2018 Bowman - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Here's a final look at the Dodgers' cards found in packs of 2018 Bowman Baseball. This time we take a peek at the Bowman Scouts Top 100 insert set, #BowmanTrending, Sterling Continuity, ROY Favorites and the Talent Pipeline cards.

Bowman Scouts Top 100

#BTP-6 Walker Buehler          #BTP-28 Alex Verdugo

Blog Kiosk: 4/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Vin Scully, Don Mattingly and Rick Monday's Day

Yesterday's pregame activities included a ceremony celebrating Rick Monday's fantastic save of an American flag on that date in 1976.  Listen to Vin Scully talk about it here.  You can also go here to check out a bunch of photos from the evening.  Per Tracy Ringolsby at MLB.com:

"They were going to put the match to the flag, and it was soaked in lighter fluid," remember Monday. "My attitude was if they don't have it, they can't light it, so I scooped the flag up and kept running. I didn't know if it was on fire or not, but I did know one of the guys was not a [baseball prospect]. He threw the can of lighter fluid at me, but he didn't have a good enough arm to hit me."

Featured above is a photo, via Bill Shaikin on twitter, of Monday and his wife Barbaralee with that flag.

The story about Rick Monday's deed is well known and roundly celebrated throughout the country - as it should be.  What isn't well known, however, is the circumstances surrounding the two protestors who attempted to burn that flag.  In fact, no one really knows much about them, but Vice reporter David Davis does his best to uncover the story.  Unfortunately, we don't really know much more than what we already know (which isn't much):

With their disappearance, with their refusal to address the past, they leave behind questions that seem likely to remain unanswered: What pain and rage led them out on to the field that day, and what did it have to do with that mental institution in Missouri? Why burn an American flag as a method of protest, and why at Dodger Stadium? And, why did a father use his 11-year-old son as an accomplice? In the long silence that followed the moment, there are surely other questions—questions of regret, questions about what it has been like to live with this for 40 years.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 2008 Vin Scully received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University.  He would later give an stirring commencement speech to the graduating Class of Seaver College at Peppederine that you can watch a snippet of here.  Also, during that evenings game in Colorado Brad Penny would hurl an 93-mph fastball that is missed by catcher Russell Martin and knocks out homeplate umpire Kerwin Danley.  He would be stretchered off the field.

Blog Kiosk: 3/19/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The players on the 2015 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, a Single-A club of the Dodgers, received their Cal League Championship rings yesterday.  What a beaut, eh?

Photo above via a tweet by Jacob Scavuzzo.  Below are more links to check out:

• I was never worried.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers' Seager expected to be ready for Opening Day."

"We're pretty optimistic for Opening Day," said (Dave) Roberts. "He's doing well. He's been a very good patient."

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA shares his report on, "Dodgers top prospects 2016: Yaisel Sierra."

Perhaps my biggest disagreement between scouting reports on Sierra and what I watched on video is the smoothness of his delivery. While Sierra has a quick arm and clean action overall, he shows some stiffness in his wrists and quite a bit of recoil in his October outings. I didn’t see a consistent release point and he had a tendency to pull himself offline and toward first base. It does appear on the brief film with the Dodgers that he has begun working to correct the recoil and keeping his upper body motion more in line with the target.

• Take a look at some preview pics of new Panini Baseball card being introduced later this year -- 2016 Panini Flawless, via Blowout Buzz.  It is scheduled to be released on June 1st.  Autographed cards of Jackie Robinson and Corey Seager are below:

• I think it's likely we'll be seeing some more Shawn Green Dodgers autographed Baseball cards this season.  This is just an educated guess based solely on the below tweeted photo by @Celebzdirect:

Been a long week- last Friday @shawngreen15 was a professional as always signing some great cards for @toppscards pic.twitter.com/FJ8i4SPEnr

— Celebzdirect (@celebzdirect) March 18, 2016

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Blog Kiosk: 3/3/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Ryu and Brett Anderson

Ahhh!... There's nothing like the look and smell of fresh leather.  Take a look at AJ Ellis' brand new mitt -- a custom model job from Wilson.  Pic via AJ Ellis on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• The injury bug just doesn't want to stop.  Brett Anderson is headed for back surgery due to an bulging disk, via a tweet by Ken Gurnick.  His surgery will be today.

