to 26 in a mere 8 days. Five of those players figure to be on the IL to open the season: Gavin Lux, Tony Gonsolin, Alex Reyes, Daniel Hudson, and Jimmy Nelson, leaving 42, including 19 pitchers. Six pitchers and six position players will need to be optioned, sent to MiLB camp, or released in the next 8 days.
There are going to be tough decisions made for both the pitchers and position players.
Pitchers:
There appears to be 4 starting pitchers locked in: Julio Urías, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard, and Dustin May. Gonsolin will start the year on the IL and either Ryan Pepiot or Michael Grove will slide into the #5 spot.
There appears to be 5 relievers locked in: Evan Phillips, Yency Almonte, Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia, and Caleb Ferguson. That leaves 3 spots with multiple options:
Phil Bickford seems to be likely added on opening day as he is out of options. His spot is tenuous at best with the number of relivers expected back from the IL.
Shelby Miller also figures to initially be added. After a dismal start, Miller has progressively gotten better as Spring draws out. In Tuesday’s split squad game against Cleveland, Miller was perfect for 1.1 IP and 2 Ks of the 4 batters he faced. His other two outs were ground outs. He has a fastball – slider combo that misses a lot of bats, and that the pitching gurus love to perfect.
That leaves Andre Jackson, Michael Grove (or Ryan Pepiot), Victor Gonzalez (L), Justin Bruihl (L),, and three long shot RHP NRIs who signed MiLB contracts: Tayler Scott, Tyler Cyr, and Wander Suero. Each of the three NRIs have had excellent outings, and a couple not so good. If agreeable, they will all go to OKC and provide potential MLB depth during the season.
Position Players:
To the best of my knowledge, the remaining position player NRIs still in camp are:
- Jason Heyward (has been told he will be on OD roster)
- Steven Duggar
- Bradley Zimmer
- Luke Williams
- Hunter Feduccia
- Patrick Mazeika
- David Freitas
- Drew Avans
- Ryan Ward
Heyward is reportedly the only player who signed an MiLB contract with a ST invite who has an opt out clause.
In addition, James Outman and Yonny Hernandez are 40 man roster players still in camp, not guaranteed a position.
Feduccia, Mazeika, and Freitas all figure to be sent to MiLB camp once Will Smith and Austin Barnes are back in camp. None of the three will make the OD roster. The same is true with both Avans and Ward. Avans will be assigned to OKC while Ward’s assignment is up in the air. He deserves to be in AAA, but with a load of AAA OF on the OKC roster, he may not have a spot, and will start the season in Tulsa. I still believe it comes down to Outman or Hernandez, but there are some out there predicting Duggar or Zimmer will get the initial call as the 5th OF, with CT3 moving to infield only.
IMO, Outman’s only chance to make OD roster is if AF/Doc believe Outman should start over Trayce Thompson. What we fans may think has no relevance except in our minds. With options, Outman seems to be the one sent out. At least initially.
2023 – Rule 4 Amateur Draft
LSU is the top collegiate team this year. They are absolutely loaded. They could have the first two picks in the draft this year: RHH OF – Dylan Crews and RHP Paul Skenes. Overall, LSU has 4 of the top 100 draft prospects. Wake Forest and University of Florida had 3. Those are the top 3 Division 1 programs this year.
Dylan Crews – 20 G, .508/.648/.892, 10 2B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 23 BB, 10 K
Paul Skenes – 30 1/3 IP, 0.59 ERA, 0.53 WHIP, 1.2 BB/9, 17.5 K/9, .115 BAA
University of Texas RHP Tanner Witt was an absolute certainty to be a 1st round pick until he had TJ surgery in February 2022. Even with the surgery, he may not last until the 36th pick, but he could be an ideal LAD first rounder. His ceiling is as a mid-rotation starter, and his floor is as a late inning high leverage reliever. He will be a MLB pitcher.
Knowing how the Dodgers love their catchers, University of Virginia’s Kyle Teel is the top rated collegiate catcher, and could be around when the Dodgers select (but doubtful).
The WBC gave us a hint (big hint) at a couple of future MLB All Stars.
Munetaka Murakami (23), third baseman for the Central League’s Yakult Swallows, and Roki Sasaki (21), starting pitcher for the Pacific League’s Chiba Lotte Marines. Murakami won the NPL Triple Crown – BA (.313), HR (56), RBI (134). There was no player close for HR (#2 was 30) or RBI (#2 was 87). He is not expected to be posted until after 2025 when his current 3-year contract with the Swallows is over.
22-year-old third baseman Munetaka Murakami became the first Japanese-born player to hit 50 home runs in a professional season since Hideki Matsui in 2002 pic.twitter.com/VvIN6HHcgQ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 2, 2022
A quick answer from Japan!
