11th-hour trade locks down Dodgers 40-man roster

After more than a week of speculation, rumors and flat out guessing, the Dodgers locked down their 40-man roster late Sunday afternoon one day before position players were due to report to Camelback Ranch for spring training 2017.

The one remaining roster move needed to create a spot for recently-signed veteran outfielder Franklin Gutierrez came around 4 pm PT on Sunday when the team announced that they had traded right-hander Vidal Nuño – whom they had acquired from the Seattle Mariners on November 7, 2016 – to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for 22-year-old minor league right-hander Ryan Moseley

Even though the 29-year-old Nuño left without having made even one pitch in a spring training game while wearing a Dodger uniform, he leaves with a career record of 5-20 and a 4.02 ERA in 126 games (42 starts) over four Major League seasons with the Yankees (2013-14), D-backs (2014-15) and Mariners (2015-16). Although Nuño was on the Dodgers 40-man roster, the National City, California native had little chance of making the Dodgers opening day roster.

Even though Nuño did not appear in even one spring training game for the Dodgers, he did get in a few bullpen sessions with them. (Photo credit-Ron Cervenka)

Moseley made his professional debut in 2016 with the Orioles’ Low Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds, posting an 0-1 record and 3.20 ERA in 12 relief appearances (19.2 innings pitched) while limiting opposing hitters to a .191 average, including a .091 mark against lefties. The Lubbock, TX, native was originally selected by the Orioles in the eighth round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Tech University.

Gutierrez, whose acquisition has yet to be officially announced by the team (but will be later today), arrived at Dodgers spring training camp on Sunday morning. He brings with him a career slash-line of .257 / .311 / .409 for an OPS of .720. However – and this is significant – he hit .289 against lefties over his 11 seasons in the big leagues. Ironically, the Caracas, Venezuela native – who turns 34 years old tomorrow – was originally signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 2000 and bears the dubious distinction of being the key piece in the trade that brought troubled outfielder Milton Bradley to Los Angeles from the Cleveland Indians in 2004.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts officially welcomed Franklin Gutierrez to spring training camp on Sunday morning even before his signing had been made official. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Gutierrez was (unofficially) signed by the Dodger on February 10 to a reported 1-year / $2.6 million contract.

 

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One Response to “11th-hour trade locks down Dodgers 40-man roster”

  1. SoCalBum says:

    Good trade for everyone. Dodgers pick up a 22 year old, 8th rd draft pick who does not have to be added to 40 man roster for 3 or 4 years for Nuno who has a much better chance of making the O’s opening day roster. Baseball America scouting report on Mosely: “has a high 80s/low-90s fastball with lots of sink, and his slider and changeup have flashed average but none of them are consistent enough at this point. He has three pitches to start but unless he shows significant improvement to his control, a power-reliever future seems more likely.” Was slotted to be Texas Tech no. 1 starter in 2016 but control problems got him demoted to BP where he was inconsistent. With NRI Patrick Schuster at OKC, Nuno was definitely expendable.

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