Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After the first round of cuts took place a few days ago involving eight players, the Dodgers recently announced the second round that involved optioning four and reassigning three more for a total of seven, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. Second baseman Micah Johnson, and pitchers Yaisel Sierra, Ross Stripling, and Ian Thomas were optioned, while catcher Jack Murphy and pitchers Julio Urias and Jose De Leon were reassigned.
Most notable among the cuts were top prospects Urias (#2), De Leon (#3), Johnson (#8), and Stripling (#25), according to MLB.com. However, Sierra was also notable, as he had signed a six-year, $30 million contract in the off-season.
Urias ranked 2nd, De Leon 3rd, Sierra 14th, Johnson 15th, and Stripling 18th on the prospect rankings of Dodgers Digest.
As far as their performances were concerned, Johnson posted a nice average and generally looked like he belonged in his 29 at-bats (.345/.345/.379/.724). Murphy was only given six at-bats, but he did walk four times, giving himself an oddly impressive line of .167/.545/.333/.879. Stripling was impressive in his three outings, striking out six in six innings without allowing a run, and so was Thomas, who also didn’t allow a run in the same amount of appearances over three innings. De Leon showed flashes of what’s to come in his three appearances, but did struggle more as the spring went on, striking out five in six innings but allowing five runs and three homers. Urias did much of the same in his two stints on the rubber, dominating at times, but in the end surrendering four runs in three innings of work. Sierra did not see action this spring as he arrived late due to some visa issues after signing.
None of the players cut today were expected to open the season with the Dodgers, though I did think Johnson and Stripling might’ve earned the right to have been cut later in the process, and I wished we could’ve seen more of De Leon and Urias.
