DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS/AROUND MLB Thread

what book?

edit: i knew gibby got into it with mariano duncan [pedro's buddy] but hadn't heard about that
shouldn't surprise me, guerrero (the then de facto team leader) couldn't have been happy about gibby coming in

 

thanks man i'll have to check it out! :reading:

 

Dodgers plan to stretch Pablo Fernandez as a starter
by Eric Stephen | True Blue LA — 3 hours ago



LOS ANGELES -- It seems a bit unfair that Pablo Fernandez had to share his signing day with fellow Cuban defector Hector Olivera. But the $8 million investment made by the Dodgers in Fernandez is significant in its own right, and could net the team an extra starting pitcher, perhaps as soon as this season.

The 25-year-old Fernandez was officially signed to a minor league contract on Tuesday, and because of his age (23 or older) and professional experience (seven years in La Serie Nacional in Cuba; the requirement is five) his $8 million signing bonus does not count against the Dodgers' international bonus restrictions.

Fernandez was 32-30 with 40 saves in his seven seasons in Cuba, and 156 of his 177 games were in relief. Of his 21 starts, only one was made since the 2008-2009 season with Holguin.

But the Dodgers plan to stretch out Fernandez as a starting pitcher.

"He has a five-pitch mix. He has a really good feel for pitching, and has shown really good command throughout his career," said Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said on Tuesday. "He's got the 'El Duque' Orlando Hernandez delivery, which a lot of Cuban pitchers seem to have. He idolizes him and wants to pitch like him, which wouldn't be a bad outcome."

Fernandez, who reportedly agreed to a deal with the Dodgers two months ago, has been working out and pitching in a camp set up by his agent. Fernandez will report to Camelback Ranch to begin his professional career.

"We're going to get him to Arizona as well and start the process of stretching him out," Friedman said. "The upside scenario is that he's a starter for us at some point this year."

 

Andrew Friedman on Hector Olivera: "He's going to come up at some point this year and help us win games"
by Eric Stephen | True Blue LA — 5 hours ago



LOS ANGELES -- With infielder Hector Olivera now on board officially, his Dodgers career will begin at the club's training facility at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said on Tuesday.

"He'll be [in Arizona] for a week or so before heading to [Class-A Rancho Cucamonga] for a few games. We're kind of treating that a little bit like a spring training," Friedman said. "Then we'll get him to [Triple-A] Oklahoma City for a while, and reassess at that point."

Olivera, 30, hasn't played in competitive games since the 2013-2014 season in La Serie Nacional in Cuba, though he has been playing and working out at the Dodgers' camp at Campo Las Palmas.

"We had him at our camp in the Dominican for the last month, and had a chance to have our guys spend time with him and be around him, watch the body and see how he bounces back day after day," Friedman said. "Our guys feel really good about him health-wise."

The Dodgers gave Olivera $62.5 million over six years, including a $28 million signing bonus, amid rumors his health was in question. Friedman said the market dictated the contract, and Olivera mentioned that he was courted by other teams, specifically mentioning the Giants, Braves and Marlins, and that the Dodgers had so many Cuban players helped tip the scales in their favor.

"He came through the medical exam with Dr. ElAttache very well. We feel good about where he is. Medically we did a very thorough review," Friedman said. "He takes care of himself extremely well."

When pressed and asked specifically if Olivera had any sort of sprain or tear in his elbow, as was previously rumored, Friedman would only add, "We felt really good about it as he went through [the process]."

Olivera said, through a translator, that there were no serious issues with his elbow.

"I don't know where that rumor came from," Olivera said. "There was a little bit of inflammation in my arm, but a lot of people saw me play in the tryouts, and I played well. It was fatigue in the muscle."

Friedman said he didn't know yet what position Olivera would play, second and third base seem to be the most logical end points for the infielder.

"He'll tell you he's most comfortable at second, but he's had no problems moving around the infield in Cuba. At our academy he got a lot of work at second and third, and the reports on both were good," Friedman said. "His bat is his carrying tool, and has a chance to be a real impact bat in the major leagues. We're going to do everything we can to provide the environment to move him along."

Olivera did say he prefers second base but is willing to play anywhere.

"I'm here to play whatever position they put me," he said.

Olivera estimated it would take him three to four weeks to be ready to play in the majors.

But just how long it takes Olivera to make his way to the majors remains to be seen, and will largely depend on Olivera's performance in the minors, against real competition.

"Seeing him in game action will be very telling. We'll kind of go off those cues and figure out the right time when to advance him along," Friedman said. "We feel very confident he's going to come up at some point this year and help us win games."

 

Julio Urias to miss a month after eye surgery, which could pay off for Dodgers down the stretch
by Eric Stephen | True Blue LA — 14 hours ago



LOS ANGELES -- Top Dodgers pitching prospect Julio Urias will miss a month for Double-A Tulsa after undergoing an elective surgical procedure on his left eye, but this could have an impact on the major league team down the stretch and possibly in the postseason.

Urias, 18, has had a condition since childhood that has left eye almost completely shut. This procedure is expected to correct that.

The Drillers placed Urias on the disabled list Monday, and say the left-hander is expected back in "about a month," which could actually be a good thing. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com spoke with Dodgers farm director Gabe Kapler:

"Obviously, one of our main intentions -- independent of the procedure -- is to protect Julio and limit his workload," said Kapler. "We're mindful of pitch and innings totals for every pitcher in our organization. Our aim is to take a long view approach to Julio's progression with laser sharp focus on long-term health. A blow midseason made sense to us."​

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said on Tuesday that someone in the organization suggested the procedure to Urias in spring training, and the left-hander grew to like the idea.

"It was something Julio was very interested in doing, so we're supporting him," Friedman said. "It's a creative approach. We will build up his innings base. This is a slightly different way to do it, but he'll get to a similar point."

Urias is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in seven starts so far with Double-A Tulsa, with 46 strikeouts and nine walks in 36 innings. If he misses exactly a month, he would have time to make roughly 15 more starts until Tulsa's season ends on Sept. 7. That would add anywhere from 70-80 innings to his odometer, putting him over 100 innings on the season. Urias pitched 87⅔ innings in 2014.

The Dodgers could potentially add Urias to their bullpen for September and October, sort of like how the Rays used David Price in 2008. Price made his major league debut with a start on Sept. 14, 2008, then pitched in four games in relief in the regular season, then five more games in the playoffs, and was on the mound as the Rays won the American League pennant. Price pitched a total of 19⅔ innings for Tampa Bay in September and October.

Easing off a few minor league starts at the end could give the Dodgers even more rope with Urias in the big leagues.

If they so choose, that is.

Friedman would not say whether Urias is more likely to join the Dodgers in September now that the left-hander is getting a month off.

"The objective for us is doing what's right be Julio, and that means building his inning base," Friedman explained. "Just like everyone else, in middle to late August we'll assess where everyone in the organization and what makes the most sense at that point."

This midseason break just makes that opportunity much more likely, at least as an option to consider.