Anderson has bulging disk. Out 3-5 months.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 3, 2016

Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“I was surprised — I was shocked,” (Dave) Roberts said. “Talking to him two days ago and again yesterday morning, he just thought it’s a couple-day thing that would subside.”

“I haven’t talked to him since yesterday, but I’m certain he’s disappointed. He felt coming into Spring Training he was in fantastic shape and had a great winter, and so for this to happen, I’m sure he’s very disappointed.”

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA has the Spanish radio broadcast schedule for Spring Training.
• Video:  The Dodgers newest pitcher offers his first reactions after joining the team for training for the first time. (Link Here)
• Video: Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner talks to Alanna Rizzo about his expected absence during the first week of the Cactus League. Turner is recovering from knee surgery.  (Link Here)
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Roberts praises Puig for energy, outlook."

"He's been fantastic," Roberts said. "He's been healthy, he feels good, his energy, his outlook on things related to teammates has been great. We are friends, I'm friends with all of my players. You've got to have that trust with a manager, a coach, a player. Absolutely, I consider him a friend."

• This isn't the best of news.  Hopefully it's just a minor setback.  Via Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ryu to rest after feeling shoulder discomfort."

"We're just backing off because he felt something, but this is all part of our cautious plan to bring him back slowly," said Roberts. "It's not a setback."

• I love hearing about vintage Baseball card discoveries.  Via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew, "Family discovers seven rare Ty Cobb cards possibly worth $1M."  I should add that these cards are truly rare, and their actual originals are still a mystery.  They are believed to be a part of the vaunted T206 set (since it's the exact same design and front), but that is far from confirmed.  After all, no other cards from that set feature that unique "ad back."  Nevertheless, even with the immediate increase in supply, I suspect they will still command a huge premium.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/2/2016 - Dodgers Links - Holmes, Puig and Yaisel Sierra

Minor League coach Luis Matos, pitching prospect Jose De Leon and the great Fernando Valenzuela are featured in the above photograph originally taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics taken by Jon from yesterday's spring workout.

Below are more links to check out:

• Check this new, new to me that is, Dodgers fan blog I ran into yesterday called, "Behind Enemy Lines."  It's written by a fan who names herself "SoCal Sports Chick," and she is currently enjoying Spring Training with the Dodgers in Glendale.  Check out her wonderfully fan-biased reportsfrom Arizona here.
• And here is Night Owl Cards awesomely-biased 2016 preseason team rankings.
• TMZ provides more details about the John Ravin car accident, here.  They even have several photos of the broken left (non-pitching) arm.
• David Hood at True Blue LA tell us all about Dodgers pitching prospect Grant Holmes.

Holmes’ 80-grade ceiling is built on the foundation of two plus to double-plus pitches, his curveball and fastball. Holmes has not grown into his eventual velocity, so while reports suggest he sat more comfortably 92-96 mph, he has reached 98 mph in the past and has the frame to hold velocity deep into games across a long season. Beyond velocity, Holmes might have the most electric movement on his fastball in the system. Holmes’ fastball has heavy sink at the lower ranges of his velocity, but keeps plus riding life at the top end as well. The pitch is extremely tough for hitters to square and helped suppress home runs in his first full season (just six in 103 innings).

• Yaisel Sierra finally got to pitch in Glendale yesterday, and he is tickled pink.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "'Beautiful feeling' as Yaisel Sierra throws in Dodgers camp."

"I’m ready for my job," Sierra said. "Whatever it is, that is up to the manager and the coaches on my team, but basically I’m ready for the task at hand here, whether it’s being there for my teammates in the dugout, or whatever role they decide to put me in. I’m here to help."

