DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS/INJURIES Thread

Injury Update:

Juan Uribe played in his first rehab game for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Thursday night. The third base man was the designated hitter for the Quakes, and he went 2-for-4 with two scored runs, a double, and one strikeout. Uribe has been sidelined for 6 weeks with a right hamstring strain. Uribe will play third base for the Quakes on Friday and Saturday as well. Meanwhile the Dodgers are still piecing together starts at third base between Justin Turner, Chone Figgins, and Miguel Rojas. Figgins is currently on the disabled list, and Turner has been ailing as well. Miguel Rojas all of a sudden seems relevant until Uribe is back.

courtesy of lasorda's lair

 

Top Outfielder Yasmani Tomas Defects From Cuba
By Steve Adams [June 20, 2014 at 11:58am CDT]

11:58pm: MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez hears that Tomas is currently in the Dominican Republic and exploring his options (Twitter link).

9:08am: One of the best players left in Cuba — outfielder Yasmani Tomas — has defected and will pursue a contract in Major League Baseball, reports Baseball America’s Ben Badler.

The 23-year-old Tomas has five professional seasons under his belt, and his combination of age and experience will make him exempt from MLB’s international spending limitations, even after the rules become tighter on July 2 (at that point, the amount of pro experience needed for exemption jumps from three years to five years).

Badler writes that Tomas, who stands 6’1″ and weighs 230 pounds, has 70-grade raw power (on the 20-80 scouting scale), and among current Cuban players, only the highly touted Alfredo Despaigne has more power. While Tomas has experience in center field and “decent” speed for his size, he’s ultimately a below-average runner and will have to play an outfield corner in the Majors. He does have some swing-and-miss tendencies and has shown weakness against plus velocity and breaking pitches. As such, some seasoning in Triple-A would do him some good, in Badler’s opinion, though he doesn’t rule out the possibility that Tomas could jump directly into a big league lineup. In response to a reader on Twitter, Badler notes that despite his upside, Tomas isn’t at the same level as White Sox slugger Jose Abreu, who was more polished coming out of Cuba.

Giving an idea of the type of production he’s shown in Cuba’s Series Nacional over the past few seasons, Badler writes that Tomas slashed .301/.340/.580 with 16 homers in 240 plate appearances in the 2011-12 season and .289/.364/.538 with 15 homers in 324 PA in 2012-13. Tomas regressed, to an extent, in the 2013-14 season, though one source tells Badler it was likely due to an arm injury that he sustained when crashing into the outfield wall midway through the season. Even in his “down” year, Tomas batted a healthy .290/.346/.450 with six homers in 257 PA.

Badler ranked Tomas as the No. 6 prospect in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He trailed the likes of Masahiro Tanaka, Jose Abreu, the aforementioned Despaigne, top Cuban second baseman Jose Fernandez and slugging infielder Yulieski Gourriel (who has declined since and is now playing in Japan).

Tomas is not yet eligible to sign, as he first needs to establish residence in a foreign country and then be cleared by both Major League Baseball and the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control. Once that happens, he will be declared a free agent and can sign with any team for any amount, but the timeline on those steps is never concrete, and Tomas may not end up signing until late in 2014 or even 2015.

 

and especially this...

 

• The Rays need to trade David Price as soon as possible, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays, of course, can’t afford to keep their ace long term and Price has grown increasingly frustrated with the team’s losing. Meanwhile, Topkin doesn’t see a trade within the division as an impossibility, but he says that it will require an additional premium for the Rays to even consider it.

LINK

 

I'd rather go after some BP help or a hitter.

SP is the last of our problems.

 

totally agree
that's why the smiley
not to mention ned would probably give them joc, seager and lee just for starters

 

meh, fwiw...

5 MLB Sluggers Likely to Be Traded Before July 31
by Eric Schaal | Wall Street CheatSheet -- June 22, 2014

Major League Baseball is at the halfway point in the 2014 season, which means it’s time for teams decide whether they will need players to make a run (i.e. become buyers) or fold their cards and try to add players for the future (i.e. become sellers). Among the most widespread needs, the lack of offense around baseball has made teams desperate for an impact-worthy bat.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has already gone on the record saying the team would be active on the trade market, which makes organizations salivate at the idea of dumping an expensive player for a prospect like, say, John Ryan Murphy. Meanwhile, the Yankees aren’t the only team looking to score more runs. The Cardinals, Red Sox, Nationals, and the Braves all rank among the worst ten teams in run production. Here are five power hitters whose names are likely to come up early and often before the the July 31 MLB trade deadline.​

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1. Seth Smith, Padres​

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Among all MLB teams, the consensus is the Padres are the only one that has already gone into “sell” mode. They have hitters capable of making an impact offesnively, so there are plenty of gains to be had for San Diego on the 2014 trade market. The list begins with Seth Smith.

Smith has shown plenty of pop in his bat in 2014 with a nifty slugging percentage of .485 (courtesy of 6 HR, 15 2B, and 4 3B). Teams looking for outfield help along with a potent bat may come calling. Smith’s .385 OBP is another thing many teams will covet. There is only half a season left on Smith’s current ($4.5 million) contract, so buyers will be making a rental of Smith should they cut a deal with San Diego.​

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2. Josh Willingham, Twins​

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In terms of impact bats on the trade market, teams could do a lot worse than Josh Willingham, if the Twins part with the slugging outfielder. Like Seth Smith, Willingham is at the end of his contract and would bring value because of his potential to deliver major power, though he has missed over 30 games due to injury in 2014.