Munetaka Murakami solo homer to tie this thing up! 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/8CJJsoe1M2
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 21, 2023
Roki Sasaki was a pitching star in the WBC after being dominant in the NPL in 2022. At the age of 20, in 129.1 IP, Sasaki had a 2.02 ERA with 173 strikeouts and only 23 walks. During the season, he threw a perfect game and had 17 consecutive perfect innings, setting an NPB record with 52 consecutive outs. It could be until after the 2026 season before Sasaki is posted.
102.
Roki Sasaki is not messing around tonight 😳🔥 pic.twitter.com/yIP4FHjCbh
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2023
Roki Sasaki, 92mph Splitter and 102mph Fastball, Overlay. pic.twitter.com/EIf8bh6Qdf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 21, 2023
The necessary steps to clear the MLB thresholds for a player to be posted are attaining 25 years of age, and six years of service in a recognized professional league. The players can request to be posted (and they both may), but the team has to agree. It is highly unlikely that either team would agree to that with these two players.
These players could be posted after 2023:
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, Japan – Yamamoto is arguably the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. Last season he won both the Pacific League Most Valuable Player and the Eiji Sawamura Award (think: Cy Young) after posting a 1.68 ERA and a 4.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Yamamoto is a four-time All-Star, a three-time ERA champion, and a two-time Triple Crown champion. For his career, he has a 1.84 ERA and a 4.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in nearly 800 innings pitched.
山本由伸、初回2奪三振#侍ジャパン #YoshinobuYamamoto pic.twitter.com/sOOe41sjrh
— とっとこファム太郎 (@phamtaro_) March 12, 2023
Jung-hoo Lee, CF, Korea (Kiwoom Heroes) – Korea Baseball Organization’s reigning Most Valuable Player Award recipient. He’s compiled a career .342/.407/.495 slash line with 59 home runs, 63 stolen bases, and 53 more walks than strikeouts while playing for the same club that employed San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim.
Jung-Hoo #Lee’s bat-flip !! LOL 😝😂👍🏻#KBO postseason pic.twitter.com/DZtLqYC77b
— Joseph Kim (@blackwings2011) October 27, 2022
The Dodgers could do worse than to sign both Yamamoto and Lee. They could use top starting pitching and a CF.
Nick Pratto
I have family in KC so I like to stay on top of KC players and prospects. Plus, I am partial to Southern California HS players. I was excited for KC when they drafted LHH 1B Nick Pratto out of Huntington Beach HS in the first round (14th overall) of the 2017 draft.
The now 24 year old has taken a while to get to MLB (2022), and was optioned back to AAA this week. He is blocked by Vinnie Pasquantino at 1B and MJ Melendez at DH, but if he gets off to a good start in Omaha, he will get recalled. No impact for the Dodgers. I just like following Pratto.
LAD Potential Bullpen
Just how good can the LAD bullpen be at the end of the year. Top bullpen options on Opening Day include, Evan Phillips, Yency Almonte, Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia, and Caleb Ferguson. Then the possibility of adding:
- Daniel Hudson
- Jimmy Nelson
- J. P. Feyereisen
- Alex Reyes
- Blake Treinen
If the starters stay healthy, that could be an extremely formidable and enviable pitching staff.
Base Stealing
Anybody else concerned that the Dodgers do not run much at all, but the opposition seems to run at will against the Dodgers?
Wednesday’s Game Against Seattle
Interesting that one week until the end of ST, that the Mariners had their starting lineup and the Dodgers did not start their A team…or maybe it was. Seattle pitched a pair of ML relievers while the game was still in doubt., while LAD inserted Keegan Curtis to give up a 2 run scoring double, and then inserted Tyler Cyr with the game still in play. Pepiot got into trouble in the 5th due to a double and infield single that Max Muncy could should??) have had. That was followed by a walk. Pepiot got J.P. Crawford to hit into a DP, and insteaad of letting Pepiot face Julio Rodriguez to get out of the inning, Keegan Curtis was summoned. Not Graterol, not Vesia, not Ferguson, not Phillips…but Keegan Curtis. Tayler Scott would have been a better choice.
BTW, anyone else concerned at the number of plays hit to Muncy that did not turn into outs but instead ruled hits? It did not take a Nolan Arenado to make that play.
It all starts for real, a week from today.
Cross off Bruihl.
Battle for 5th starter & last couple bullpen spots are all that’s left.
Curious where Leonard and Vivas start season.
AA for both.
I agree. I’ve seen elsewhere someone suggested they will start in AAA but I don’t buy that.
AA – AAA will be Michael Busch, Yonny Hernandez, Ivan Castillo, and Bryson Brigman. Devin Mann will be the utility guy.