Apparently, the Dodgers want to eventually transform him into a starter, but will have him pitch relief to get him into the show faster.

• Following on the heels of the Aroldis Chapam suspension we get word, via an ESPN story, that you shouldn't expect similar treatment to be handed out to Yasiel Puig.  He is not likely to be suspended for that little incident over the winter.
• Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily shares some preview pics from a brand new Topps card brand called "The Mint;" including pics of the Corey Seager autographed card on the right.  This set is slated to go live in August.
• Tom Bartsch at Sports Collectos Digest tells us about a newly found treasure trove of Ty Cobb personnal effects; including family photos and letters.
• Panini's 2016 Donruss Baseball card set officially comes out today, so here are a few Dodgers preview pics from the set; via Panini's blog.  Go here to check out more photos.  I hope to have pics of all the Dodgers cards next week.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #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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(Ellis with the catcher signs, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

MARCH MADNESS: The Dodgers held their sixth full-squad workout of Spring Training today with some team defense work (pickoffs and rundowns) and live batting practice. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

GETTING IN THE RHYTHM: Chris Hatcher, Brett Anderson, Ross Stripling, Luis Avilan, Zach Lee and Chase DeJong all threw live BP today, while Scott Kazmir, Pedro Baez, Louis Coleman, Mike Bolsinger, Jharel Cotton, Jacob Rhame and Yaisel Sierra all threw regular bullpens.

• Anderson, 28, enters his eighth big league season after serving as a reliable starter for the Dodgers in his first season with the club in 2015. He posted a 10-9 record with a 3.69 ERA in a career-high 31 starts for Los Angeles and also finished with career highs in innings pitched (180.1) and quality starts (18). He led Major League qualifiers with a 66.7 groundball percentage last season and forced 23 groundball double plays, which ranked eighth most among starting pitchers in the senior circuit.

(Yaisel Sierra's first bullpen session, pic via Jon SooHoo on Dodgers twitter)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Newly acquired right-handed pitcher Yaisel Sierra participated in his first Spring Training workout with the club today, including throwing his first official bullpen of the spring. Sierra, 24, was signed by the Dodgers to a six-year contract last Sunday and pitched five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional with Holguin (2010-14) and Sancti Spiritus (2012), going 16-21 with 25 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 131 games (25 starts). Sierra, who was ranked No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Cuban prospects list, pitched for the country’s gold-medal winning national team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games. Sierra will wear No. 70.

MIC CHECK: Dodgers broadcasters Fernando Valenzuela and Pepe Yñiguez arrived in Camelback Ranch yesterday, while Charley Steiner arrived to Spring Training earlier today, as they prepare to call the first Cactus League game on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox. Steiner, a four-time Emmy Award winner, is entering his 12th season as play-by-play announcer for the Dodgers and will primarily call the action from AM 570 LA Sports. The 17-year Major League veteran and legendary Dodger, Valenzuela enters his second season calling games on SportsNet LA in Spanish alongside Yñiguez, who enters his 18th season with the Dodgers.

(Josh Ravin, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

GET WELL SOON: Right-handed reliever Josh Ravin was involved in an automobile accident yesterday and broke his left radius. His surgery was scheduled for today. We wish Josh a speedy recovery!  (You can take a look at his broken arm here)

Thank you all for the well wishes!
It's definitely a tough break... ; )

— Josh Ravin™ (@FreshSqueezed22) March 1, 2016

THE BEGINNING: On this date in 2009, the Dodgers played their first-ever game at Camelback Ranch against the Chicago White Sox, with right-handed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda taking the mound and throwing the first-ever pitch at CBR. The club lost, 3-2, to their neighbors, who share one of the largest stadiums in the Cactus League.

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Blog KIosk: 3/1/2016 - Dodgers Links - Sierra, Maeda and Josh Ravin

Good morning, Dodger Fans!

Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Still unable to participate in any spring activities due to unresolved immigration paperwork, Yaisel Sierra is now in Arizona, via a tweet from Alanna Rizzo:

RHP Yaisel Sierra made a very brief appearance at camp today. Still not officially here. #Dodgers

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) February 29, 2016

• Several other Cubans have also made it to spring camp, via a tweet by Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:

3 of the #Dodgers young Cuban investments -- RHP Yadier Alvarez, OF Yusniel Diaz, IF Omar Estevez - were in minor-league camp today

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 29, 2016

• Amanda McCarthy, wife of Brandon, shared a pic of her husband as a young Dodger fan on Instagram (link here), so I decided to make a fantasy Baseball card using the photo.  Check it out on the right.
• Yasmani Grandal made an interesting comment about pitcher Kenta Maeda after a throwing session yesterday.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Maeda unleashes 4-pitch mix in BP session."

"The reason I compare him to Greinke is that he's got a four-pitch mix," Yasmani Grandal said after catching Maeda's two innings. "Obviously, they are two different pitchers. But you can build a game plan around four pitches and be creative, that's the comparison."

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA puts together some background information on Dodgers catching prospect Kyle Farmer (Link Here).
• Listen to former Dodgers pitcher Dan Haren on the Jonah Keri podcast (dated 2/26/2016 Link Here) where he talks a bit about his time with the Dodgers.  (Hat Tip: r/clarkbarniner on Reddit)
• Dodgers pitcher Josh Ravin was in a car accident this morning, via Alanna Rizzo on twitter:

.@FreshSqueezed22 was in an auto accident yesterday, breaking his left radius (forearm area).  Surgery scheduled for today.  #Dodgers

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 1, 2016

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #5

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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(Kershaw, pic via Zachary P. Lucy on twitter)

AN EXTRA DAY: The Dodgers held their fifth full-squad workout of Spring Training today, celebrating Leap Day with team defense work (pop-up priorities) and live batting practice. In team history, the Dodgers have had only one player born on Leap Day, right-hander Ed Appleton, born Feb. 29, 1892. Appleton went 5-12 with a 3.25 ERA in 48 games (13 starts) in two big league seasons with Brooklyn in 1915-16.

FIRE-BALLERS: Kenta Maeda joined young guns Julio Urias, Chris Anderson and Jose De Leon in throwing live BP today, while Clayton Kershaw, Joe Blanton, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Alex Wood, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Matt West, Adam Liberatore, Josh Ravin and Ian Thomas all threw regular bullpens.

• Garcia, 25, enters his third big league campaign after an impressive 2015 campaign with the Dodgers, during which he went 3-5 with one save and a 3.34 ERA in 59 games (one start). He was dominant early in the year in the late innings, helping to fill the void while Kenley Jansen was on the DL, and finished the season ranked among the NL’s best relievers in WHIP (0.95, 5th), opponents’ batting average (.199, 16th), opponents’ on-base percentage (.242, 4th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.60, 3rd) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.87, 15th).

(Yimi and Dave, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

(Lasorda, pic via Camelback Ranch on twitter)

MAKING THE LEAP: Right-handed pitcher Yaisel Sierra took in the Dodgers’ workout today at Camelback Ranch and is expected to be in uniform shortly following the completion of the immigration process. Sierra, 24, was signed by the Dodgers to a six-year contract last Sunday and pitched five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional with Holguin (2010-14) and Sancti Spiritus (2012), going 16-21 with 25 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 131 games (25 starts). Sierra, who was ranked No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Cuban prospects list, pitched for the country’s gold-medal winning national team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games.

