UPDATE: Dodgers Get Infielder Mejia as Wieland Is Sent To Seattle
The deals just keep on coming, and with a very clear goal in mind: The Dodgers want to completely revitalize the minor league system whenever they can, so long as they stay competitive. Seems fair.
In this case, Joe Wieland is heading north, to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a prospects.
ICYMI: Friedman Doesn’t Close Door on Fernandez Deal
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports broke the story.
Source: Mariners acquire right-hander Joe Wieland from the Dodgers. Minor leaguers believed to be coming back from Seattle to Los Angeles.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 12, 2016
The news isn’t all that noteworthy, seeing as Wieland only pitched in 11 games last season, but his 8+ ERA doesn’t really reflect his 1.731 WHIP, so the thinking for Seattle is that those two numbers even out a little more and while the Dodgers do what they can to continue stockpiling prospects.
The Dodgers just announced via press release that the prospect coming back to Los Angles is infielder Eric Mejia.
Mejia, 21, has a .273 career batting average with 49 stolen bases, a home run and 42 RBI in 133 minor league games in the Mariners organization after being signed as an amateur free agent on June 30, 2012 out of the Dominican Republic. In 2015, the switch-hitter combined to hit .282 in 51 games with Triple-A Tacoma, Single-A Clinton, Single-A Everett and the Rookie-level AZL Mariners, while successfully stealing 20 bases in 21 attempts. During the course of his minor league career, Mejia has posted a .908 fielding percentage in 78 games (72 starts) at shortstop and a .989 mark in 48 games (44 starts) at second base.
The Dodgers now have an extra spot on their 40-man roster, which is potentially set aside for Yaisel Sierra, with whom they have an agreement for 6 years, $30 million.
NEXT: Justin Turner To Host Charity Celebrity Golf Tournament
A pat on the back for the FO. Maybe they’ have realized that the Dodgers have always been about pitching and speed. I guess someone reminded them of the pressure that Jackie Robinson, Maury Wills, Davey Lopes and others put on defenses. Mr Friedan please continue to obtain contact hitters with speed!!