Blog Kiosk: 11/25/2013 - Dodgers Links - Haren, Dodger Options in Outfield and Saito Still Pitching

Before heading back to the US, AJ Ellis tweeted a photo of the Sydney Cricket Ground - where the Dodgers and Diamondbacks will be playing.  See it at top.

• "Sundays and Sundaes," from the Kershaw's in Zambia for Kershaw's Challenge. 
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Jhonny Peralta is about to make Juan Uribe a lot of money".  Rumor has it that Peralta is about to sign a huge deal, and Uribe stands to benefit.
• AJ Ellis welcomes Dan Haren on twitter:  AJ is 1 for 9, lifetime, against Haren,  So, he's happy that he won't have to face him.  On the other hand, Andre Ethier is batting a robust .420 against him in 50 at-bats.

Excited about Dan Haren. Always admired his professionalism. Also atop "guys I want to catch because I struggle hitting them" list.
— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) November 25, 2013

• Via Jason Collette at FanGraphs, "Dan Haren Becomes Rare Underpaid Dodger".

Steamer projects Haren to reach the 180 inning benchmark this season, and projects him as a 3 WAR pitcher. Ten million dollars for a 3 WAR pitcher is something 30 major clubs should be interested in, but one team beat all the others to the punch.

• Via Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports, "Dodgers' best play may be to keep Matt Kemp along with crowded outfield".

So, yes, Kemp's body might not be holding up, and that contract ain't getting any cheaper, and the Dodgers could have too many outfielders and not enough outfield. But he has years of prime left, and a winter to heal, and a resume that says he can play the game with anyone. There was a time when he was worth the wait. Worth the patience. (And worth the money.) It's still that time.

• Via Mike Petriello at FanGraphs, "The Dodgers And “Too Many Outfielders”  Mike takes a look at the various options the Dodgers have.
• Old friend, Takashi Saito, is still playing ball.  Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, he has just signed a 1-year deal to pitch for the Ratuken Golden Eagles in Japan.

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Dodgers to Sign Free Agent Pitcher - Welcome to the Blue, Dan Haren!

It appears the Dodgers have finally made their first real move of winter.  According to Ken Rosenthal on twitter, the Dodgers have just signed free agent starting pitcher Dan Haren to a 1-year contract. 

Sources: Haren to #Dodgers, one year, $10M plus 2015 option that vests at 180 innings. Pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 25, 2013

Considering our need for another arm in the starting rotation, he just might fill the bill.  Josh Beckett is expected to be ready for Spring, so Haren should be a good option as our #5 pitcher.  He isn't going to wow you on the mound, but should provide some good innings.
 

Haren missed just over two weeks with right shoulder inflammation in ’13, but returned to produce 3.29 ERA in last 15 starts for #Nationals.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 25, 2013

I like that it's a short term deal.  If Beckett or Billingsley are unable to come back, then Haren will be the kind of insurance we'll need to survive a long season.  Additionally, this may just be an opening move by the Dodgers.  They have been closely linked to the up-coming auction for ace Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka.  If the Dodgers win his services, then we'll see quite a battle for the final spot. 

As it stands right now, the Dodgers have the following rotation (depth chart):

1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Zack Greinke
3. Hyu-Jin Ryu
4. Josh Beckett
5. Dan Haren
6. Chad Billingsley (will return severals weeks into the season)
7. Matt Magill
8. Stephen Fife

Here are his statistics, via Baseball Reference:

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Sunday Dodgers Videos: A Kids Eye View of the Puig Baseball Clinic

Here are this Sunday's Dodger videos.

Here's a video of the recent Puig Little League clinic he held at Dodger Stadium from the perspective of one of the participants.  He takes us on a tour of the whole afternoon.  It's a fun watch.  The same kid also met Puig on the ballfield several weeks ago.  Watch that here.

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A.J. Ellis and Diamondbacks' Patrick Corbin climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge as they check out the sights in Australia.  You can also watch AJ at the zoo, here.

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Here's a video from the first stop of the Dodgers 2013 Holiday Mall Tour in Culver City.  Go here for my most recent updates on the Dodgers 2013 Mall Tour.

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The Dodgers are holding their own post-Thanksgiving holiday sale with Blue Friday at the Top of the Park store at Dodger Stadium.  Watch the video below for more information.  Also, go here for my most recent updates on the Dodgers 2013 Mall Tour.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 11/23/2013 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw's in Zambia, McGwire Signs for Topps and Magill

The Kershaw's have returned to Zambia to visit the orphanage they built - Arise Home.  Go here to read about their first day back, and here's their second post.  Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.

• Via Matt Snyder at CBS Sports, "Leaderboarding: Artists of the looking strikeout".  Kershaw sit in the top 3.
• I  had forgotten to put this up.  If you missed Dodger Talk on AM570 on Wednesday, then go here to listen to it.  Dodger coach Tim Wallach is a special guest.
• Ben Badler at Baseball America tells us about, "Ten Winter League Prospects To Watch In Puerto Rico, Mexico".  It includes Dodgers pitching prospect Matt Magill at #5.
• Jon Weisman shares something old.  He post up a 2005 letter to Dodgers season ticket holders, and it's remarkable how different the team is from then to now.
• Via Chris Olds at Beckett, "Topps signs Mark McGwire to autograph deal".  He'll begin appearing on Topps cards next year.  No word yet if he'll be in a Dodger uniform.
• Pete Moylan has signed a minor league deal with the Astros, with an invitation to Spring Training.