THE OPENING ACT: The Dodgers’ Cactus League opener is just three days away (!) and yesterday, Dodger manager Dave Roberts named three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw the starting pitcher for Thursday’s game against the White Sox, as well as Opening Day 2016 in San Diego. The Opening Day nod will be Kershaw’s sixth consecutive Opening Day start, leaving him one shy of the Dodger franchise record (7), shared by Don Drysdale (1958-61, ’63, ’65, ‘69) and Don Sutton (1972-78). Fernando Valenzuela (1981, 1983-86, ’88) and William “Brickyard” Kennedy (1894-96, 1898-1900) are the only other members of the franchise to tally at least six Opening Day starts. 

• Kershaw has three Opening Day victories, trailing just Drysdale (5) and Sutton (4).

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Blog Kiosk: 2/22/2016 - Dodgers Links - Roberts, De Leon and Kenta Maeda

Even with games still over a week away fans have started to flock to Camleback Ranch for photos and autographs.  Check out Brett Chris Anderson and Mike Bolsinger in the above photo, tweeted out by Camelback Ranch, signing for fans.  One helpful piece of advice, provided by the Dodgers Spring home, is:

Early bird gets the worm! Best time to get @Dodgers autographs is around 9:15am when the club works out.

Rise and shine, Dodgers fans!  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "Dave Roberts' message to Dodgers: No shortcuts to success.

“I think that as a coach, or as a first-time manager, you always want to control your emotions,” Roberts said. “But we just met for the first time in there and I let the guys know how excited I am and how excited the staff is. Every year, the first day of spring training is exciting, but obviously in this position, it’s all new to me. It’s going to be fun.”

• David Hood at True Blue LA writes a bit about Dodgers prospect Jose De Leon:

De Leon’s feel for pitching is big league ready. He throws all of his pitches for strikes (including a fringe, get-me-over curveball early in counts) and will change the sequencing of his pitches to keep hitters off balance. Despite high swing and miss totals, De Leon can get hit when he misses in the zone, especially with the slider, or as he tires with the fastball.

• Via Ken Gurnick on twitter, Kenley Jansen's comment about the aborted Aroldis Chapman trade:

Jansen said club officials explained the deal for Aroldis Chapman was part of a "life after Zack" strategy. "Why get bitter about it?"

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) February 20, 2016

• Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "The 2016 Dodgers 90 and Over Team."
• Andy McCullough at the LA Times writes about Kenta Maeda's first bullpen session; "Kenta Maeda attracts Dodgers brass to bullpen session at camp."

"Mechanically, he's very solid," (Rick) Honeycutt said. "Able to move the ball, control the baseball, make the ball do different things. He's actually a good hitter. He's an athlete."

• Beth Harris at the AP has the details on Yaisel Sierra's contract; "Dodgers, Cuban pitcher Yaisel Sierra finalize $30M deal."

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #2

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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(Roberts and Grandal, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their second official workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Position players report on Feb. 24 and the first full-squad workout will take place the following day, Thursday, Feb. 25. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

THE WAITING ROOM: Dodger reliever Josh Ravin missed his second consecutive day due to flu-like symptoms and non-roster right-handed reliever Caleb Dirks will be down a few days with a stiff lower back. Right-handed Brooks Brown, who was claimed off waivers from the Rockies on Oct. 14, 2015, is also being held back from throwing due to right shoulder soreness.

(Charlie Hough, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

WHEN DOES YAISEL MEET YASIEL?: This morning, the Dodgers announced the signing of 24-year-old Cuban reliever Yaisel Sierra, who is expected to join camp sometime in the next few days. The right-hander pitched five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional with Holguin (2010-14) and Sancti Spiritus (2012), going 16-21 with 25 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 131 games (25 starts). Sierra, who was ranked No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Cuban prospects list, pitched for the country’s gold-medal winning national team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games. To create room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers placed right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas (rib resection surgery) on the 60-day disabled list.

NEW IN BLUE: While plenty of the familiar faces of the Dodger players are back from last year’s division title, the coaching staff is almost entirely new, with the exception of 11-year pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. The new first base coach in Los Angeles is George Lombard, who spent part of the 2008 season in the Dodger organization as a non-roster invitee and at Triple-A. Lombard spent six seasons coaching in Boston’s minor league system, including the last three as Boston’s minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator after two years (2011-12) managing the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox. He joined the coaching ranks in 2010 as the hitting coach for Single-A Lowell. Welcome George!

