July 28th, 2017 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Although there has been no official word from the Dodgers or their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported on Thursday evening that catcher / utility infielder Kyle Farmer has been called up to the Dodgers, a report that was further corroborated by LA Times reporter Bill Shaikin a short time later.
With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline now less than four days away (Monday at 1 p.m. PT), the initial reaction by many Dodger fans is that this move suggests that either Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal or back-up catcher / utility infielder Austin Barnes are being traded. A better explanation, however, is that the Dodgers were running with a short bench during the just-concluded series with the Minnesota Twins. Ironically, it was this short three-man bench of Chase Utley, Kiké Hernandez and Barnes that played a key role in Wednesday night’s incredible come-from-behind walk-off win over the Twins to complete the series sweep.
Those familiar with Farmer are well aware that he has been in the Dodgers farm system since being selected in the 8th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Georgia, where he was a teammate of fellow Georgia Bulldog and recent Dodgers All-Star Alex Wood.
Kyle Farmer
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
The extremely popular soon-to-be 27-year-old (on August 17) 6′-0″ / 214-pound backstop is in the midst of a banner season with the OKC Dodgers, where he has a current slash-line of .339 / .411 / .468 for an outstanding OPS of .879. Farmer has also slugged six home runs, 13 doubles and one triple while driving in 29 runs with the team’s Triple-A affiliate.
Although most of his 48 games at Oklahoma City were as catcher (30), Farmer also saw time at third base (14), second base (3), shortstop (2) and first base (2). In 242 chances behind the plate, Farmer committed only one error for an excellent .995 fielding percentage. He also threw out four of 14 would-be base stealers for a 22 percent caught stealing rate.
The biggest advantage to this move is that it allows Dodgers manager Dave Roberts more latitude to utilize Barnes’ above average speed in defensive roles other than just that of a back-up catcher. And while there is still the possibility that Barnes may … may indeed be a trade target in order for the Dodgers to land a top-tier starting pitcher or a top-tier left-handed reliever (or both), Farmer’s promotion is believed to be more about filling the Dodgers bench with a very good back-up catcher and a hot bat to free up Barnes to play multiple defensive positions than it is about trade chips.
…but you never know.
Stay tuned.
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Really pleased Kyle is getting a taste of MLB however long it might be. He has certainly been one of my favorites for some time. He is a gamer not unlike Austin Barnes both offensively and defensively but does not run as well.
Go get ’em Kyle.
IMHO this looks like a good move in 2 of the 3 scenarios.
Farmer as a third catcher: We get two very versatile back ups who can also play IF.
Trade Granny: Both catchers have the versatility mentioned above and they’re both under team control. Consider also that Granny leads MLB in PB and is poor at preventing WP.
Trade Barnes: Very, very bad idea. Barnes is already our best defensive catcher. Granny has more power but otherwise Barnes is a better hitter.
The only down side I see with Barnes/Farmer is both are RHB. I’ve stated before that IMHO catcher is second only to pitcher as the most defense first position on a baseball team.
I was already thinking of the benefits of trading Granny and picking up a veteran back-up catcher. I hear Miami has a good one. I was thinking more about off-season though, not now.
It just came to me: Maybe that’s the plan, other than the veteran back-up. Give Farmer some MLB seasoning this year, with the thought of a Barnes/Farmer duo next year.
Under no circumstances will I ever… ever refer to Grandal as “Granny.” Not ever.
; )
LOL Well, he reminds me of my granny. She was even a switch hitter, could slap me with either hand.