Dodgers: Potential Non-Roster Invitee and Minor League Targets

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GLENDALE, AZ – MARCH 05: General view of action between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers during the spring training game at Camelback Ranch on March 5, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

As the calendar inches closer to February 13, the date Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to spring training camp at Camelback Ranch, now is as good a time as any to examine some potential Non-Roster Invitees the team could invite to camp.

First, I’ll look at MLB free agents who will likely only receive a minor league contract/spring training invite, and then I’ll examine some players on the minor league free agent market, which surprisingly features some familiar former MLBers. Maybe there is a solid bullpen arm or bench piece to be found amongst this group?

To date, the Dodgers have signed a handful of minor league free agents with major league experience that will likely be brought to big league camp. Utility player Max Muncy, ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte, former Met outfielder Travis Taijeron, and recently, former A’s reliever Zach Neal. To add to the intrigue, we can also expect some current Dodger prospects who are not already on the 40 man roster receive an invite to camp, much like Cody Bellinger last year. Yusniel Diaz and Kiebert Ruiz anyone?

However, unlike years past, this slow-moving free-agent market will undoubtedly see some surprise major league players not receive guaranteed contracts and 40 man roster spots, and instead have to settle for a camp invite on a minor league contract. We don’t necessarily expect to find an impact player in this group, but more so a complementary bench piece, solid situational reliever, or bullpen arm. Likewise, amongst the second group we will examine, the minor league free agents, we hope to find a seasoned player that can eat some innings when called up from Oklahoma City, or serve as a short-term injury replacement, in lieu of rushing a top prospect to the majors. Let’s take a look at the first group

In this crop of free agents, there are plenty of familiar names that could find a place on the Dodger bench, like maybe Andre Ethier or Chase Utley?? Alas, that is a blog for next time. Here we will focus on MLB free agents who will likely have to accept a spring training invite and could have a shot at a Dodgers bullpen or bench job.

XAVIER CEDENO, LHRP

Cedeno was actually a Dodger for five days in 2015 but never appeared in a game in the organization as he was sent to the Rays for the always popular “Cash Considerations”. Cedeno, 31, missed most of last season with a forearm injury but delivered solid results in 2015 and 2016 out of the Rays bullpen as a situational lefty. In 2015 for the Rays, he posted a 2.09 ERA in 61 games and 43 innings, with an outstanding 1.14 WHIP, and in 2016 had a 3.54 ERA, appeared in 54 games, and pitched 41 innings.

Cedeno gets by on deception more than velocity, and could be a serviceable lefty should the need arise. Perhaps he can start the year in AAA, make up for last year’s lost innings, and be ready to step into the Dodger pen when called upon. Cedeno is out of minor league options and made $1.3 million last year.

EDWIN JACKSON, RHRP

I have been waiting for this reunion to happen for some time now. Jackson came up as a young Dodgers pitching phenom in 2003 on his 20th birthday! He got the win that day after going 6 strong innings vs. the Diamondbacks. Dodger fans thought Jackson would be a fixture in the rotation for years. Well, of course, it didn’t turn out that way.

Jackson was subsequently traded in 2006, and has bounced around to 11 other teams, to include the Nationals twice! He has been an all-star and has made a solid living as a major league starting pitcher, with the exception of 2015 where he pitched exclusively in relief. I point to that season as an indicator of what he could do with full-time bullpen work. That year, he pitched in 47 games, 56 innings, and posted a respectable WHIP of 1.168. I have always believed Jackson’s stuff will play up in the pen–not to mention he is a guy that can give you multiple innings and has the endurance of a starting pitcher.

Jackson fits into the Dodgers recent tendency to convert starters into relievers, and he would be reunited with his old minor league pitching coordinator Rick Honeycutt. Jackson is still only 34 years old and made just over $2 million last year. He could sign an incentive laden contract and perhaps be the latest Rick Honeycutt reclamation project.

ALEXI AMARISTA, UTIL INF

The 5’6 Amarista seems like he has been an NL West rival for years, but he is still only 28 years old. With Charlie Culberson headed to the Braves, the Dodgers do not have a defense first, experienced shortstop to back up Corey Seager. Sure, Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez can handle the position, but they are obviously needed elsewhere around the diamond. Amarista is a guy who can also play multiple positions, to include shortstop. Advanced defensive metrics, such as Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) favored him earlier in his career but recently have represented below average defense. Offensively, he is a career .231 hitter, with a .620 OPS. You sign him for his defensive versatility, not his bat.

RYAN FLAHERTY, UTIL INF

Flaherty is a player with a similar profile, but with a higher defensive upside. Flaherty is a utility man with a very strong glove and a very weak bat. Flaherty, 31, was injured most of last season. He has a career batting avg. of .215, and a career OPS of .639. On the other hand, Flaherty excels on defense, to include shortstop, and is known as a great clubhouse presence. Either Flaherty or Amarista would serve as a cheap shortstop insurance policy.

