Dodgers: It’s Decision Time for the Dodgers and Yimi Garcia

With the activation of Rich Hill looming over the Dodgers’ heads this weekend, it is decision time on Yimi Garcia.  Yimi is out of options and Hill is set to be activated on Sunday.

One of the longest-tenured Dodgers, surprisingly, is Yimi Garcia.  It doesn’t feel like it since Garcia has missed plenty of time dealing with Tommy John surgery and various arm ailments but he has been with the team for the better part of their NL West division streak.  His time with the Dodgers could be over on Sunday.

Rich Hill is going to start Sunday’s game and Ross Stripling is going to be pushed to the bullpen after making Thursday’s start.  The Dodgers already have an eight-man bullpen so they are going to remove one reliever when Hill is activated.  Unless a spur of the moment injury comes up, Yimi Garcia could be designated for assignment.

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Yimi is out of options and would need to pass through waivers in order to potentially be demoted to Triple-A, and there is a good chance another team would take a flier on him.  Garcia has always had a live arm throwing in the mid 90’s with good run on his fastball.  NL West teams like the Dbacks, Padres, and Giants would likely try to claim him off waivers.

If the Dodgers want to buy more time for Yimi they could choose to option someone like Caleb Ferguson to the minor leagues since he has options left.  After a rough start to his season, Yimi has quietly been very good in his last seven outings.  In his last seven innings, he has allowed just one run and one hit while striking out seven.  His WHIP in that span is an impressive 0.43.

With a roster that is stacked with talent, the Dodgers have had to make some tough decisions like keeping Julio Urias and Ross Stripling in their bullpen.  If they choose to move on from Yimi Garcia, it will be a disappointing end for a reliever who once looked like an exciting young bullpen piece with electric stuff.

Yimi Garcia is set for one more season of arbitration so the Dodgers would be giving up one more season of control if they choose to try to sneak him through waivers.  While the results have been inconsistent, Yimi still possesses the kind of stuff that could make him a good weapon in the Dodger bullpen.  The clock is ticking and a roster move is due by Sunday.