(Kenta Maeda, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

(Scott Kazmir, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

ON THE MOUND: The second crew of Dodgers threw their first official bullpens today, including Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda, who took the mound in front of about three dozen media and another dozen staffers. Maeda was caught by Yasmani Grandal as he took another step on the way to his first Major League start. The 27-year-old was signed to an eight-year contract on Jan. 7 following   eight professional seasons with Hiroshima (2008-15) in which he compiled a 97-67 record with a 2.39 ERA in 218 games (217 starts). During the course of his Japanese career, Maeda won two Sawamura Awards (2010, 2015), given to the league’s best pitcher. The new hurler will become the eighth Japanese player in Dodger history, joining Hideo Nomo (1995-98, 2002-04), Kazuhisa Ishii (2002-04), Masao Kida (2003-04), Norihiro Nakamura (2005), Dave Roberts (2002-04), Takashi Saito (2006-07) and Hiroki Kuroda (2008-11). 

• Joining Maeda in throwing bullpens today were Scott Kazmir, Pedro Baez, Julio Urias, Jose De Leon, Alex Wood, Chris Anderson, Jharel Cotton, Mike Bolsinger, Brandon Beachy, Ian Thomas and Jacob Rhame.

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Welcome to the Blue, Yaisel Sierra!

The Dodgers have definitely flipped the script.  Instead of spending handsomely on glitzy and established free agent stars during the winter, they have decided the spend their bushels of cash on prospects to fill their already burgeoning minor league system.  Case in point, the Dodgers have apparently landed another Cuban.

Per numerous reports online (here, here and here), the Dodgers have signed 25-year old Cuban right-handed pitcher Yasiel Sierra.  It is thought to be from six to seven years at about $30 million to $33 million in total.  Of course, this is all unconfirmed, so anything can happen to change this.  Considering the Dodgers recent past you should probably be a bit cautious.  Heck, I understand the deal is still pending a physical (so you know you should hold your breadth).

As for what Sierra can bring to the table, he is said to have a lively arm, but has grappled with control issues in the recent past.  Via Ben Badler at Baseball America:

Sierra is 6-foot-1, 170 pounds with easy arm action and two plus pitches at times. He throws a lively fastball up to 96 mph and flashes of a swing-and-miss slider, delivering all of his pitches from multiple arm angles.

The key for Sierra will be improving his control and general feel for pitching. After beginning his career in the bullpen for Holguin, he mostly worked as a starter during the 2013-14 season. Instead of staying there, Sierra moved back to the bullpen this past season in 2014-15 and pitched well early but came unraveled in the second half, finishing with a 6.10 ERA in 62 innings with 55 strikeouts and 31 walks (including nine intentional walks). Between his stuff, pitching style and history of control problems in Cuba, Sierra has a lot of similarities to Reds righthander Raisel Iglesias, with Sierra having more size but Iglesias better performance in his final year in Cuba.

There is a big logjam in the starting rotation, so I suspect he'll continue working out of the bullpen for the Dodgers.  Whether he becomes a starter will depend on how he does there.  I suspect, though, that he'll start his professional career in the minors in order to acclimate himself to his new surroundings.  Unless, of course, he wows everybody this Spring.  BTW, Dylan Hernandez notes on twitter that the Dodgers plan to groom him as a starter, so he might be minor league bound regardless of his Spring.  On a side note, it's good to have a bunch of arms, eh?  After all, as we saw last year, you can never be deep enough.  Below are more links worth checking out:

• Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Dodgers To Sign Yaisel Sierra." 

Sierra, like Maeda and Olivera, is more or less MLB ready, though he’s probably more likely to see big league action out of a pen in the near term. The Dodgers’ rotation is already arguably somewhat overloaded, though, so Sierra could factor as a 2016 relief piece while looking to tap into his starting upside down the line.

