Spring Notes: Cuts claim 10 players, Yamamoto’s “struggles”, Stone’s rotation bid, Mookie & Lux switch places, pen injuries piling up, more

Chad Moriyama 03/10/2024 Dodgers News Leave A Comment

A lot has happened since the last update, with the biggest story being Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux switching places. There’s also been a couple of games cut short by rain, injury updates that could add intrigue to roster predictions, and the second round of cuts.

Indeed, the Dodgers have cut 10 players, optioning pitcher Matt Gage and utilityman Andre Lipcius, while reassigning pitchers Kevin Gowdy and Elieser Hernandez, catcher Dalton Rushing, shortstop Trey Sweeney, outfielders Drew Avans, Jose Ramos, and Ryan Ward, and utilityman Austin Gauthier.

That leaves 41 players left, so 15 cuts to make.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto

While he wasn’t sharp in his follow-up start, as evidenced by the three walks, he also didn’t get hit very hard en route to giving up five runs in three innings. Within the six hits, there was one clean single, four infield singles, and one “double” that was basically botched by Max Muncy at third. He also struck out four, so meh.

Mookie Betts

As mentioned earlier, he made the switch to short to help the Dodgers, so it’s worth monitoring his progress there given the sudden change. Definitely a mixed bag so far, but we’ll see if he improves.

Gavin Lux

The concern here isn’t so much whether he can handle the position, since we already know he can from 2022. It’s more about whether he has the yips again or not, but he looked solid today.

Gavin Stone

He’s technically still in competition for the fifth starter role, but it’s basically his now, as Stone went four shutout innings, giving up just two singles and striking out five. While this was his best outing of the Spring, he has looked sharp, in general.

Michael Grove

As mentioned, the fifth starter job is likely Stone’s to lose, but after a pair of rocky outings, Grove was dominant in his last appearance, striking out six over 3.1 innings and surrendering just a single and a walk.

Ryan Brasier

I am not worried about him, but it seems noteworthy that he has given up five runs on seven hits and a walk in 4.2 innings so far this Spring, though he has also struck out six.

J.P. Feyereisen

Many assume he’ll be in the pen to start the year, but I’m not so sure. The Dodgers are giving him a lot of rest between appearances and he hasn’t been sharp so far, which is understandable since he hasn’t pitched since June of 2022. In his latest outing he surrendered a run on a pair of hits and a walk while only getting one out.

Andy Pages

While Pages already knows he won’t make the team, he continues to make an impression, going 2-for-2 with an RBI in his last appearance, boosting his Spring OPS to 1.571.

Sauryn Lao

Another player that has impressed this Spring, the recent convert to pitching struck out a pair in a dominant inning last time out. That’s five strikeouts and a walk over 2.1 innings of hitless and scoreless ball.

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Brusdar Graterol

Well, this certainly counts as a major blow. Everybody who was worried that Graterol had only appeared once this Spring has been validated, as he’s dealing with hip and shoulder discomfort, which opens up a pen roster spot.

Blake Treinen

In a recent game he was struck by a comebacker that was lined into his ribs.

Thankfully it sounds like he’ll be fine? Bruised lung is minor, apparently?

Daniel Hudson

While this quote is a vote of confidence in a way, it also seems like he’s being primed to start the year on the IL or something. Or at least he was, but with Graterol’s situation, who knows?

Walker Buehler

While he obviously won’t make the Opening Day roster, he might end up getting a Spring Training start, which is definitely a positive.

Buehler’s currently throwing live batting practice, and things seem to be going well.

Emmet Sheehan

In worrying news, Sheehan will start the year on the IL due to shoulder soreness.

Heck, I was unclear what even his activities were at the moment until Stacie asked.

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