Dodgers Announce First Cuts of Spring

With the Dodgers starting off the Spring with a 9-2-2 record, the time has come to start letting players play deeper into games. With this comes the first cuts of Spring.

With exactly three weeks until Opening Day, the Dodgers have started to whittle down the roster and have their regulars get a little more playing time.

None of these guys really had a shot to make the team out of camp, so this shouldn’t really be a surprise at all.

Cotton is the only one of the bunch that wasn’t a non-roster invitee. He put together a nice 2015 season in the minors and shot up the Dodgers prospect lists, moving into the top-20 prospects in many rankings. He struggled in the Spring, with eight hits and six runs allowed in only four innings of work.

Chase De Jong is an interesting prospect. The Long Beach native was drafted in the second round out of high school by the Blue Jays, but struggled and was traded to the Dodgers last season for international bonus pool slots. He hasn’t done much in the minors and finished last season at Rancho. He allowed two hits and two runs in four innings this Spring

Jacob Rhame had success in 2014 and 2015 and could see himself rising up prospect lists. He’ll turn 23 in a couple days and posted back to back seasons with over 10 K/9 and sub-3.00 ERA’s. Relievers generally don’t get rated highly, but he could help a team that has taken a homegrown approach to their bullpen for the most part. He allowed three hits and two runs in three spring innings.

Chris Anderson has yet to pitch up to the billing of first round pick in the minors and has lost his status as top prospect, but he has great fastball velocity and a fine slider. He’s durable, but his lack of production as a starter might usher him into a bullpen role, where his stuff would probably play up and he could find much more success. His control issues are his biggest problem, but he pitched four solid innings this Spring with only three hits and one run allowed, while striking out six.

Neither Lisalverto Bonilla or Caleb Dirks appeared in a game this Spring.

On the offensive side, the Dodgers made a pair of cuts as well. Alex Hassan has been a solid minor league outfielder and put together a nice Spring in limited playing time, with five hits and two walks in 14 plate appearances. The Dodgers have a number of outfielders ahead of him on the depth chart, so it’s unlikely he finds a home in LA.

Kyle Farmer was the final cut of the group and only had five plate appearances during the Spring. He’s put up great offensive numbers for a catcher in the minors and is well-rated defensively, but he’s behind a few catchers on the Dodger depth charts. He only has nine home runs in three minor league seasons, but finds the gap decently well as he’s hit 80 doubles and 12 triples.

Next: Louis Coleman Season Preview

These guys should remain in Arizona, but won’t appear in games regularly for the Dodgers anymore this Spring. They could still be called up to the major league side, but with opening day less than a month away, it’s time for the regulars and top guys to start going deeper into games.