Welcome to the Blue, Ricky Nolasco!

In a move to bolster our starting pitching staff, the Dodgers pick up Miami Marlins veteran starter Ricky Nolasco. 

In exchange for Nolasco we give up AAA reliever Steven Ames, AAA reliever Josh Wall and Single A pitching prospect Angel Sanchez.  Both Ames and Wall figure on being serviceable pieces to a Major League bullpen in the future, while Sanchez may turn out to be a decent starter.  In fact, earlier this year Sanchez flirted with a no-hitter while with the Great Lakes Loons, via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, and is ranked #8 by MLB.com and #25 by Baseball America in the Dodgers farm system.  On the other hand, Sanchez is not considered one of our best high-echelon starting pitching prospects and is 23 years old in Single A.

So, we basically give up 2 middle relievers and a potential starting pitcher for the best pitcher on the Marlins.  Not too bad, eh?  I think Colletti deserves a big round-of-applause for this one.  We didn't give up too much in order to get a solid arm in our quest for a pennant.  Heck, Nolasco should slot in as our #4 starter, so I think he'll fit in quite nicely.

Furthermore, the Dodgers also get some International Singing monies.  They receive bonus slot #96 valued at $197,000.00.  So, the Dodgers can go ahead and sign another kid to add to our stable of teenage prospects.  This is becoming a bigger win than I originally imagined.

In celebration of Colletti's brilliant move to bring a solid arm to our starting staff, I made the above fantasy card of Rocky Nolasco.  See it above.  It uses a 1968 Topps card design, and I grabbed the pic from 2012 media day: Marc Serota/Getty

Below are Nolasco's Major League stats, per Baseball Reference.


Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired right-handed pitcher Ricky Nolasco from the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor league right-handed pitchers Steven Ames, Josh Wall and Angel Sanchez. The Dodgers also acquired international signing bonus slot No. 96 valued at $197,000 from the Marlins as part of the deal.

Nolasco has gone 81-72 with a 4.44 ERA in 213 games (197 starts) in eight Major League seasons from 2006-2013 with the Marlins. He’s posted double-digit wins and a sub-4.00 ERA in five consecutive seasons since 2008, ranking among the NL leaders in wins (69, 5th), strikeouts (891, 6th), complete games (9, T-7th), shutouts (4, T-9th) and innings pitched (1064.1, 6th) in that span. Nolasco is the Marlins’ all-time wins leader with 81 wins and also holds franchise records with 1,001 strikeouts and 1,225.2 innings pitched in 213 career games with the club. In addition, Nolasco owns the Marlins’ franchise single-game strikeouts record with 16 on Sept. 19, 2009 at Atlanta.

The 30-year-old has made 18 starts for Miami this year, going 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA and 10 quality starts. He last pitched on Wednesday at Atlanta, allowing just two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings and picked up the victory in the Marlins’ 6-3 win.

The Corona, CA, native, who attended Rialto High School, was acquired by the Marlins from the Cubs in 2005 after he was originally selected by Chicago in the fourth round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.

Wall, 26, went 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA in six relief appearances with the Dodgers this season and is 1-1 with a 12.08 ERA in 13 career big league appearances in 2012-13. The Louisiana native was 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in 25 games this season with Triple-A Albuquerque and has a 40-47 record in 252 games (115 starts) in nine minor league seasons. Wall was originally selected by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

Ames, 25, has gone 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA in 30 appearances this season with Triple-A Albuquerque. The Washington native has gone 8-10 with a 2.22 ERA in 170 career relief appearances at the minor league level during his five professional seasons. Ames was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster on Nov. 20, 2012 and was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Sanchez, 23, has gone a combined 2-7 with a 4.67 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) this season with Single-A Great Lakes and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. The native of the Dominican Republic has a 16-23 career record in 63 career games (54 starts) in three minor league seasons after signing with the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on July 12, 2010.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 10/ Home Game 6

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Cleveland Indians (6-4) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3-4-2)
Sunday, March 3, 2013 – 1:05 p.m. | Camelback Ranch – Glendale
RHP Josh Beckett (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Corey Kluber (0-0, 11.25)

TV: Dodgers.com Webcast | Radio: AM 570 Fox Sports LA

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

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(pic link: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

CLEVELAND ROCKS: The Dodgers and Indians square off for the first of two times this spring before meeting again on Wednesday in Goodyear. The clubs haven’t played in the regular season since a three-game series at Dodger Stadium in 2008 and the Dodgers hold a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series. In case you’re counting down the days, the Dodgers are just 29 days away from Opening Day vs. the Giants!

• With no game tomorrow, most Dodgers will have the day off with only RHP Aaron Harang expected at Camelback Ranch for his scheduled simulated game at 10:00 a.m.

