Luke Raley – Poster Child of the Dodgers' Farm System
Many fans are talking about 28-year-old (soon to be 29) Luke Raley and how well he is doing with the Rays. Yes, Luke is doing very well this year, OPS’ing .9047and playing LF, RF, and 1B. He played three years in college and six years in the Dodgers Farm System. Of course, you…
Many fans are talking about 28-year-old (soon to be 29) Luke Raley and how well he is doing with the Rays. Yes, Luke is doing very well this year, OPS’ing .9047and playing LF, RF, and 1B. He played three years in college and six years in the Dodgers Farm System. Of course, you cannot keep all of the players due to Rule 5, so in an effort to at least get something in return for him, the Dodgers traded him to the Rays for Tanner Dodson, the 100 MPH flamethrower outfielder converted pitcher. Dodson is a “project” – already 26 years old, he is likely a year or two away from the bigs (if he can ever control his throws). He is 4-4 this season with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP, as he has pitched 24 innings, allowing 20 hits, 19 strikeouts, and 14 walks.
Tanner Dodson was the best they could get for Luke Raley. There are likely a lot of Luke Raley’s in the Dodgers’ Farm System. These are guys who do not get it immediately, and finally… after several years and maybe multiple teams, they put it all together. I am happy for Luke Raley, but he was just another LH bat, and they had to trade him or likely lose him. Tanner Dodson may also be of that same ilk, and he may become a high-leverage reliever at 28 or 29.
NOTES: Julio Urias and Daniel Hudson are both set to be activated at the end of June or the first couple of days of July. That should help the pitching staff immensely.
Down on the Farm
OKLAHOMA CITY
- Landon Knack did not fare well in his first AAA start – Let’s just say that his 10.13 ERA sums it all up.
- OTOH, Gus Varland, whom the Brewers sent back to LA under Rule 5, is flourishing in the bullpen with a 2.84 ERA. He’s not a high-leverage option but could be a multi-inning guy.
TULSA
- Diego Cartaya continues to struggle – he is still hitting .210. Puzzling – Is this the real Diego or just a blip?
- Jose Ramos hit his 13th HR and has 42 RBI with a .278 BA and .857 OPS. He is mostly playing CF.
Trainwreck
Right about now, that is what the Dodgers are. This story will unfold in time. This is a playoff team, no matter how you want to mock me. This, too… shall pass! Remember, a month ago, most of you wanted David Peralta gone. Not that he is the greatest player ever, but he is hitting .276 on the season and, in the last 15 games, is at .435. So make fun of me all you want. I will come back with a vengeance! It would be nice if Vargas starts hitting, and I believe he will. There is a lot of baseball to be played! Why am I so confident in Vargas? Dino Ebel sums it up, “Miguel Vargas is the hardest-working player on the team.” James Outman is also adjusting by cutting down on his swing and trading power for more hits. The power will come back… give it time. Vargas needs to sit a couple of games to clear his head. The good news is that his defense is very good.
“The roster is not very good!” “This is not a playoff team.” Yada, Yada, Yada! Every year I hear the S.O.S. about how the Dodgers won’t win (and when I say win, I mean to make the playoffs). Once you get there, it’s a crapshoot anyway. This team will make the playoffs, and I will rub your snotty little noses in it. 😉 Watch and learn. Nine years running, I have been right. This will make 10.
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Discussion (203)
Disagree, not disagreeable
06/20/23 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Phil Bickford on a rehab assignment to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
06/20/23 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Jimmy Nelson on a rehab assignment to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
06/20/23 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Daniel Hudson on a rehab assignment to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Veteran outfielder David Dahl has signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, according to Triple-A communications director Alex Freedman (Twitter link). He’s joining their top affiliate in Oklahoma City.
Just read the Andre Jackson, after yo-yoing between OKC and LA for quite a while, has been DFA’d.
Is it OK to call him a “trade chip” now? Certainly some team out there will offer a prospect for him.
It’s kind of sad. Jackson was understandably thrilled when he opened the season on the 26-man roster, and it looked like he might be the pen’s “long man.” But now he’s the odd man out. I hope he has a soft landing.
I was at tonight’s game with my 13-year-old son, a southpaw studying two favorites from afar. Quite a duel. Detmers outpitched Kershaw–had more Ks, gave up fewer hits–but baseball, like life, is not fair.
