June 22nd, 2016 at 4:32 pm 
by Harold Uhlman The Dodgers have claimed right-handed relief pitcher Layne Somsen off waivers from the New York Yankees. Somsen has been a man on the move having previously been claimed off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds by the Yankees back on May 24.
Somsen was originally selected by the Reds in the 22nd round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of South Dakota State University after having graduated from Yankton High School also in South Dakota.
The South Dakota native has gone 10-5 with a 2.42 ERA in 90 games, including seven starts, in four minor league seasons in which he has limited opposing hitters to a .208 batting average while striking out 193 in 189.2 innings.
With the Louisville Bats – the Reds AAA team – Somsen had a strong start to his season in 2016 posting a 1.89 ERA over ten appearances along with a 0.89 WHIP and 19 strikeouts in 19 innings. He was called up to the Reds on April 26th ready to make his MLB debut.
Layne Somsen
(Photo credit – Sam Greene)
Shane Hennigan of The Times Tribune asked Somsen how it felt to step on a big-league mound for the first time. Somsen was a bit awestruck.
“It was great. Just what you’d expect. I think the one I remember the most is when I was running in how big the stadiums actually are, Said Somsen. “You’re in the bullpen and you’re looking around, it looks like a big stadium but when you get out on the field, it’s a lot bigger.”
He made two appearances with Cincinnati , the first with a scoreless inning and a second that did not go so well in which he gave up five earned runs in 1.1 innings. Unfortunately it was two and out for Somsen as the Reds reluctantly placed him on waivers.
“There’s one club that claimed him, and it was the Yankees,” said Walt Jocketty, Cincinnati’s president of baseball operations. “I was talking with (Yankees general manager Brian) Cashman this morning. They liked him and they’re short on pitching at Triple-A and he had options left. That’s the risk you run when you take a guy like him and run him through waivers.”
Interestingly enough, Somsen was designated for assignment by the Reds, most likely to make room on the roster for Daniel Wright, who would come up to start on May 24 against the Dodgers. Wright was the losing pitcher in the Dodgers 8-2 win over the Reds.
Meanwhile Somsen continued to pitch well at the Triple-A level, this time with the Yankees affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre giving up no runs in six innings while striking out 10. However, the Yankees, who apparently needed AAA relief help, placed him on waivers Wednesday and he was quickly claimed by the Dodgers who may have the same need. That is, relief help at the Triple-A level with players ready or close to MLB ready.
He has had a 2.59 ERA (3.52 FIP) with a 24.2 percent strikeout rate and a 10.6 percent walk rate in 48.2 Triple-A innings over the last two years. PitchFX says Somsen, who is from the baseball hotbed of Yankton, South Dakota, throws a cutter right around 90 mph as well as a low-80s curve ball.
Layne and Katherine Somsen are expecting their first child in December. Obviously they are going to need a new outfit for the baby. (Photo courtesy of @LayneSomsen)
Pitcher Adam Bray of the Great Lakes Loons, who was selected by the Dodgers in the 33rd round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, is a former teammate of Somsen’s when they both were at South Dakota State University.
The 27-year-old Somsen has two option years remaining and will no doubt be assigned to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers of the Pacific Coast League.
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I have to admit that I am quite impressed with Somsen’s Triple-A numbers and wouldn’t be surprised to see him under the lights at Dodger Stadium at some point this season.
I just hope that him being plucked off waivers by the Dodgers was merely because the Yankees were hoping to sneak him past the other 29 teams so that they could reassign him to the minors without him being on their 40-man and not because of some other issue.
I expect that is correct.
John Sickels: “Somsen isn’t a big guy, listed officially at 6-0, 190 but more probably 5-11 in reality. There’s athleticism there and enough arm strength to get his fastball to 94 MPH peaks with general readings around 90-91. The fastball has movement, looks more like a cutter at times, and often plays up. He’ll mix in a curveball and change-up and delivers everything with mechanics that draw frequent comparisons to Tim Lincecum.”
What a good-looking couple they make.
This Somsen kid, it seems, has an inauspicious beginning of 2016 to conquer. I’d imagine that his SD upbringing is more conducive to the lights of Dodger Stadium than in the Bronx zoo. This could be a good find if he can adjust to MLB hitters.
The photo showing his delivery does bear a striking resemblance to Lincecum.
In addition to adding another proven minor league arm, Dodgers move Tsao to 60 day DL; a win-win. Only 2 ML appearances, did OK in one against Phillies and was lit-up by Indians in his other game. Dodgers BP in his future? TBD.
I always wonder about these types of transactions. It would appear that Somsen is an upgrade over the recently acquired Nick Tepesch. I assume that he will start for OKC, but to make the ML roster I would presume that it would be as a reliever. Is Somsen better than Logan Bawcom or Grant Dayton or Jacob Rhame? Is he going to take innings away from them or Matt West? For long relief, what about Lisalverto Bonilla, or really Carlos Frias? I don’t have a problem with stockpiling talent, but I would think that it should be an upgrade rather than take innings away from comparable guys that are already there.
