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3 Dodgers who could lose their 40-man roster spots soon

By Adam Weinrib |
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 18: Scott Alexander #75 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on August 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 18: Scott Alexander #75 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on August 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Every MLB team values their 40-man roster space, but whew, the Dodgers really have this thing filled to the absolute brim with talent they have no intention of losing, both young and old.

Therefore, it’s very difficult to navigate the pecking order of who might be on the outs.

Luckily, that’s Andrew Friedman’s job to do and not ours.

Regrettably, this is becoming an immediate concern, as the Dodgers have several non-roster invitees who’ve been playing their tails off, specifically on the mound. Standouts like Jimmy Nelson and his buckling curveball are not currently protected on the 40-man, and neither is Brandon Morrow, who the team hoped to have in the roster mix this spring.

The hope would be that LA is able to retain those veterans who don’t receive the Opening Day nod at the alternate site or on some type of minor-league provision. But if Nelson ever comes up, someone’s got to get removed and lose their protections.

If Tommy Kahnle gets transferred to the 60-day IL to open the season, Los Angeles will open one more roster spot for a top prospect or intriguing NRI.

But for every player who’s impressed you in the final innings of any spring training contest, you have to remove an established player to carry them on the roster moving forward. It’s the most annoying puzzle.

These three players shouldn’t necessarily be checking over their shoulder, but they’re the most likely people to be on the chopping block when a need arises, or a blockbuster trade possibility rears its head.

These 3 Dodgers could lose their 40-man roster spots first.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 18: Scott Alexander #75 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on August 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 18: Scott Alexander #75 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on August 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

3. Scott Alexander

We were surprised when the Dodgers avoided arbitration with Scott Alexander entering 2021 and instead opted to sign him to a $1 million deal.

Alexander found himself at the Alternate Site wondering what went wrong for the final month of 2020, and ultimately did not appear in the team’s playoff run. With so much talent here, didn’t it seem natural he’d be the odd man out of the middle innings?

Well, perhaps someday soon.

It’s not that Alexander’s objectionable that tips us off to his imminent departure; after all, even in 2020 he posted a 2.92 ERA in 13 appearance. It’s just the fact that we have documented evidence the Dodgers consider him the lowest man on their bullpen totem pole, banishing him before the big dance last year.

If the need arises for someone like Nelson on the roster, it seems likely the team will try to work out a cash-saving trade elsewhere for Alexander’s $1 million salary. Perhaps he’s even a candidate to reverse his previous trade course and head back to the Royals, who’ve been buying smartly lately and cleaning up the messes of others.

SURPRISE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Pitcher Garrett Cleavinger #61 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Pitcher Garrett Cleavinger #61 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

2. Garrett Cleavinger

Garrett Cleavinger’s in an interesting position.

After all, he’s both an option to swipe an Opening Day roster spot from Alexander, as well as a candidate for roster removal. Last in, first out, right?

Cleavinger arrived in Los Angeles thanks to a trade with the Phillies while most people were getting familial over the holidays, and he wasn’t exactly coming off a bright spot last year, allowing an earned run in under an inning of pitching in Philadelphia.

This spring, he’s been among the standout arms, whiffing nine in five innings of one-earned-run baseball. But if the Dodgers make a deadline trade for a relief upgrade, Cleavinger is certainly one of the lower-echelon bullpen arms who might see his spot usurped.

After all, he hasn’t exactly been in Los Angeles’ plans for long.

Nearly 27, the Dodgers took a chance on Cleavinger when given the option to deal for him at his lowest value, and there’s a chance they uncovered yet another contributor in the process.

But in the instance of a roster crunch, Cleavinger’s one of the less integral members of this team, and one of those whose sacrifice would sting the least. We’d say the team probably has fewer plans for him than, say, recently-acquired third baseman Sheldon Neuse, who also owns a roster spot at the moment. Cleavinger is much more fungible.

SURPRISE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Pitcher Dennis Santana #77 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Pitcher Dennis Santana #77 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

1. Dennis Santana

It seems unfair to speculate wildly, but at a certain point, Dennis Santana’s life-filled right arm needs to produce some results at the big-league level.

And on a roster as competitive as this one, that clock may be about to strike midnight.

Unreasonable expectations? Sure, slightly. But this is a world champion team with a clearly overflowing cadre of arms. And after three years of Santana cameos, we’re not sure if we’ve seen it yet.

He debuted in 2018 as a 22-year-old and got knocked around in a single outing, soaking up five earned runs in 3.2 innings of low-leverage work. In 2019, he walked four in five innings spread across three outings, allowing four earned runs in the process.

2020? His most extended MLB stint yet. Santana posted a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings across 12 appearances, walking seven.

Look, you’ve either got it or you don’t, and the Dodgers have seen enough in Santana to grant him both security and multiple opportunities these past few years. They like something in his electric arm, but it just hasn’t translated.

Now 25 in a matter of days, Santana will likely get another chance to prove himself with a single minor-league option remaining. If we still don’t see it in 2021, he could be among the first to be jettisoned.

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