Dodgers News: Longtime catcher joins Mets, 13 players hit free agency, AFL update

Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers catcher AJ Ellis planted roots in San Diego after finishing out his career with the Padres in 2018. He joined their front office as a special assistant in February 2019 and has seemed comfortable there since.

However, per Will Sammon of The Athletic, the New York Mets have reportedly tempted him away to join their organization as a major league strategy coordinator in 2027.

The Mets need help on basically every conceivable level, and manager Andy Green — who replaced Carlos Mendoza after his mid-season firing — has his work cut out for him.

New York dismissed director of hitting Jeff Albert and quality assurance coach Danny Barnes in early October and have since added former player Mariano Duncan in an undisclosed role, Ellis, and Atlanta Braves minor league hitting coordinator Johnny Washington as a co-hitting coach.

Ellis spent nine major league seasons with the Dodgers, most fondly remembered for his battery with Clayton Kershaw.

Dodgers lose 13 players to minor league free agency

Baseball America released a full list of minor league free agents earlier this week, and a whopping 13 players within the Dodgers organization decided to seek greener pastures, including nine at the Triple-A level.

• RHP Yency Almonte (AAA)
• RHP Nick Robertson (AAA)
• RHP Jerming Rosario (AAA)
• RHP Ryder Ryan (AAA)
• LHP Charlie Barnes (AAA)
• LHP Cole Irvin (AAA)
• LHP Christian Suárez (AA)
• C Yeiner Fernández (AA)
• C Nelson Quiroz (AA)
• C Chadwick Tromp (AAA)
• SS Ryan Fitzgerald (AAA)
• OF Matt Gorski (AAA)
• OF José Meza (A+)

Seven of these players have major league experience, but only Irvin and Barnes spent any time at the major league level with the Dodgers this year. Irvin pitched six innings and gave up six earned runs, while Barnes got 10 and gave up seven.

The Dodgers can (and maybe should) re-sign some of the arms to minor league deals, or the OKC pitching staff is going to be incredibly shorthanded come 2027.

Chase Harlan, Dodgers prospects performing in Arizona Fall League

The Dodgers have nine prospects representing them in the Arizona Fall League, including No. 2 prospect Eduardo Quintero and No. 6 Charles Davalan. However, it's been prospects a little further down the pipeline (or who aren't on it at all) who have been impressing.

The organization's No. 9 Chase Harlan, No. 28 Brooks Auger, and unranked Luke Fox are representing the Dodgers in the AFL Fall Stars Game on Sunday. Harlan, the lone position player, is batting .276 with a .989 OPS, five homers, and 17 RBI in 16 games. Fox has a 4.09 ERA in 11 innings, but his 14 strikeouts lok good. Auger has been struggling a little more, with a 7.15 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.

Harlan and Auger ended their seasons at High-A and Fox at Double-A, so it'll still be a while until we see any of these players in the majors, but they're giving Dodgers fans a reason to tune into the Fall Stars Game on Sunday.

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