CHRIS STEWART, C

The Dodgers have enviable catching depth with Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes at the big league level, and a slew of prospects from Kyle Farmer to Kiebert Ruiz to Will Smith to Connor Wong. However, the Dodgers probably wouldn’t mind having a veteran catcher to pair with Farmer at AAA, much like Bobby Wilson did last year. Wilson has since moved on as a minor league free agent. Stewart is a respected veteran catcher who would be a great mentor to the young Dodger catchers in spring training and be a calming presence for the young pitchers at AAA. Should Grandal or Barnes spend time on the disabled list, Stewart is the type of veteran you want to have on hand to call up to fill the backup role.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Carlos Alvarado /

There might be some names that are familiar to you in this group, and a few that are not so familiar. There have been some minor league free agents that end up becoming solid major leaguers. The recently traded Yangervis Solarte formerly of the Padres, now of the Blue Jays, is one player in recent memory who became a late-blooming MLBer after minor league free agency. Again, these players will at least serve as AAA depth but may have more to offer.

CARLOS ALVARADO, RHRP

Alvarado was originally signed by the Tigers as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2009 at the age of 19. Now 28, Alvarado has bounced around the minors a bit, spending last year with the Giants AA club. At Richmond, Alvarado put up decent numbers, posting a 3.22 ERA, and a 1.330 WHIP, while averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings. Alvarado pitched 59 innings in 43 games, profiling as a multi-inning reliever. Alvarado would be a nice arm to have available at AAA, and even more valuable, he has all three of his minor league options intact.

JEFF JOHNSON, RHRP

Johnson, a Thousand Oaks High school product, was drafted by the Indians out of college in 2011. He steadily climbed the rungs of the Indians minor league system, but despite two solid years in AAA the past two seasons, Johnson never received the call to Cleveland. Johnson had a spectacular 2015 in AA with 1.05 ERA with 27 saves in 51 games and followed that up 2.87 ERA and 1.294 WHIP in 2016. In 2017, he regressed slightly with a 3.27 ERA, and a 1.473 WHIP, but struck out almost 11 batters per nine innings. He’s also a guy who had Tommy John in 2014, so despite his age, 27, there still could be some upside with Johnson as his strikeout percentage is back to where his career average was prior to the TJ surgery. Again, all minor league options remaining. Another intriguing arm that could be stashed away at AAA.

JOSH ZEID, RHSP

Hardcore baseball fans will remember Zeid as Team Israel’s star pitcher during the World Baseball Classic in 2017. Zeid, 30, spent time in the majors with Houston in 2013-2014. Zeid has been a versatile pitcher who can both start and relieve. He has also shown he can step up on a big stage. Zeid spent last year with the Cardinals AAA team and went 9-4 with a 5.19 ERA. Zeid would offer Oklahoma City a veteran who could fill multiple roles for the pitching staff, as well as serve as an emergency arm who might be able to eat up some major league innings. Zeid also has an option year remaining, which only adds to his value.

NEAL COTTS, LHRP

The former MLBer Cotts is a minor league free agent this year. Cotts, now 37 and a veteran of 10 MLB seasons, spent this past season with the Nationals AAA team. Cotts can still get batters out, as he struck out 57 in 48 innings over 52 games. Surely, a low risk signing, if Cotts is willing to get stashed at AAA again next season.

CHRIS JOHNSON, INF

Yes, the former runner-up to the 2013 NL batting title is a minor league free agent after spending the entire year in the Orioles minor league system, where he hit .291 with 11 homers. He is still only 33 and would be a solid pickup to man first base for OKC, or perhaps make the Dodgers out of spring training as a right-handed bat off the bench?

More from Dodgers Prospects

DUSTIN ACKLEY, UTIL

One-time Mariners prospect, now journeyman Dustin Ackley finds himself as a minor league free agent after spending all of last season with the Angels AAA club. Ackley appeared to have carved out a corner man bench role/left-handed pinch hitter niche until he regressed further in 2016. Ackley, now 30, has a limited window to try and make it back to the majors as a valuable bench player. Maybe he could get that chance with the Dodgers.

EURY PEREZ, OF

Perez has spent 73 games in the majors over 4 seasons and offers speed and outfield defense to an organization. Perez is still only 27, but he is out of options, so he presents limited roster flexibility. He has stolen 355 bases over 11 professional seasons. He would provide a veteran outfielder to fill in when injuries arise or serve as a pinch-runner down the stretch.

Next: Can the Dodgers follow the Royal's 2015 blueprint?

FORREST ALLDAY, OF

Forrestt Allday was drafted by the Red Sox in 2013 and spent last year with the Angels AA team in limited duty where he hit .290 over 91 games. The only reason he is on this list is that I love his name! I’m not advocating the Dodgers invite this guy to spring training, but maybe sign him to a deal to play for AA Tulsa. Imagine if he goes on a hitting streak, can’t you just hear the fans in minor league ballparks screaming “Allday, every day!”? No? Well, I do!

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As the calendar inches closer to February 13, the date Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to spring training camp at Camelback Ranch, now is as good a time as any to examine some potential Non-Roster Invitees the team could invite to camp.

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