The larger question is whether the Twins are selling after the acquisition of Kendry Morales. Apparently, the organization believes it can make a run with its roster as is, but the coming weeks may change that belief. By July 31, Willingham will show whether he can be consistent at the plate while the Twins will know whether they can keep up the AL Central. Expect Willingham to go as soon as he gets hot.​

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3. Carlos Quentin, Padres​

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The San Diego Padres always come up in trade talks because they have several desirable hitters and are the first MLB team to become a seller in 2014. In the case of Carlos Quentin, they have a capable slugger at a very affordable rate of $9 million per year. Quentin came cheaper because he wanted to play for his hometown team, while the Padres agreed to his demands for no-trade clause. Everyone is happy, right?

Actually, Quentin’s inability to stay on the field has made his value only marginal for San Diego, which has no option to slot Quentin at DH when his knees are barking. Things have gotten even more complicated with Quentin’s poor production in 2014. He is now at career lows in batting average (.203 in 2014, .254 career), home runs (he has 3), slugging percentage (.365 in 2014, .488 career), and on-base percentage (down over 40 points).

On top of everything, the Padres had to bench Quentin June 20 because of his bad knee, which makes the total of missed time over 210 games in two and half seasons in San Diego. Something has to give. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports Quentin would waive his no-trade clause to allow for an amicable end to what was once the perfect match in San Diego. AL teams in need of a power bat (there are numerous) are going to inquire, but Quentin is strictly DH material at this point in time. He is owed $8 million next year, then has an option that is unlikely to vest due to his limited play.​

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4. Matt Kemp, Dodgers​

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The Dodgers trading Matt Kemp before July 31 would not exactly be the equivalent of the Red Sox trading Manny Ramirez in 2008, but it would be close. Kemp was the primary option in L.A. for years, but his star has dimmed because of injuries and the emergence of Yasiel Puig. At this point, the Dodgers have the most to gain keeping Puig alongside Carl Crawford (who would be difficult to trade) and Andre Ethier (who would get the Dodgers little in return) while dealing Kemp. ESPN reports the Dodgers are more likely to trade Kemp in the offseason, but the situation in L.A. indicates the organization needs a change sooner than later.

He’s owed a ton of money ($109 million) over the next five years, but for teams with a big budget and a desperate need of offensive punch in the outfield (the Red Sox come to mind again), a deal seems possible. The Red Sox have prospects that could make it happen, plus Kemp would fit in nicely playing center or right field at Fenway. That left field wall would also be inviting for the right-handed slugger.​

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5. Chase Headley, Padres​

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Once immortalized as “Chase the Magnificent” in Dirk Hayhurst’s The Bullpen Gospels, Chase Headley has fallen back to earth in 2014. The Padres’ third baseman is hitting .200 over 56 games, which ranks him among the worst hitters in the National League. Headley’s stock has sunk drastically since his peak year of 2012 had teams offering huge packages in hopes of nabbing a lefty who also fields his position well.

Now, it will take far less to get Headley from the Padres, but San Diego needs something to show for a selloff that could include Will Venable and Seth Smith, not to mention the outside chance of Carlos Quentin. Among the curious teams, the Yankees seem the obvious candidate. They have the short right field in Yankee Stadium Headley could exploit. Defensively, they could start Headley at third and move Yangervis Solarte to second base, which would allow the team to sit the struggling Brian Roberts.​

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fwiw...

Uribe to extend rehab assignment​

by Ken Gurnick | MLB.com -- 6/22/2014​

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SAN DIEGO -- Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said third baseman Juan Uribe asked to remain on his injury rehab stint with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga a while longer instead of meeting the club Sunday.​

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Mattingly on Saturday indicated that Uribe would be evaluated in San Diego on Sunday and could be activated as soon as Monday in Kansas City. Now it looks as if Uribe won't be active until the homestand that opens Thursday night, although Mattingly didn't rule out the possibility of Uribe joining the club in Kansas City.​

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"It was more him than anyone," said Mattingly. "It sounds like he's not totally comfortable and needs a few more at-bats."​

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Uribe has played three games with Rancho Cucamonga, one as a designated hitter, two at third base. He is 4-for-11.​

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He has been nursing a right hamstring strain since May 20. The club has gone 17-12 in his absence.​

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Depends on who gets you the most value.

Dre and CC won't get you much. Matt, if he's hitting again, will get you a better return. Not a lot because of injury history, but more than Dre and Crawford.

 

not that this bradford hack knows anything...

Red Sox Aren't Targeting Matt Kemp​

By Zach Links [June 23, 2014 at 10:48am CDT]​

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The Red Sox have been linked to Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp in the past and a recent report indicated that Boston was spending "significant time" watching him. However, a source tells Rob Bradford of WEEI that there's nothing brewing between the two sides regarding the two-time All-Star.​

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General Manager Ben Cherington & Co. continue to explore options to improve their outfield's offensive production but the source insists that there's no momentum towards a deal for Kemp. For his part, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that the 29-year-old isn’t going anywhere.​

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In 261 plate appearances this year, Kemp owns a slash line of .274/.333/.460. That's not quite the performance from his All-Star seasons in 2011 and 2012 (.315/.387/.567) but its an uptick from his injury filled 2013. Kemp has also been on an absolute tear over the last ten games.​

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Fellow Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier was mentioned as a possibility for the BoSox in the spring but Bradford reported in late May that Boston wouldn’t be pursuing him either.​

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That hole in the number 6 spot in the order is hurting this team. I seriously don't get why SVS can't start every game. Is his fielding that much worse?

 

Donnie doesn't like him for some reason.

Remember last year during the playoffs when Michael Young was batting in most every situation?