Leaving On A Jet Plane, Who Is Going, Who Is Not

The Dodgers are leaving on a jet plane later tonight for Australia, but have no fear they will be back again soon. The club announced some of the players that will be making the trip to Sydney. Some players are going, some will be staying behind, and a few will be leaving the organization. Here’s what we know as of right now about 4:50 PM Pacific time.

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Staying behind

The Exempt list

These are the following players that will be staying behind and not boarding the plane to Sydney. These players have either been put on the exempt list, or are on the DL

Matt Kemp

Kemp is still rehabbing his ankle injury, but is making progress. The club is reporting that he is back to playing in games again, and just played center field in a minor league exhibition game. Not a surprise he will not be joining the club in Sydney, but he’s progressing well, and could be ready to play some time in April. Let’s hope.

Brandon League

The club has announced that League will not be joining the team for Australia, and you have to wonder what his future with the club is at this point. League has been predictably awful this spring. League posted an astronomically high 16.80 ERA this spring. In three games and 2.2 frames, League has allowed five earned runs on four hits walked four and only whiffed one batter. The Dodgers have said he’ll stay behind and get some work in on the minor league side. The veteran reliever is trying to recapture the magic that saw him post a 2.30 ERA in 28 games for the Dodgers in 2012. League had corrective lasik eye surgery in the winter, and battled a sore Lat muscle as well. I’m beginning to think that the club will make up some kind of phantom injury to stall for time to do the inevitable. Which is of course to give him his outright release and eat the money owed to him. Yes players can be released for not performing up to par. It happens a lot.

Dan Haren

Haren is staying behind only because the club doesn’t need him. He’s the fourth starter and he’ll get some work in at Camelback as well while the club is in Sydney. Again, he’s not hurt or anything, he’s just not needed. The veteran free agent signee has been solid this spring, posting a 1,80 ERA in three games, and allowing just two earned runs in ten innings pitched.

Zack Greinke

Obviously Greinke isn’t going to Sydney because of his strained right calf injury, but for a while we weren’t exactly sure. His calf strain didn’t seem serious. But the Dodgers wanted to be cautious and Greinke was kept out of game action for longer that we thought he would be. Greinke has only pitched 2.1 innings this spring and needs to continue to build arm strength. He is expected to be ready for opening day at Petco Park when the club returns to the states.

Josh Beckett

Yeah he’s not going either. He’s still nursing his sore thumb. The Dodgers won’t need his spot until mid-April at the earliest. Let’s hope he doesn’t slam anymore digits into doors anymore.

Carl Crawford

Crawford isn’t hurt either, but he won’t be able to play in Australia because his finance is dude to have a baby at any moment. The Dodgers have placed Crawford on the paternity list.

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Going to Australia

Here are the players that are going that we know of

Justin Turner, Chone Figgins, Zach Lee, Red Patterson, Joc Pederson, Seth Rosin, and Alexander Guerrero.

The Dodgers announced the purchase of the contract of Justin Turner, and also for Chone Figgins. Both will be on the roster for Sydney, and probably will make the club’s 25-man roster.

Here is the complete roster making the trip down under, which was just announced. (The club also announced Onelki Garcia was moved to the 60-day disabled list to create a roster spot.)

Pitchers

Outfielders

(Can anyone tell me how the hell Mike Baxter made it?)

Infielders

Chone Figgins

Justin Turner

Alexander Guerrero

Catchers

In a sad move the Dodgers announced they have designated reliever Javy Guerra for assignment. Guerra was drafted by the Dodgers in 2004, and briefly took over as closer in 2011 once Broxton’s arm was officially destroyed by Joe Torre’s oversue. Guerra saved 25 games in 2011 and eight more in 2012 before being optioned back to Albuquerque in 2013. Guerra pitched in only nine games last year for the Dodgers, and was out of options. I would be surprised if Guerra makes it through waivers without being claimed. This may be the last we see of him.

The club also announced that either Zach Lee or Red Patterson will start the exhibition game on Thursday against team Australia. The club can carry up to 30 players with them. Of the extra five players, three can be made active. Meaning they can play only if someone is hurt or injured. However a few more guys may make the trip just in case. The Dodgers will board the plane to Sydney around 10 PM tonight, and should land in Sydney sometime on late Monday evening.