Good stuff Jeff. Especially the info on the Japanese and Korean players that may become available. .
Muncy’s suspect defense is a concern. If he OPS’s .800 or better, it is acceptable. How long will the leash be on players like Heyward, Taylor, and Thompson? KT3 gets the long leash because of the ill advised contract AF gave him and his versatility. But how long can the Dodgers go with him if he is not producing?
This team is a work in progress and will be changing a lot this season.
Can almost see CT# as the full-time 3b by the end of the year with Muncy at DH and JDM in LF.
Am I right?
Nope. No way, JD cannot handle the outfield every day. Peralta is going to be the man in leftfield.
Taylor would have to start hitting to play 3rd everyday. Mote likely it stays Munvy or they make a major trafe.
If they trade at all it will not be until July. Outman and Heyward both told they have made the opening day roster.
I had a vision about a 2 deep outfield. Track stars in left and right, with a rover playing where the shift infielders used to play.
I saw a projected lineup with Dodgers 6-9 hitting a combined.240 and an OPS just below .700. Pitching should be decent, if not overwhelming.
yes, my glass is half full.
Best case scenario in LF/CF is as follows:
We’ll likely need another OF by the end of the season.
Good stuff Jefe. I also read about Heyward today. I was surprised that Duggar and Zimmer did not procure those as well. I think Duggar might get cut completely and Zimmer will head to AAA.
I always look for a new player to get behind and then I usually stay loyal to him. This year that was going to be Outman. After yesterday’s game I am losing some interest in him. I like his swing but he has to make more contact.
I am souring on the Dodgers chances of winning the Division. Muncy is a whiff machine and like you have pointed out today Jeff, his glove also has a hole in it.
The Dodgers are going to miss Lux’ bat and it doesn’t look like Taylor, Muncy, Heyward, Thompson, or Outman is going to replace it. Martinez might replace Justin’s bat from last year but not his bat from previous years when he was so clutch.
Pitching is the only ingredient that will allow the Dodgers to compete with 5 hitters in the lineup that struggle to make contact. Might Muncy have a decent OPS? Only if he walks a lot.
Don’t give up on Outman just yet. As I said below, with Yonny Hernandez being optioned, and Heyward promised a spot, the last man comes down to Outman, Zimmer or Duggar.
Outman has always had a lot of swing and miss in him. That has never changed. Right now, I am more concerned with Vargas who is pressing and swinging at pitches he wasn’t offering at earlier this spring. Hopefully he gets that cleaned up before next Thursday.
It looks like James Outman just got closer to a OD job. Yonny Hernandez was optioned. So unless the Dodgers are planning on carrying Duggar or Zimmer, Outman should be on the roster.
I figured Mazeika and Freitas were on their way out as well. Feduccia is still in camp.
The OF is a hodge-podge of a perennial All Star, a rookie, and 4 has-beens (or never-weres). I am an AF advocate, but I do blame him and Brandon Gomes for allowing the OF to disintegrate to this level, as well as SS.
I like Michael Busch, but is he really going to help the Dodgers? If so, when? He is blocked. The Dodgers never intend on giving Drew Avans or Ryan Ward a legit chance, or why go out and get all of the AAAA OF.
If Zach McKinstry can bring back a quality reliever in a trade, what might Devin Mann bring back? If Matt Beaty can bring back a River Ryan, what might Mann, Ward or Avans bring back.
The Dodgers traded Luke Raley for RHP Tanner Dodson. While fans may be underwhelmed the Dodgers do not appear to be. Dodson did go to the Arizona Fall League, and 2 games in MLB ST games. He is another of the many pitchers with little to no control the Dodgers believe they can fix.
Now that brings me back to my pet peeve, the number of RHP the team wants to continue to carry:
Ryan Pepiot
Michael Grove
Andre Jackson
Bobby Miller
Gavin Stone
Nick Nastrini
Nick Frasso
River Ryan
Emmet Sheehan
Landon Knack.
These are all AA and AAA pitchers. How many are going to be with the Dodgers ML team? Or are they going to hold on to them until any possible residual trade value is atomized?
I’ll throw LHP Maddux Bruns into that mix. Cleveland and Houston both have a good track record of developing pitchers. Maybe they can do something with him.
Regardless, the Dodgers never should have been in the situation where Trayce Thompson and David Peralta are the presumed CF and LF respectively for OD. Or that Jason Heyward is the #4 OF. That is a Miami Marlins level OF or Pittsburgh or Oakland. In other words an OF for non-contenders.
Even the Angels OF of Taylor Ward, Mike Trout, and Hunter Renfroe, dwarf what the Dodgers have.
