March 13th, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka With spring training 2016 about to head into its third week, the first round of cuts are only days away, perhaps as early as Monday. And while it is never a pleasant task to tell someone that their services are no longer needed in big league camp, everyone knows that the cuts are necessary, not just the get the major league team ready for the new season but also the Dodgers six domestic minor league teams as well.
Because the Dodgers are still carrying left-handers Brett Anderson and Hyun-jin Ryu and right-hander Josh Ravin on their 40-man roster (for now), they have a little wiggle room as far as adding one (or more) of their 21 non-roster invitees to their 40-man roster. But the primary reason for spring training roster cuts is to get guys who will not make the Opening Day 40-man roster sufficient playing time in preparation for the respective minor league seasons, which begin play only days after the Dodgers season begins (the exceptions being the two short-season rookie league teams which begin play after the June draft).
Among the most likely first round cuts will be catchers Kyle Farmer and Jack Murphy, not because they haven’t done well at the big league level but because they need to get more playing time and at-bats. That being said, there is noting preventing the Dodgers from adding either of these guys – or anyone else that they cut – to the travel roster for the remaining spring training games. It is also likely that pitchers Chris Anderson, Lisalverto Bonilla, Caleb Dirks and possibly Jacob Rhame and Matt West could be reassigned to minor league camp as well.
Although it is unlikely that the Dodgers will carry three catchers on Opening Day, Austin Barnes is having the kind of spring that probably has the Dodgers’ brass thinking about it.
Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA – Click on image to view video)
Where things begin to get a bit dicey for president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Farhan Zaidi and manager Dave Roberts are with the position player cuts that need to be made. It goes without saying that even though they have had little or no playing time thus far this spring, Justin Turner, Howie Kendrick and Alex Guerrero aren’t going anywhere and will, in all likelihood, soon see more playing time over the next three weeks. And though non-roster invitee outfielders Corey Brown, Alex Hassan and Rico Noel have all played very well thus far this spring, it is unlikely that they will displace Andre Ethier, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig or Scott Van Slyke in the Dodgers outfield as Opening Day draws closer.
But perhaps the most difficult roster moves for the Dodgers brass will be the crowded infield. It is impossible to overlook the outstanding spring that utility infielders Rob Segedin, Charlie Culberson and first baseman Cody Bellinger are having. And while there is little doubt that the 21-year-old Bellinger will begin the season in Oklahoma City or Tulsa because of who the Dodgers everyday first baseman will be, Segedin and Culberson have played well enough this spring to earn a spot on most MLB teams’ Opening Day rosters – as has infielder Micah Johnson and outfielders Trayce Thompson and Alex Hassan. With word on Saturday evening that top Dodgers shortstop prospect Corey Seager might begin the season on the DL due to a sprained left knee, Culberson’s chances of being in San Diego for the season Opener on April 4 have gone up exponentially – even if only for a few days.
Non-roster invitees Alex Hassan, Rob Segedin and Charlie Culberson have all played well enough to earn a roster spot. But will they? (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
And then there are the Dodgers top two pitching prospects – left-hander Julio Urias and right-hander Jose De Leon. Although neither of these guys figure to be among the Dodgers first round of cuts, they will, in all likelihood, both eventually be reassigned to minor league camp; again, not because they haven’t done well this spring but because the guys who will most likely be in the Dodgers Opening Day rotation will need to begin stretching out their spring training starts, which means fewer opportunities for guys like Urias, De Leon, Zach Lee, Jharel Cotton, Ross Stripling and Carlos Frias.
Granted, the number five spot in the Dodgers starting rotation is still very much up for grabs and the decision on who it will be probably won’t be made until MLB rosters are due shortly before Opening Day, but the most likely candidates behind Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda and (probably) Alex Wood are Mike Bolsinger and Brandon Beachy. This certainly isn’t to say that any of the others are out of the running, but this is how many of the so-called baseball experts see it playing out.
As for the bullpen the locks are Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan and probably Yimi Garcia, Pedro Baez, Ian Thomas and veteran Joe Blanton – but that’s only if the Dodgers go with 13 pitchers. They may choose to go with 12 in order to make room for Chase Utley, Segedin, Culberson or Micah Johnson off the bench.
