Dodgers News: Brandon League Designated For Assignment
While the Los Angeles Dodgers had an off day Thursday after wrapping up their 10-game road trip with a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday, the Dodgers front office spent the better part of the day adding to the organization.
As expected the club was aggressive in the international market, signing nine prospects, and blowing past their allotted pool money. Additionally, the Dodgers also signed Trevor Cahill to a Minor-League contract, and acquired a total of four prospects in trades with the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays.
However arguably the biggest news of the day came Thursday evening when the Dodgers announced Brandon League was designated for assignment. The right-hander was set to earn $7.5 million in the final year of a three-year contract he signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2013 season.
The deal included a vesting option for 2016, though it was dependent on games finished, which considering time missed in 2015, rendered it unobtainable. A team can claim League off waivers, but would assume the remainder of his salary. Should the right-hander clear waivers, he can accept a Minor League assignment or refuse it and become a free agent.
League was sidelined in Spring Training with a shoulder injury and has yet to pitch for the Dodgers this season; he opened the year on the 15-day disabled list and was transferred to the 60-day DL April 26. He began a rehab assignment with High-A Rancho Cucamonga June 7, where he allowed one run in five innings over five appearances.
League then joined Triple-A Oklahoma City with his most recent appearance Tuesday. He appeared in five games, allowing two runs (one earned) over 5.2 innings. He joins Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Matt Kemp and Brian Wilson as players the Dodgers are paying to not play for them this season.
The emergences of Pedro Baez and Yimi Garcia, coupled with Juan Nicasio and Joel Peralta, essentially made League expendable for a club with vast financial resources. Though currently on the disabled list, the Dodgers also have Chris Hatcher.
Over his rocky tenure with the Dodgers, during which he lost the role as closer to Kenley Jansen, League a 3.55 ERA, 3.85 FIP and 1.43 WHIP in 149 career games with the Dodgers, including 62 games finished and 20 saves.
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You know. Despite what you think of League. It may be good business. It may all be on the up and up… but I really don’t like the way this front office does things. I understand “it’s a business”, but they treat the players like absolute meat now, and there is a part of me that really, really doesn’t like it.
I wonder if that’s why the players hearts aren’t in it?
About a year late. Better late than never.
It’s a year and a half overdue!!