In his latest wrap-up of minor league transactions, Baseball America's Matt Eddy reports that the Dodgers signed catcher Mike Rivera to a minor-league deal last week. The veteran backstop spent the last four seasons in Milwaukee, hitting .260/.333/.423 in 374 plate appearances. Rivera was non-tendered over the winter and signed by New York, but was released by the Yankees on April 3.
We heard last week that the Dodgers weren't going to acquire a veteran catcher in the wake of the injury to regular backup Brad Ausmus, but perhaps the club wanted a bit of cover in case rookie A.J. Ellis wasn't up to the task of backing up Russell Martin.
Bad day to be JD Closser, the other vet catcher they signed in the off-season, last seen languishing in Albuquerque.
GREAT! a catcher…so when is this organization going to get some pitching?
When Billingsley remembers how to pitch.
Rivera has been assigned to Class AA Chattanooga, replacing Lucas May.