Paco Power! Young Lefty Makes Opening Day Roster As Dodgers Use Eight Man Pen

It looks like Paco Power is here to stay in 2013. Or at least for the first two weeks of the regular season. Late last night the Dodgers announced that second year left hander Paco Rodriguez has made the opening day roster, in what appears to be an eight man bullpen.

The 21 year old reliever had an impressive spring with the Dodgers, and I am sure they felt with the available spot, that they could use another left hander. I mean who wouldn’t need an extra lefty in the bullpen? Paco has shown that he can be very effective as a left-handed specialist. This spring he pitched in 12 games, and whiffed 13 batters against only three walks in a little over 11 frames. Last season Paco pitched in 11 games for the Dodgers, and posted a 1.35 ERA, and an 8.1 whiff per nine rate.

Paco has MAde the Opening day roster. Paco Power!-Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

So this means the Dodgers will be using an eight man bullpen for the time being. I should have known they would go this route. Adding Paco was a surprise, but the fact that none of the surplus pitchers were traded like we expected was also one. Ted Lilly will begin the season on the DL, and Chris Capuano, and Aaron Harang will be stashed in the bullpen for now. The Dodgers have mastered the art of roster manipulation. They’re very good at it. However when Chad Billingsley comes off the DL sometime in the next week or two, then a decision has to be made. I am sure the Dodgers will probably send Paco back down to the minors since he has options. But I guess we will have to wait and see. If the Dodgers have shown anything it’s that they are full of surprises.

There were more roster moves late last night. Alex Castellanos, Setphen Fife, Elian Herrera, and Josh Wall were all optioned down to the minor leagues. There were four Dodgers who were reassigned to their respective minor league camps. This included the incredibly versatile Alfredo Amezaga, Don Mattingly’s favorite reliever Kevin Gregg, right hander Peter Moylan, and Matt Wallach. Gregg will remain within the Dodger’s system since he is on a minor league contract. At least for the time being.

The 2013 Dodger roster is beginning to take shape. This means the bullpen will undoubtedly look like….

Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, Ronald Belisario, J.P. Howell, Matt Guerrier, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, and Paco Rodriguez.

The deadline to set 25 man opening day rosters is noon pacific time today. More moves to come soon.