DOWNER: The Dodgers dropped their third in a row yesterday, falling 9-5 to the Mariners in Peoria. Andre Ethier went 2-for-2 with an RBI triple, raising his spring batting average to an even .500, and Jeremy Moore roped his fourth double of the exhibition season to start the Dodgers’ ninth-inning rally. Ethier’s two triples are tied for the Major League lead, while Moore tops the NL in doubles.

• The Dodgers continue to lead the National League with both a .309 team batting average and a .401 on-base percentage through their first nine Cactus League games.

HILLTOPPERS: Dodger right-hander Josh Beckett will make his second start of the spring after striking out three and allowing just one hit and one walk in 2.0 scoreless innings on Tuesday against the Giants in the Dodgers’ eventual 8-8 tie. The 32-year-old helped Boston reach the 2007 World Series by dominating the Indians in the 2007 ALCS, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 14.0 innings in the series to garner MVP honors. Beckett, however, has struggled against the Tribe in the regular season during the course of his career, posting a 4-6 record with a 5.65 ERA (40 ER/63.2 IP) in 11 starts against Cleveland. Most recently, on May 10, 2012, Beckett was touched for seven runs in just 2.1 innings in an 8-3 Red Sox loss at Fenway Park. 

• RHP Javy Guerra, who was recently selected to join Team Mexico’s World Baseball Classic squad, will make his second appearance of the spring after tossing a scoreless inning on Wednesday against the Cubs. Guerra has enjoyed the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium during his career with a 1.84 ERA (9 ER/44.0 IP) in 45 home appearances in his career, while posting a 3.02 ERA (16 ER/47.2 IP) in 47 road games.
• After giving up two runs in 0.2 innings in his first appearance of the spring on Feb. 24 against the White Sox, RHP Peter Moylan bounced back to toss a scoreless frame on Thursday against the Angels. Moylan has struck out four in 1.2 innings this spring.
• RHP Josh Wall has retired all seven of the batters he’s faced this spring with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Wall last pitched on Thursday against the Angels and struck out two in a scoreless frame.
• RHP Mark Lowe allowed an unearned run on three hits in his last appearance on Wednesday against the Cubs. The 29-year-old right-hander has yet to allow an earned run in 2.0 innings in two Cactus League appearances.
• RHP Steve Ames, the winner of this morning’s Dodger Idol competition, surrendered two runs on three hits in his last outing on Thursday against the Angels. Ames fired a scoreless frame in his first outing of the spring on Feb. 24 against the White Sox.

(pic link:Wallach,Green and Karros: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

BIG DOINGS: All-time Los Angeles home run king Eric Karros will throw a ceremonial first pitch prior to today’s game and, along with Shawn Green, has been serving as a guest instructor at Camelback Ranch since Friday. Karros, who also serves as a television analyst on FOX and for KCAL-9 on their pregame show, played in 14 big league seasons (12 with Los Angeles), won the 1992 NL Rookie of the Year Award and took home the 1995 NL Silver Slugger Award at first base.   

• Dodger legends Ron Cey and Tommy Davis will arrive Friday, March 8 and spend a few days in camp working with the squad.

GOING GLOBAL: Shortstop Hanley Ramirez (Dominican Republic) and right-handed reliever Ronald Belisario (Venezuela) have departed Camelback Ranch to join their respective World Baseball Classic teams. Adrian Gonzalez (Mexico), Luis Cruz (Mexico), Javy Guerra (Mexico) and Nick Punto (Italy) are slated to play in today’s game and will depart camp tomorrow to join their national teams.

• A split-squad of Dodgers will face off against Gonzalez, Cruz, Guerra and Team Mexico on Wednesday at 1:05 pm at Camelback Ranch – Glendale.

I SEE YOU: The Dodgers announced yesterday that they will broadcast eight additional Spring Training games via Dodgers.com, starting with today’s contest against the Indians. After today, fans will also be able to watch games on March 6 (Mexico), March 8 (Reds), March 9 (Mariners), March 14 (Cubs), March 15 (Royals), March 19 (Athletics) and March 22 (Reds) on the internet webcast. Rick Monday and Charley Steiner’s call on AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles will be simulcast on today’s webcast.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 6/ Home Game 4

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Los Angeles Angels (0-4-2)LOS ANGELES DODGERS (2-1-2)
Thursday, February 28, 2013 – 1:05 p.m. | Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ
LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. RHP Jerome Williams

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

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(pic link: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

START A STREAK: Fresh off a road victory, the Dodgers host the Angels this afternoon at Camelback Ranch, before sending a split squad to Tempe tomorrow and wrapping up a two-game Cactus League set with their I-5 neighbors. The Freeway series will then take place from March 28-30, including the 2013 Dodger Stadium opener on March 29. The Dodgers face the Angels in the regular season on May 27 and 28 at Dodger Stadium and May 29 and 30 at Angel Stadium. Last season, the Halos went 4-2 against the Boys in Blue, taking two of three in both series. In case you were wondering and I know you were, there are just 32 days until Opening Day!