Seattle has Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, and Teoscar Hernandez with AJ Pollock and Kole Calhoun in reserve. Pollock and Calhoun would start for the Dodgers.
Peralta, Thompson, Betts is not a WS OF.
I do expect the Dodgers to make a significant trade at the deadline for an offensive ML OF. LF or CF makes no difference. Just get one who can OPS north of .800.
Yep, AF the Boy Wonder has made a mess of the Dodger outfield. Wastes too much money on injured pitchers. Reminds me of the Colletti dumpster diving days. Colletti was forced to be cheap because McCourt and his wife were fleecing the franchise. AF has almost unlimited resources. No excuse.
I didn’t understand the Peralta signing. He’s a half a player at best. I feel like we had a budget surplus and just grabbed something at the checkout.
LOL. Yep, seemed like the impulse buy at the checkout. Buy the kid a candy bar to shut him up.
100%
There is just no reason to brag about being 8-10 deep in legit SP prospects and not even be able to field a passable LF or CF.
Miller and Stone are probably untouchable, Pepiot and Knack are trade bait, Nastrini, Sheehan & Ryan aren’t untouchable but they have to be treated like prime assets if traded, Frasso, Bruns & Kopp have huge arms and are probably on the table in any discussions.
Well said Jeff.
Another Dodger RHP is in the news. Maybe you can have too much of a good thing:
RHP Gus Varland, one of three Dodgers picked in the Rule 5 Draft, leads Brewers pitchers with 15 strikeouts this spring (7⅓ IP, 30 batters faced, 1 walk). Allowed 3 HR but has otherwise been solid
Struck out all 3 batters today vs. Padres
Muncy at 3rd worries me too. In the 3 games we attended he made 2 errors and there were 2 others that should/could have been errors. He just doesn’t look like a major league 3rd baseman.
He has to OPS .800 or better to offset his defensive deficiency.
There is OPS and there is ops. The latter gets there via walks, the former gets there by knocking in runs.
I still believe he will. But he’s no third baseman.
I know spring training stats don’t matter but Heyward batting clean up today needs to do something to justify making the team. Anything.
Well James Outman has made the OD roster. So maybe yeah.
I guess Heyward has also been told he has made the OD roster.
Barring an injury the position players are set:
Freddie
Vargas
Rojas
Muncy
Peralta
Outman
Betts
Smith
Martinez
Barnes
Thompson
Heyward
Taylor
No need to assign positions, as they will undoubtedly play all over and the lineups will change daily.
Who gets the first start in CF?
Figuring either Merrill Kelly or Zac Gallen will be the opening day pitcher, James Outman probably gets the start. Thompson will probably start against MadBum.
I’ll be mildly upset is it’s Heyward over Outman.
Actually, I’ll be pissed.
3 centerfielders and a LH starting LFer. How does Outman get the at bats? Mookie to second?
Well, we should probably just put Outman in CF and let him sink or swim. Thompson & CT3 can spell him.
I vote for that.
Hudson and Nelson to the IL as expected.
Just saw on MLB network that in the new balanced schedule the teams play 4 games against their “prime rival”. I am assuming that is a rival not in their own division. Who is the Dodgers prime rival? I would guess the Angels.
It is the Angels
Thanks.
How is that determined. For a lot of teams it is an easy match. Like the Mets and Yankees, Nationals and Orioles, etc. I saw that the Braves prime rival was the Red Sox. Is that because the Braves started out in Boston?
Pepiot may have just got the 5th starter position. Grove not looking so good today.
Why do the Dodgers insist on bringing in A League pitchers in relief this late into Spring. Julian Smith does not belong in a ML game the final week of ST. I feel for him, because he did not belong out there.
Totally. Some of our other front line relievers could use some work.
This game means very little.
Slightly less than a WBC game
Yes
Jackson ended up being the sleeper who made the team.
Jeff, could you put on your Sherlock Holmes outfit and dig up a little info on a lefty pitcher we used in the 9th inning today, by the name of Mitchell Tyranski? He struck out the side and in the brief check I did he was drafted in 2019 and has hardly pitched since then.
When he did pitch is was striking out something like 16/9 innings and walking less than 2. Who the hell is this guy and will he become our closer before Jake Pilarski does?
I think he’s blown his chance but what if they both make it and so does Kasowski. We could refer to the 3 of them as the Ski Patrol.
Ski Patrol? That’s ethnic solecism!
But I like it.
I never heard of these guys. Hope they get Priority.
I can’t be the first one to use that.
I don’t understand any of this.
I think Harold wrote something on him. I will check it out. If not, I will follow up on him.
Good for Outman.
stone looks great.
Can’t say enough how enjoyable and rewarding it is to be a fan of a well run team.
UCLA is choking.