Dodgers Sign LHP Kyle Lobstein to Minor League Deal
The Dodgers have reportedly agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein on a minor league deal.
Lobstein was announced as a non-roster invitee to spring training for 2020 and he has a long lineage of a relationship to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. Andrew Friedman selected him in the draft when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays and he picked him up once again in 2018 on a minor league deal.
#Flagstaff's Kyle Lobstein heads to spring with the Dodgers. Friedman drafted him with Tampa, he was in the Dodgers organization in 2018. https://t.co/O1RFhL8CbF
— Cody Bashore (@Cody_Bashore) January 23, 2020
Lobstein, 30, was once a first round draft selection of the New York Mets in 2012 and has had an unimpressive career in the big leagues to this point. He has amassed a very low 5.2 K/9 and poor 5.06 ERA at the big league level across 128 innings of work. Things went a lot better for him in 2019 with the Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate as he posted a 4.75 ERA, but with a 9.0 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 rate.
[adace-ad id=”118954″]However, he has some intrigue considering that he has near even splits against right-handed and left-handed hitters.
https://twitter.com/DanJPreciado/status/1220840080316780550?s=20
This is a fantastic way to counteract the new 2020 three-batter minimum rule.
Lobstein will look to flip the script at age 30 with the Dodgers and he should be given at least somewhat of a chance to get innings later on this season as a ‘hybrid lefty specialist’.
Friedman’s plan, Sign ,25 reclemation projects, Lob. Or Lobstein them all up on a wall and see which one sticks. And people question why we have doubts about Friedman’s ability to win a championship!
Kyle Lobstein! It doesn’t get any better than this. Friedman is fast becoming a genius.
Terrible name for a pitcher
Man, the next one will be named Batinpractiss..
Recently the Dodger’s hired coaches and an intern from Driveline, the baseball training academy in Dallas, TX. So far Alex Wood believes his pitching performance has improved this offseason with Driveline’s help. Other major league players agree how much their performance has improved too.
Maybe Driveline can help other Dodger pitchers and batters as well.
They should have Kershaw go there . Maybe he can increase the speed of his fastball.
Can drive line hit with power from the right side? Can Drive line increase Wood’ s velocity 5 MPH? Can driveline replace 17 wins? Hope so is a understatement!
Given the new reliever rule I can see Friedmans interest in Lobstein given his splits against righties/lefties. Could be another low risk high reward pickup for the Dodgoers.
How about the very first low risk high reward for Tightwad Friedman. How many duds are
left out there this moron can try to sign with his skin flint technology.
30 years old and a 5.00 ERA. Does that sound good? And the bright side is that he is just as old and gives up just as many runs whether pitching to righted handed or left handed batters. That’s not the kind of consistency I would be looking for.
I hear Bartolo Colon is looking for a minor league deal. That would make the hot stove league a complete success for the Dodgers brain(less) trust.
Nolan Ryan is available.
LOL. But let me ask all of you this:
Are any of you surprised at this typical Freidman pick up? I am not and to be honest, IDK about others here but I am certainly not that excited for ST of 2020 to begin. Simple reason is I see ZERO upgrades or improvements that have taken place since last October 9th.
Hey Paul, I just view the entire Friedman show as a comedy. I had told you right after we choked in game 5 that unless Friedman and co. Spend big this off season and pick up some proven talent, not only needing to add another front line starter, a power right handed bat, and a couple front line bull pen arms then I’m done spending money on their money ball b.s. After they do nothing once again, I have zero confidence in the team, the metric platooning experiment, or their unqualified manager. So I told the wife no games, no MLB channel and no hats etc until they show me they’ re going to make a run at a championship! Let some other gullible fantasy baseball nerd have my seats! We will be spending our money on the Lakers! Jeanie Buss understands what bringing championships to her fans and the city is all about!
Lakers look pretty sh***y against the other top tier teams I no longer have high hopes for them come playoffs this spring.
Wow Kirk I dont think any team wants a fair weather friend. Dodgers are better off with judgemental cheap seat advice.
You’re also forgetting the Dodgers SHOULD have not 1 but 2 WS rings but have been cheated out of them so…guess Dodgers DO know what they’re doing. You should just follow any team that you like come October, after all you’re guaranteed theyd been in contention for a pennant. Go Dodgers!
Eric, Not only have the Friedman apologist crowd learned to make Excuses for failure , but progressive era hipsters have taken over my Dodgers team. They have now convinced some followers that they are victims of the cheaters, never admitting the truth or reality that they simply aren’t capable of doing what’s necessary to keep up with the organizations that are all in financially! You can criticize loyalty all you want and push your everyone gets a trophy b.s. to the rest of the hipster moneyball bubble, but 33 years of excuses have drawn my patience to a end. Spending big money on a futile entertainment act that never changes their set list, or adds new songs,has no lead singer, and comes up with laryngitis at the Grammy’ s every time,, then can’t understand why they never get the Grammy , is my prerogative of not supporting any longer. I don’t follow any other baseball teams, just not paying the money ball jokesters any longer. Fools do.
Don, they definitely are looking pretty poor against good defensive teams , as of now they won’t win anything. But the point I make regarding the difference between the Lakers and Dodgers is the Lakers will evaluate their weaknesses, then do what’s necessary ” even if it costs them draft picks” and add proven players! Their philosophy is the most successful approach of ” any” pro sports franchise in the last 50 years. Jeani Buss is concerned with fan feedback and providing championships, not western division titles. She will pay and reward star players for coming to L.A. I know that you know this, I just figured the money ball apologists could read it and try and think of of a losers mentality response like they do supporting the money ball farce.