•  The Dodgers popped off for 11 runs yesterday, including three hits apiece for Alfredo Amezaga and Elian Herrera and three RBI for Jerry Hairston Jr. In addition, outfielder Alex Castellanos belted his second home run of the spring and Yasiel Puig scored three runs. On the mound, Matt Magill was impressive again, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings while RHP Javy Guerra made his 2013 debut with a scoreless frame.  

HILLTOPPERS: Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw will make his second Cactus League start after allowing two runs and four hits in 2.0 innings to the White Sox last Saturday. The left-hander will attempt to become the first pitcher to win three consecutive Major League ERA titles since Greg Maddux accomplished the feat from 1993-95 as a member of the Braves.

• LHP Ted Lilly is set to make his 2013 debut today. Lilly won five of his first seven starts without a loss last season, but did not pitch again due to left shoulder inflammation after suffering his first defeat on May 23. 
• RHP Peter Moylan will make his second spring appearance after giving up two runs in 0.2 innings last Sunday vs. the Chicago White Sox. Moylan has a career record of 20-9 with a 2.59 ERA over 295 games with the Atlanta Braves.  
• RHP Josh Wall will also make his second Cactus League appearance after firing 1.1 scoreless innings and striking out two in his debut last Sunday. Wall picked up the win in his Major League debut last season on July 22 at Citi Field, but was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque the next day.
• RHP Steve Ames fired a scoreless frame last Sunday and is set to make his second 2013 appearance. Ames was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster on Nov. 20, 2012 after going 3-3 with a 1.56 ERA and 18 saves in 54 games for Double-A Chattanooga last season.   

(pic link: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

GET YOUR BIG LEAGUE ON: The Dodgers will have three minor leaguers joining the club vs. the Angels today with right-handed pitchers Andres Santiago (#92) and Blake Johnson  (#83) coming over along with LHP Fabio Castro (#82). Johnson notched a save in the Dodgers’ first win of the spring after being signed out of the open tryout in 2012.

• Speaking of the open tryout, more than 80 Dodger hopefuls came out to test their wares on the minor league side this morning. Among those who showed off for the Dodger scouts were a 54-year-old local pitcher, a 40+-year-old Japanese professional hurler and Iraq war veteran Daniel “Doc” Jacobs, who lost his left leg below the knee and suffered serious hand and foot injuries when an IED exploded beneath him in 2006. Jacobs has sustained more than 50 surgeries, but has returned to his naval infantry and for one day at least was able to try out for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jacobs will also throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to today’s game. 

LET’S GET IT GOING DODGER FANS!: Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp advanced to the finals of MLB Network’s #FaceofMLB and is currently trailing Cincinnati’s Joey Votto in MLB Network’s bracket to decide who the Face of MLB is. The online hashtag battle (#MattKemp) runs through tomorrow. Start tweeting!

LEGENDS ARRVING: The Dodgers would like to welcome Special Advisor to the Chairman and medical pioneer Dr. Frank Jobe to Camelback Ranch today. Jobe arrived a day before Eric Karros, who will be in uniform tomorrow, speaking to the club in the morning meeting.

TODAY ON THE DIAL: AM 570 Fox Sports LA TODAY ON THE TUBE: PRIME TICKET

HE COMES FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER: The Dodgers would like to welcome former outfielder Trent Oeltjen back to Camelback Ranch today. The Sydney, Australia native was a Dodger from 2010-12 and is now a non-roster invitee for the Angels.

WORTH WATCHING: Today’s game will be broadcast live on PRIME TICKET and heard on AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles. This morning, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully sat down with legendary Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax for a brief interview that will air on PRIME TICKET this afternoon.

(pic link: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

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Dodgers Announce Winter Development Camp with a Notable Exclusion

Earlier this afternoon, the Dodgers forwarded an official press release regarding their upcoming Winter Development Program.  As I had noted a couple of days ago (here), this mini camp is an exclusive affair meant to allow the team to evaluate the progress of their most Major League ready prospects, while also giving them an opportunity to school them on the ins-n-outs of Major League Baseball Life.  Think of it as a prerequisite course you might take in college.

Anyway, my post from a couple of days ago was based on a report by MLB.com reporter Ken Gurnick (see that here) indicating that 13 Dodger prospects were invited to attend, but as I read the recently released Dodger press release someone was missing.

Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers Cuban sensation, is notably absent from the new list, and it makes me wonder if this is something fans should be concerned with.  After all, the team spent a huge chunk of change for a player who had yet to step on a professional ballfield, and I think it's fair to assume that his path to the Majors was expected to come sooner rather than later. 

What we know is that during his stay in the Arizona Fall League, Puig suffered a staph infection in his right elbow that required surgery and sidelined him from the ballfield for two months.  As a result, he didn't get a desirable amount of play in, and subsequently decided to play in the Puerto Rican Winter League to catch up. 

From a report by Ralph Pagan Archeval of ESPN:

“I am here to improve on my batting, since it had been two months since I had batted due to the elbow surgery I had,” he said.
...
“I now feel ready to work here in Puerto Rico, and that’s why I came,” he said. “I’ve come to improve on everything -- my batting, fielding, discipline -- since my objective is to get to spring training and the major leagues next year.”

Considering his exclusion from the Winter camp his ultimate goal of making the Majors this coming season may have been derailed.

While playing for Mayaguez Indios in the Puerto Rican League he has been less than impressive.  In fact, he has been downright horrible.  In 20 games he is batting a dismal .232, and his OPS is just as bad at .641.  Puig has struck out 19 times, which equates to 25% of his total plate appearances.  All of these numbers are far worse than his pre-surgery play. 

Has the long layoff combined with elbow surgery thrown him off-track to the point that an 2013 appearance is now unlikely?  Or is this an indication that Puig is still and always has been a ways away from making the big club regardless of his desires?   

In either case, it is worrisome that our $42Mil man has seemingly fallen behind.  Hopefully, a full season in the minors will allow him to regain his footing.

It is important to note that his Puerto Rican League team is currently in the playoffs, so maybe this move was done to just allow him a chance to play games rather than practice.  It was noted by Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy on twitter that Puig will stay in Puerto Rico this weekend.  On the other hand, you would think that if he really was close to Major Leage ready then the Dodgers would want to make sure he has a better understanding of the public relations aspects of the game.

BTW, the 12 Dodgers who will be at Camelback Ranch this weekend are:

• Joc Pederson
• Chris Withrow
• Zach Lee
• Chris Reed
• Paco Rodriguez
• Tim Federowicz
• Steven Ames 
• Matt Magill
• Onelki Garcia 
• Rob Rasmussen  
• Matt Wallach
• Jeremy Moore

Also, what do you think of my fantasy Yasiel Puig Baseball card above?  It uses the 1987 Topps design.  I plan on making more fantasy cards of him over the coming weeks.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 11/21/2012

• Oh well.  Kuroda has resigned with the Yankees for 1-year at $15Mil, via Hard Ball Talk.  I am genuinely disappointed about this.
• I'm not quite sure what this means, but according to Danny Knobler at CBS Sports the Dodgers are calling around asking about Zach Grienke.  This might have something to do with Grienke's widely reported issues with depression and social anxiety disorder.  For some background, go here. 
• Here's a strange combo.  Chan Ho Park, Larry King and PSY were hanging out, via Samer Kalaf at Deadspin.  Sounds like a bad joke, eh?
• Are you wondering if there will be a Dodgers Black Friday sale?  Well, wonder no more.  The Dodgers will host a BLUE FRIDAY sale at Dodgers Stadium.  It will be at the Left Loge by parking lot D.  See the tweet below.

(twitter link)

• I guess we dodged a bullet.  Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times is reporting that one of the other suitors to buy the Dodgers, Steve Cohen, has just been indicted on insider-trading.
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy translates an article from Puerto Rico that featured Yasiel Puig as he discusses how he left Cuba.
• Go to Night Owl Cards to see his list of the Best Dodgers cards ever made, #50-#41.
• Per a recent Dodgers press release, they added minor leaguers Steven Ames and Matt Magill to the 40 man roster:

Ames, 24, who hails from Vancouver, WA, pitched for Double-A Chattanooga of the Southern League last year and was 3-3 with 18 saves and a 1.56 ERA in 54 games. The reliever struck out 72 batters in 63.1 innings of work and held right-handed hitters to a .177 average (25-for-141). Ames was selected by the Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

Magill, 23, is a local product, who was drafted out of Royal High School in Simi Valley, CA in the 31st round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. The California native had a great season at Double-A Chattanooga in 2012 as he started 26 games for the Lookouts, posting an 11-8 record with a 3.75 ERA. The right-hander fanned 168 batters in his 146.1 innings, including four games with 10 or more strikeouts.

• The below photo was tweeted by Patrick O'Neal.  If I'm not mistaken, they are going to tear out all of that concrete, as well.

(tweet link)

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