Here again, the luxury that the Dodgers currently have is that they can (and probably soon will) move Anderson and Ravin to the 60-day DL to allow them to move a couple of their NRIs onto the 40-man roster to keep them in big league camp. But eventually even they will most likely end up on the backfields of Camelback Ranch in order to get in more playing time and at-bats.
Needless to say, this is the time of year when Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi and Dave Roberts definitely earn their pay. It is also the time of year when the decisions they make set the tone for the entire season.
Stay tuned…
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It is a bit mind boggling to look at the possible 25 man roster for opening day. Offensively for me the possible flies in the ointment offensively are Utley, Guerrero and Crawford. If all are on the opening day roster and Corey Seager is healthy one has to wonder if Kike Hernandez will break camp with the team. Without an injury or a trade (look for one) there is not enough room for – Ellis, Grandal, Gonzalez, Kendrick, Turner, Utley, Crawford, Ethier, Guerrero, Pederson, Puig, Van Slyke, Hernandez, Seager.
No room for Austin Barnes and that is unfortunate. Rob Segedin is interesting.
Pitching is no more clear so it is hoped that it will be become more clear as ST progresses. That is, some guys seize the moment. Although they are left-handers Avilan and Thomas aren’t givens unless they earn the spots. So much depends on Ryu. If not ready to go the two SP spots after Kershaw, Kazmir and Maeda are a toss up for Beachy, Wood, Bolsinger and Frias.
Jamey Wright needs to go home and concentrate of his next career. 12 pitchers and 8 position players leaves 5 spots on the bench, 1 must be a catcher. Barring trade(s), injuries, or DFA team has Utley, Crawford, and Guerrero who cannot be optioned leaving 1 spot for Kike Hernandez or Scott Van Slyke not to mention Culberson, Segedin, Herrara, or Barnes (who IMO deserves a spot on the roster). Trayce Thompson IMO is behind Hassan and neither is going to make the 25 man roster.
I’m wondering if Austin Barnes has done enough to push AJ Ellis off the team via a trade though I don’t think that will happen. I definitely feel that somehow they will make a spot for Kike Hernandez. I know that Dave Roberts has made Joc Pederson the everyday CF, but I think if Joc falters again the way he did the 2nd half of last season Kike will replace him.
With that being said, I did see Joc have an AB against the Angels this spring where he worked the count to 3 and 2 shortened up on his swing and took an outside pitch against the shift to the left side past the third baseman for a single. Maybe he’s starting to get it.
I don’t expect AJ will be traded or released.Barnes can play other positions so would not have to be a catcher. I do expect this will be AJ’s last season with the Dodgers. He was late to the dance and has had a short career but I expect will try to keep playing somewhere for a while if given the chance and then become a coach.
According to Roberts, the cuts will begin tomorrow (Monday).
Sorry for the redundancy but being sent to minor league camp is not a bad thing, as it means more playing time (not less) for EVERYONE – including the guys on the big league field, who are the most likely to be on the Dodgers’ 25-man roster.
I know being sent to the minor league camp is not a bad thing. However, the same conundrum will exist, barring more injuries, trades, DFA’s etc. in the first week in April. Rob Segedin, Charlie Culberson, Austin Barnes would be among the last cuts along with Trayce Thompson and Micah Johnson. Easier to give pitchers an extended look in regular ST games.
I’m wondering if they’re going to make the decision to eat some salaries.
Has there ever been any discussion regarding expanding rosters among those who have a say in such decisions? It’s been at 25 as far back as I remember. They used to have 10 man pitching staffs, now the norm is 12. That really cuts into the bench.
I’m sure the richer teams, such as our Dodgers, and the MLBPA will like the idea. Likely the poorer teams won’t.
Just sayin’
Doesn’t make any difference who is wearing it, isn’t that picture above with the home white uniforms just about the greatest sight in all of professional sports?
Agreed.
Absolutely!
No, Harold… it IS the greatest thing in all of sports!
Ha. I guessed you would make that correction Kevin.
How about a 4 for 1 trade with Seattle? Send them Turner, Guerrero, Kendrick & Frias for Kyle Seager. (Add Crawford and a sack of cash). The Seagers can hold down the left side of the infield for a number of years and free roster space.
Where do I sign?
First round of cuts are in:
Jharel Cotton optioned.
Lisalverto Bonilla, Chase De Jong, Caleb Dirks, Jacob Rhame, Chris Anderson, Alex Hassan, Kyle Farmer reassigned.
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