• Mike Axisa at River Ave Blues has a nice report on Sierra here; "Cuban RHP Yasiel Sierra impresses in showcase, will begin visiting interesting teams."
• Teddy Cahill at Baseball America provides his report on Sierra's showcase event in October 2015 here; "Cuban Sierra Impresses In Jupiter."

“I worked 24/7 for my slider and changeup,” he said through translator and former big leaguer Alex Sanchez. “I was very excited to throw my slider and changeup because they don’t throw that kind of pitch in Cuba.”

• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Report: Dodgers close to signing Cuban RHP Yaisel Sierra."

In celebration of his signing I made the above three fantasy cards of him.  On the top left, the photograph is from a screen grab from a CBS Sports story and I used the 1961 Topps Baseball card design.  On the top right, the photograph was from a SNY Mets Blog post (likely a screen grab from a video) and I used the 1974 Topps Baseball card design.  Directly at top is a photograph via Ricardo López Hevia at On Cuba Magazine and I used the 2015 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career statistics as a player in Cuba, via Baseball-Reference:


Take a look at him pitching below from his recent showcase event.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 1/12/2016 - Dodger Links - Wills, Seager and Cuban Yaisel Sierra

Here's a fantastic pic of 26-year old minor league speedster Maury Wills in his Spokane Indians uniform from 1959.  After eight years of paying his dues, this season would prove to be his ticket to the big leagues.  He slashed .313/.387/.391/.778 and earned a call-up to Los Angeles by seasons end.  Wills would never return to Spokane, and quickly solidified a spot in the Dodgers roster.  This vintage Spokane Chronicle press photo is current available at RMY Auctions.  Go here to check it out.

Below are more links to check out:

• The Dodgers continue to look at young Cubans to fill our minor league ranks.  Via Jeff Passan on twitter, we are nearing a deal with 24-year old right-handed pitcher Yaisel Sierra:

Sources: Dodgers and Cuban RHP Yaisel Sierra are nearing a deal. Believed to be for around $30M and would cover six or seven years.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 12, 2016

Mike Axisa at River Ave Blues has some good information on him, here.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Former Dodgers pitcher Rautzhan dies at 63."

The left-handed Rautzhan, a third-round pick in the 1970 Draft out of Blue Mountain High School in Pottsville, Pa., made 80 relief appearances for the Dodgers and went 6-4 with a 3.73 ERA before being purchased by Milwaukee during the 1979 season.

Rautzhan was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the 1977 National League Championship Series against the Phillies, a game in which the Dodgers rallied in the top of the ninth inning on pinch-hits by Vic Davalillo and Manny Mota.

• Blowout Buzz has some preview pics of Topp 2016 Baseball card set; including the Corey Seager card on the right.  Go here to see more.  This set officially releases on February 3rd.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers' 1st spring workout dates announced."

Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Friday, Feb. 19, with the first workout at Camelback Ranch-Glendale on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The report date for remaining Dodgers players is Wednesday, Feb. 24, with the first full-squad workout Thursday, Feb. 25.

• ICYMI: Dodgers Spring Training single game tickets are now for sale.  Go here to purchase.
• All eyes are on Dodger prospect Corey Seager.  Via AJ Cassavell at MLB.com, "5 hitters poised to break out in 2016."

Seager's time in the big leagues at the end of the 2015 season was brief, but he proved himself more than capable of handling big league pitching. He batted .337/.425/.561 in 27 games (113 plate appearances). Obviously, Seager isn't going to post numbers like those, as big league pitchers will eventually figure him out a bit. But his fluid-yet-compact left-handed swing doesn't seem to have many flaws.

• Brandon McCarthy went on the Players' Tribune mailbag to answer fans questions.  Go here to check it out.

Reader: Dear McCarthy, when you were in a cast, how did using the toilet go?  – Doe
BM: It went fine, weirdo.

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