While looking at the OKC Dodgers roster, I noticed a name I had not seen at AAA…Trevor Oaks. Young Mr. Oaks has moved from Rancho to Tulsa and now to OKC during the year. It’s is great to see both Oaks and Stewart make that jump to AAA. One has to wonder, what is in the future for Jharel Cotton. Welcome to OKC Trevor Oaks. I wish you continued success to your great year.
Good questions. We don’t know if he is better than guys already on the roster but FAZ must see something that they like. It doesn’t seem that they simply need bodies as they did earlier in the year. They did OK with acquiring Joe Blanton, Louis Coleman, Casey Fien. None are all-stars but are serviceable relievers. At this point we don’t know that Somsen isn’t an upgrade. Also you just never know when you find that nugget as guys often blossom at age 27 or 28. It would be great to be able to sit in on a discussion about acquiring guys off the waiver wire.
I expect there can never be too much depth but I see your point about innings. Injuries and possible trades provide innings for pitchers.
My best guess is that the Yankees needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster and we’re hoping to sneak Layne past the waiver wire. Kudos to the Dodgers scouting staff for not letting that happen.
The chatter on Twitter yesterday was that everybody knew that Somsen wouldn’t be coming back to Triple-A, as he’d never clear waivers. They were right.
The Yankees already knew that as they did the same thing to the Reds. What goes around ….
I have been wanting one of those Yankee relievers. Do it again FAZ.
Speaking of player acquisitions, anybody been wondering how this went?
Jim Bowden
ESPN Senior Writer
Yulieski Gourriel was worked out by the Dodgers at 2B, 3B & OF. They were extremely impressed with his professionalism and his completeness as a two-way player. He is expected to be a middle of the order bat and the best Cuban hitter since Jose Abreu signed with the White Sox. He has a special hit tool with 25 HR Power and above average arm and glove. He is expected to be able to hit major league pitching immediately with a realistic time table of being major league ready by Aug 1. Interest is growing. Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Angels,Astros,Yankees among the teams interested according to club sources.
Any thoughts on adding this guy?
Is Friedman willing to risk his job to sign another expensive Cuban player with potential to fail? If they sign him it is likely to play OF this season (Turner at 3b; Utley/Kendrick 2b). Which starting OF’er goes? Thompson, Puig, Pederson? Dodgers may be interested in signing more as an opportunity to sign his younger brother Lourdes when he reaches his 23rd birthday, I believe in October.
I don’t think Friedman’s job is on the line, even if they signed Gourriel and he turned out to be a bust. I think Friedman has done exactly what Guggs has wanted him to do. He has fielded a major league team that has competed, built the farm system and cut payroll. In my opinion Ned left a mess. Maybe some of the fans expected something different, and are disappointed, but, I don’t think Guggs is.
What would Gourriel cost? My guess, $60M to $80M for four years (Oliviera money), if he is as good as advertised. MId-priced free agent.
Why would they do it? Where does he fit? We already have Turner, Kendrick, Hernandez, Van Slyke, right handed batters who can play multiple positions. Is he perceived as a big upgrade? If yes, any of those guys become expendable, and trade assets (including Gourriel), and so would Gonzalez. The article says, Giants, Angels, Mets, Astro’s and Yankees are interested in Gourriel. All potential trade partners. I know the Yankee’s got something we want, maybe one of our extra players would do it.
Gonzalez now has a .4 OWAR, Grandal now has a .6 OWAR. Our cleanup hitter is hurting us offensively big time.
From ESPN: “Gonzalez’s issues are simple: He has to start lofting the ball. He’s had his own health issues and had an epidural in late May for a pinched nerve in his lower back. That could certainly explain his struggles, but he’s hitting .189 in June with one home run. He’s getting worse, not better. Keep in mind, he’s 34 years old and funny things can happen when you’re 34. There are a lot of red flags here”.
I can definitely see why FAZ is at least kicking the tires.
I think the brother has to be 24 years old for Dodgers to be able to sign him, but I am not sure.
They’re being extremely hush-hush about it, although Gurriel was spotted wearing Dodger gear before and after the session. Read into that what you will.
Just saw where Gurriel has a private workout with the Mets next week.
This move just looks like an attempt to strengthen the OKC pen for now, although if he pitches well I suppose he could have the same chance of being brought up as Tepesch.
Gurriel by all accounts is a much better player than Olivera and I think if the Dodgers signed him it might be adios to Justin Turner. Gurriel could hold down third base until Seager was ready to move over. Or, they could trade him for more spare parts. Someone at SI said, “all he costs them is money.”
Justin Turner isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.