Dodgers That Didn’t Make the Cut for the Start of 2017

As the calendar turned to April, the Dodgers had many difficult roster decisions to make.  With a team that prides itself on the depth of their roster, some talented players got the short end of the stick.

The final roster decisions for the Dodgers were understandable, but did have a few surprises that left me scratching my head.  So for the time being, we will see if players who made the team, like Kike Hernandez, can play better than they did last year.  I have already seen enough of Chris Hatcher, but he will get his final shot with the team.

The few players who were left off the 25 man roster are all solid pieces and could be on the rosters of other teams. This roster will be constantly changing as injuries happen, and players struggle.  It will be interesting to see how Dave Roberts and the front office manage this roster as the season kicks into gear.  The team will be faced with even more roster decisions, as players like Andre Ethier, Pedro Baez, and Scott Kazmir get healthy again. More than likely, the roster will look a bit different this time next month, as the team gets a good look at all of their options.

From the last spot on the bench, to important bullpen arms, this team is full of talent and may have just left some behind in the minors. Let’s take a look at some key names.

Chris Taylor

Coming into spring training, Chris Taylor had played a total of 34 games for the Dodgers. Used mostly as a backup to Corey Seager, Taylor’s most valuable aspect on the field was (and still is) his defensive ability and versatility. In 62 at-bats for the team last season, Taylor was only able to muster up a .258 OBP, which is an indication of his weakness as a hitter.

During the spring however, Taylor had an OPS of 1.022, which showed some improvement in his bat. However, it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot on the 25 man roster. Taylor has started putting in some work in the outfield to bump up his versatility, but for now, he will stay in AAA. Expect to see him back on the major league the roster sometime this year if injuries and struggles start to appear.

Charlie Culberson

The man who put an exclamation point at the end of last year’s regular season was not on the roster to begin the new season. With no clear spot to play in, Charlie Culberson has been relegated to the minors for the time being.

Culberson is in a position very similar to Taylor’s as he is a glove first player who also played in 34 games last year. Charlie did show some stints of offensive ability, but he is not known for a strong bat. If he does come up to the majors, expect him to be used as a defensive player who offers little upside at the plate.

Enrique Hernandez beat out both Charlie and Chris for the utility spot on the roster.

It is likely that, because Hernandez is able to play in center field, Dave Roberts decided to go with him to start the season. In the case of Culberson, expect him to get a shot this season if Taylor doesn’t prove his worth. If Taylor does prove himself, Charlie may not see LA at all in 2017.

Adam Liberatore

Adam Liberatore was somewhat of a surprise to not make the roster, but the move was understandable. Coming off elbow surgery this past October, it looks as if the team wants to take it slow with the 29-year-old.

After posting a 3.38 ERA in 42.2 innings last season, Liberatore looked to be a strong piece in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He was very strong in his outings for the team and only slowed down once he hit the disabled list in July. After coming off the disabled list he never seemed to find the same electricity and was eventually shut down in October to receive surgery.

Look for Liberatore to build up some innings in AAA and eventually find a spot back in the bullpen. If Luis Avilan isn’t cutting it out of the pen, Liberatore will likely take over as the team’s best lefty reliever. Another possible scenario is Chris Hatcher getting DFA’d to make space. I’m praying for the latter.

Julio Urias

Julio Urias showed great potential last year and looks to be an ace in the making. The team is playing their cards right by limiting his innings and sending him to extended Spring Training and then to OKC. I know it’s hard to be patient and bring him along slowly, but you have to remember this kid can’t even buy alcohol yet.

The 20-year-old phenom struggled in his first two major league starts, but then settled down and looked comfortable pitching against major league hitters. In 18 appearances (15 starts) last season, Urias posted a 3.39 ERA and a (solid for his age)1.45 WHIP. He finished the season strong, as he had a 1.96 ERA in his final 36.2 innings. All this is coming from a kid who has monster potential, so taking it slow with him is the perfect decision by the Dodgers at the moment.

Urias will see time in the majors this year. He may not make 30 starts, but the team will more than likely want to see at least 110 innings out of him. If he pitches like he did previously, watch out, because the Dodgers may soon have the best rotation in baseball.

Trayce Thompson

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Trayce Thompson was off to a hot start to begin last season before a back injury put a dark cloud over his 2017. This year he’ll look to regain that form, but for the time being it will have to start in Oklahoma City.

To begin 2016, Trayce looked to be fit for a starting position. He was raking the ball and playing passable defense. In 80 games for the team, he hit 13 home runs and showed good discipline with 26 walks.

Sadly, on July 16^th, he was shut down due to a sore back, which was later revealed to be fractures in his back. Needless to say, he sat out the remainder of the year. It will be interesting  to see whether Trayce can tap into his potential again and become the team’s starter in left.

Trayce was more than likely optioned to OKC in order to get in some consistent playing time. Don’t expect him to sit too long down there because he proved he deserves a shot in the majors. You will very likely see Trayce back in LA come May, and may even see him earn the starting left fielder job during the year.

Next: Possible Fireworks in 2017

These players would possibly start on some or at least get a spot on the 25 man rosters on most other teams in the majors. Regrettably, for them, the Dodgers have a long list of capable players at all positions and will look to see which players can bring the most to the table.

However, do not feel sorry for the guys on the list, as they will all most likely get a shot in LA this year. For the time being, however, they’ll start in the minors, which is nothing to be ashamed of when you’re dealing with the depth the Dodgers currently have.

At this particular moment the roster is set and will be adjusted to fit the team’s needs. This is a good problem to have for the team, and I’m excited to see how the roster looks as the season continues. Right now, lets just enjoy the fact there is baseball again in Chavez Ravine!