I don’t think we fans see all the camera angles. From what was shown on the big screen, I didn’t see how the replay could overturn the call at home. Didn’t look like enough evidence –but perhaps another angle was clear. And Dodgers also caught a break on Busch’s bad hop single.
True pleasure watching the hall of famer. Kershaw deserves all the accolades for everything he has done on and off the field. I hope we have not pissed him off and he finishes his career in Texas.
I am hopeful his yearly injury does not pop up, we need him desperately to take down innings, and end slides. If Julio comes back strong, Hudson regains his form, and we get three other pen pieces to perform well we can still win the division.
I agree with Mark this team is going to the playoffs and I am not sold on us being worse then the Giants, Dbacks or Padres.
Great performance by Clayton Kershaw! Another gutty outing especially in the 7th inning after two soft hits put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs!
Clayton continues to be the best reason to watch the Dodgers. True hall of fame performance!
Good for Michael Busch. Sometimes a team needs a break like that.
Busch made some nice picks at third also
The awaited Dodgers reign of terror has begun. Mark these words.
Phillips’ slider was extra-crispy tonight. Un-hittable.
Whew! !!!!!!
Cant wait to see if the Dodgers can bring Otani home. He’s great to watch.
Busch somehow turned the baseball into a rubber ball with that crazy hop. Weird.
Mookie 3Ks so far and foul out this game
Justin Turner red hot lately
Kershaw, what a warrior
Maybe he can inspire our offense
I said a long time ago that Andre Jackson is nothing more than a trade chip (and got crap for saying it). It turns out he’s worse than that being DFA.
3 runs in the last 25 innings this $hit is hurting my head
Just a painful learning curve for our rookies! So far, wasting a beauty by Kersh
Detmers has way too good of stuff to have the era that he has. Outside of Trout and Ohtani that is a very weak Angel lineup. Can’t believe Ohtani would want to stay in Anaheim.
I was in an area today and my car radio could only pickup the bay area stations. The Giant fans and sports radio host actually think the Giants are the third best team in baseball this year. How that happen. I know yasekrimski and Crawford and Pederson they went over there lineup and bullpen and were like dodgers nope were better then Rockies were better Diamondbacks we are better then them and the Padres we see we can play with them this year and not scared. They looked at the west division and go oh yea were third best team in majors. Um there’s a team in Tampa pretty good Orioles came in and sweeped the Giants at home then Brewers at pretty good I just can’t stand bay area sports talks it’s all Giants world series niners Superbowl and warriors oh yeah they will be back um don’t they play in the same league as Denver it’s like they forget that there’s other teams to talk about. Wait they never talked about the Sharks today. See when they win there terrible the next day drives me nuts.
I hope I wake up tomorrow seeing a victory but can I be honest here…I would be shocked if we do. But hope is a powerful force.
Vargas slightly opening his batting stance.
My son will be at the game tonight. I couldn’t go. I have to be up at 4:30 am tomorrow.
Let’s hope this is where they start turning it around.
Amidst the losing and injuries(?), AF lets 4 rookies audition for more playing time. This is fun!
DODGERS SELECT RYAN BRASIER
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier and optioned left-handed pitcher Bryan Hudson to Triple-A. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated right-handed pitcher Andre Jackson for assignment.
Brasier, 35, joins the Dodgers after signing a minor league contract on June 4. He made two appearances with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, tossing three scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Prior to joining the Dodgers, he made 20 appearances with the Boston Red Sox, going 1-0 with a 7.29 ERA (17 ER/21.0 IP) and 18 strikeouts. He has been in the Major Leagues parts of seven seasons with Los Angeles-AL (2013) and Boston (2018-23) and he is combined 7-8 with a 4.45 ERA (108 ER/218.1 IP) and 218 strikeouts in 229 games. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft out of Weatherford College.
Hudson, 26, made his Major League debut on Saturday night, allowing three runs on four hits in 2.0 innings against the San Francisco Giants. He is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA (7 ER/29.0 IP) and 51 strikeouts in 25 games for Oklahoma City this season. He is a combined 36-27 with a 4.24 ERA (229 ER/486.0 IP) and 419 strikeouts in 175 career minor league games (72 starts). He was drafted by the Cubs in the third round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Alton High School (IL).
Andre Jackson DFA’d.