Dodgers Need to Clear a 40-Man Roster Spot for Teoscar Hernandez, Here Are Some Options
The Dodgers made yet another splash this offseason Sunday, agreeing to terms with outfielder Teoscar Hernández on a one-year deal worth $23.5 million. According to multiple reports, $8.5 million of the contract will be deferred, from 2030-39.
Hernández will likely play left field for the Dodgers in an outfield featuring James Outman, Jason Heyward, Chris Taylor, and Manuel Margot. While the Dodgers’ outfield is in better shape today than it was when last season ended, they will need to make room on the 40-man roster for Hernández.
Currently, the Dodgers have 17 position players and 23 pitchers on their 40-man roster. Although several of those pitchers finished last season on the injured list — notably Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Blake Treinen, J.P. Feyereisen — the Dodgers can likely sacrifice more depth on the pitching side than the position player side.
Here are a few pitchers they might move on from.
Yency Almonte
After signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers prior to the 2022 season, Almonte’s contract was selected in May. He made an immediate impression and finished with a career year: a 1.02 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched.
Almonte had a tougher time in 2023. A right knee injury affected his performance and ultimately ended his season in August. Prior to that he struggled to retire left-handers, and toyed with a new pitch, but never regained a high-leverage relief role. He threw 48 innings and finished with a 5.06 ERA, with an unsightly 24 walks.
Considering how inconsistent he’s been over a six-year career that began in Colorado, Almonte could find himself the odd man out.
Michael Grove
Another pitcher that the Dodgers could remove from the 40-man roster is Michael Grove. Before making his major league debut in 2022, Grove ranked as the 23rd-best prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system according to MLB Pipeline. Since making his debut, he’s struggled to put it all together.
Last year, Grove reprised his role as a starting pitcher to begin the 2022 season, but pitched his way out of the rotation with an 8.14 ERA across his first five starts. Although he made another seven starts after that point, most were out of necessity as the Dodgers struggled with injuries to all five members of their Opening Day rotation.
Grove fared slightly better as a reliever (4.24 ERA, 1.059 WHIP) but couldn’t crack the bullpen rotation for the postseason. He finished his year with a 6.13 ERA and issued 19 walks.
Despite having a high strike percentage (65.0%), hitters had a lot of success off Grove. They logged 12 home runs, 15 doubles and a .296 batting average in 302 plate appearances.
As the Dodgers aim to bolster their bullpen for 2024, it’s not clear if Grove did enough in his brief 2023 audition to warrant a role. Grove still has two option years remaining, offering the front office a degree of flexibility Almonte (who’s out of options) does not.
Gus Varland
Gus Varland, a right-handed pitcher, has had a tumultuous last year. Selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Rule 5 draft, he made the team’s Opening Day roster but appeared in just six games before an unsightly comebacker sent him to the injured list.
Varland recovered to pitch two more games out of the Milwaukee bullpen but was returned to the Dodgers with an 11.42 ERA. He made it back to the majors with the Dodgers and pitched much better in eight appearances (3.09 ERA, 14 strikeouts in 11.2 innings).
Before he was chosen in the Rule 5 draft, Varland had struggled somewhat with the Dodgers’ Double-A Tulsa affiliate (.360 opponents’ OBP, 4.67 ERA in 44.1 relief innings in 2022). Although he has three options years remaining, his track record of success in the majors and high minors is short.
Like Grove, Varland has struggled to be consistent throughout his career and might be someone the Dodgers would want to remove from the roster heading into next season.
Photo Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
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Grove can’t be a serious consideration because they’d be out of their minds to do so. With the dearth of MLB starting pitching available, he be lost before it was reported.
Stone or Barnes, Sorry Austin but your time has finally come. DFA’ing you now gives you a chance to catch on somewhere else,
lol this is pretty funny. Stone was the 2022 Branch Rickey Minor League pitcher of the year. 0% chance he’s DFA’d. And if you DFA Barnes, who’s the backup catcher? Feduccia? Your comment shows you know nothing.
Wont be either. Stone too much upside prospect wise (trade value) & unless another catcher is on the 40 man we need min 2 catchers.
Stone is not even listed, why would you do that?
My guess is either almonte or varland?
Although I think Barnes can be traded easily because of his contract and experience.
The Rangers are in need of a backup catcher. Trade Austin Barnes to Texas for a Low level Prospect and give Hunter Feduccia a chance, he had a solid year at Triple-A and if anything, he can’t do much worse than Barnes did in 2023.
Love Austin Barnes but I think it’s time the Dodgers employ him like they did Manny Mota back in the day. For the younger ones here Manny Mota was moved to the r bench coaching staff gen when someone got injured he could be put back on the roster as needed
Can’t they trade some of these guys on the 40 man roster for younger prospects (that won’t be on 40 man roster) instead of just DFA? At least you get something in return.
Yes.
Another article with minimal actual insight or much depth.