March 13th, 2018 at 7:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Following Monday’s game between the Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers announced their second round of roster cuts, again with no significant surprises.
The team optioned right-hander Walker Buehler, left-hander Edward Paredes and utility infielder / outfielder Rob Segedin, and reassigned left-hander Manny Banuelos, infielder Max Muncy and catcher Will Smith to minor league camp. They also outright released right-hander Mark Lowe.
Although a favorite among Dodger fans, Segedin has had a horrible spring, going 0-for-5 at the plate with four strikeouts in the four games in which he played. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Although some may consider optioning Buehler a bit of a surprise, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had said as far back as early January that the 23-year-old Lexington, Kentucky native and Dodgers 2015 first-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt University would not be in the Dodgers Opening Day rotation. That being said, there is every reason to believe that he will be the first to be called up to the Dodgers at the first sign of trouble for one of the five Dodgers starters or (Heaven forbid) in the event of an injury.
Worth noting is that even though Buehler was optioned to the minors, he is scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers on Friday evening against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields. In other words, he is still very much in the mix for a starting role, just not at the beginning of the 2018 season.
For those who missed it, Buehler was outstanding in his Cactus League debut this past Saturday night when he threw two scoreless innings of relief, during which he allowed only one hit, no walks, while striking out five of the seven batters he faced. He also hit 98-MPH consistently with his fastball; all of this after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August of 2015.
With Monday’s roster moves, the remaining non-roster invitees still in major league camp are: switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, catcher Rocky Gale, utility infielder / outfielder (and spring training 2018 hero) Jake Peter, and utility infielder Donovan Solano.
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Buehler will be back. A trip to the minors to closely manage and conserve innings during the early going. If he can consistently hit 98 MPH with results like the other night there will soon be a new Sheriff in LA. Maybe he is this years deadline acquisition, but I can’t see how he is not a big part of the 2018 playoffs if he continues to dominate. This summer he will be 24 yrs old and three years removed from TJ surgery, the future is now. Exciting times.
Speaking of exciting times, where are all the people who were on the Greinke bandwagon. Greinke with his mid 80s fastball must be causing a lot of excitement in AZ. Sure glad Dodgers management didn’t sign sign him to that $200M contract.
I think it’s good knowing that Buehler is a right handed pitcher. I’m sure the Dodgers would love to have, at least another one, in their starting rotation.