“@some_sports_fan: #Astros sign LHP @PeterMoylan to a minor league deal” I hope they don’t think I’m left handed?!?
— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) November 23, 2013

• Check out Matthew Kory at Sports on Earth, "Fan's Guide To Trade Proposals".

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Welcome to the 40-Man Roster -- Baez, Garcia & Martin

Although, at first glance, it doesn't appear like such a big deal.  Reaching this milestone is important for any young Major League hopeful.  You work hard you entire young career to be considered, and you can't play for the big club until you get there.

The 40-Man Roster, sometimes called the expanded roster, consist of all players who are signed up to a Major League contract.  Therefore, they can, at any time during the season, be placed on the active 25-man roster.  This means that once you reach the 40-man plateau, you are more likely to see some real time in Los Angeles.

The other day, in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft in December, the Dodgers added 3 new names to their 40-man roster, and they represent 3 young arms who may to be ready to contribute on the mound.  They are Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia and Jarret Martin.

In celebration of this stepping stone, I put together fantasy Baseball cards for them.  Check them out below.  I've also added some background and statistics to help familiarize yourself with them.

Pedro Baez

Pedro Baez is a 6'2" right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic.  He spent the first 6 years of his professional career as a Dodger infielder, but couldn't hit a lick.  Then, in 2013 he went to the mound and has impressed the Dodgers staff.  He went a combined 3-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 48 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga.  Could he be the next Kenley Jansen (he was a converted catcher)?

Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com from last Spring Training. 

Baez showed Koufax a natural delivery, a fastball in the mid-90s and a curveball more advanced than many of his fellow Minor Leaguers who have been at this pitching thing for years. Koufax told other staff members he'd like to see Baez in a game this spring.

There's no better way to start a pitching career then to impress Sandy Koufax during your first bullpen session with the Hall of Famer.

 Below are his Minor League statistics, via Baseball-Reference.

 Yimi Garcia

Yimi Garcia is a 23 year old right-hander from the Dominican Republic.  He is probably the most exciting prospect of this group, and is likely to be the first one of the three to wear Dodger Blue.

Per a Dodgers press release:

Garcia, 23, was a Double-A Southern League All-Star in 2013, going 4-6 with 19 saves and a 2.54 ERA in 49 games with Chattanooga. The Moca, Dominican Republic native, who also played for the Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League following the season, limited opponents to a .164 batting average this year, while striking out 85 and walking only 14 in 60.1 innings.

Right now, in the Arizona Fall League, he has pitched in 10 games, and has limited batters to a .227 batting average.  Yimi throws a legitimate strike out slider that may be one of the best in the Minors and is considered MLB ready.

Below are his Minor League statistics, via Baseball-Reference.

Jarret Martin

Jarret Martin originally came over to the Dodgers as a part of the Dana Eveland trade in 2011.  He is a hard throwing left-hander who can reach the mid-90's with a fastball that has some sink and run, and has a decent slider that he uses as an out pitch.  Since coming to the Dodgers he has reworked his mechanics to use more of his legs, and has seen positive results.  Hopefully, he can continue advancing, as it appears his control problems may be a thing of the past.

From a Dodgers press release:

Martin, 24, combined to go 6-7 with two saves and a 4.30 ERA in 40 games (14 starts) with Rancho Cucamonga and Chattanooga during the regular season before a stint in the Arizona Fall League. Martin, who was acquired in a trade with Baltimore in December 2011, posted a 2.77 combined ERA (8 ER/26.0 IP) in his 26 relief appearances this season, including a 1.69 mark (2 ER/10.2 IP) in 11 games during a late-season promotion to Chattanooga.

Below are his Minor League statistics, via Baseball-Reference.

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Blog Kiosk: 11/22/2013 - Dodgers Links - Young, Ryu, Puig ands Seager

The Dodgers held their 9th annual turkey giveaway for needy families yesterday afternoon.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/La Dodgers 2013.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Michael Young – The Dodgers’ 2013 Invisible Man".
• Awesome!  Matt Monagan at Cut4 breaks down a video of Hyun-Jin Ryu bloopers from a ramen noodle commercial he recently did.
• Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk breaks down the postseason playoff shares.  Dodger players received $108,037.06 each, 58 players received full shares, 11.5 partial shares and 8 cash awards.
• Blowout Cards shares some preview images of some Yasiel Puig patch cards that will be in 2013 Panini America's Pastime Baseball card set.  See them below.  Go here to see more preview images.

• Via Chad Moriyama writes, "Kirk Gibson latest D-Backs figure to join franchise’s faux macho BS press tour against Dodgers".
• Chad Moriyama also writes, "An interview with prospect Corey Seager during the Arizona Fall League".
• Via @toppscards on twitter - An early look at 2014 Heritage.  Check out the Kemp card below.

Live from the proofing table: 2014 Topps Heritage Baseball! pic.twitter.com/osxalhgzy4
— Topps Company (@toppscards) November 21, 2013

• This is just creepy.  Mike Oz at Big League Stew tells us about the Shane Victorino and David Ortiz playoff beard hair currently for sale on eBay.
• BTW, the Dodgers will have a Blue Friday sale at Dodger Stadium after Thanksgiving.

Get to Dodger Stadium on November 29, 30 and December 1st for our Blue Friday sale! All merchandise will be 25% off: pic.twitter.com/KxRRZzYE47
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 20, 2013

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