Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers have made a couple more roster moves recently, which essentially finalize the 13-man Opening Day pitching staff and leave only the outfield decisions left. RHP/LHP Pat Venditte was reassigned to the minors yesterday, while RHP Yimi Garcia won’t be on the team’s Opening Day roster, though whether he’s optioned or put on the disabled list is still unknown.
Venditte has been effective in Spring Training, posting a 1.74 ERA in 10.1 innings over nine appearances, striking out 13 and walking just three. However, he was always a long-shot to make it to Opening Day as a non-roster invitee, but he’ll certainly serve as quality depth in AAA.
Yimi is coming off Tommy John surgery, and while his velocity is reportedly back, he still may need more time to fine tune. He’s posted a 6.35 ERA in 5.2 innings over six outings, striking out five and walking two. Yimi will likely be one of the first called up following an injury or ineffectiveness.
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Most importantly, this essentially finalizes the pitching staff of 13, as Dave Roberts indicated eight relievers would make the Opening Day roster.
Starters
Clayton Kershaw
Alex Wood
Kenta Maeda
Rich Hill
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Relievers
Kenley Jansen
Scott Alexander
Tony Cingrani
Josh Fields
Ross Stripling
Pedro Baez
Wilmer Font
J.T. Chargois
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So now there are 30 players left, and subtracting the three who will start the year on the DL gives us 27 and two cuts to make.
Now it basically comes down to Kyle Farmer, Joc Pederson, Trayce Thompson, and Andrew Toles for those two spots. The Dodgers have likely already tipped their hand with regards to Thompson in pursuing trade options and appear set on letting the rehabbed-from-knee-surgery Toles start in the minors, so that would appear to complete the 25-man roster.
It’s tough for those who certainly could’ve earned a role on the Dodgers to start the year, but the team having the problem of wanting to keep too many talented players on the roster is the right kind of mess to be in.
