The Dodgers have selected the contract of outfielder Steven Souza Jr., and designated right-hander Nate Jones for assignment in the corresponding roster move.
Souza signed a minor league deal with Los Angeles in late March, a week after the Astros released him from another minors contract. The 32-year-old has displayed plenty of pop at Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .279/.444/.603 with six home runs in 90 plate appearances for the Dodgers’ top farm team.
Best known for three solid years with the Rays from 2015-17, Souza has battled several injuries throughout his career, most notably a major knee injury that kept him out of action for the entire 2019 season. He returned to play 11 games with the Cubs in 2020 before being released in September. Souza will now move into a bench role for the World Series champions, as the Dodgers are in need of some outfield depth with Cody Bellinger on the 10-day injured list.
Jones was another minor league signing for the Dodgers back in May, after the Braves cut him loose after 12 appearances and 10 1/3 innings. Jones overcame some major control and homer issues to post a 3.48 ERA in his brief time in Atlanta, but the bottom fell out in L.A. as Jones posted an 8.31 ERA in 8 2/3 innings in Dodger Blue. Over 19 total innings in 2021, Jones has already surrendered seven homers, underlining a home run problem that has become increasingly dire over his last four seasons.
Since the start of the 2020 season, Jones has a 5.97 ERA and 12 home runs allowed in 37 2/3 total innings with the Dodgers, Braves, and Reds. Once a borderline elite setup man during his heyday with the White Sox, Jones was hampered by numerous injuries, and he has tossed only 89 2/3 total innings over the last five seasons.
I wonder if he got called on the Souza phone tuba called up.
Only if it happened in March.
Souza might hear some chin music after his Twitter smack talk.
Nothing new for him
My exact thoughts were Nate Jones was on the brink of being DFA but it wouldn’t happen today because the pen is taxed. Welp.
Souza will be waived within 9-11 days.
Probably right, when Bellinger and Muncy are back. This is because none of the OF call ups or signings have worked well: DJ Peters and Luke Raley look grossly overmatched at the plate, and Yoshi Tsutsugo did not impress in his limited chance at a change of scenery..
shark—100% accurate—and not just for IL guys coming back. If this guy becomes useful I will succumb to the Dodgers just being miracle workers. I had hopes that he would play a somewhat productive role with the Cubs and he was just pathetic and seemed to blame the umpires for every strikeout–argued everything. Every team is prone to disappointments, but he exceeded to the nth degree with the Cubs—completely, utterly worthless.
Best Guess: Next move is Luke Raley goes down to AAA and they call up a pitcher to replace Jones on the active roster.
Hoping the next release is Phil Bickford.
Many Dodger fans are calling for Bickford’s head, but he’s only had 1 or 2 bad outings.
I think he could develop into a good bullpen piece with improved control.
Even some of his good outings are pretty bad. Control has always been his issue. He’s Chris Hatcher 2.0. If he can work it out it should not be with major league games on the line.
That has been the problem,however…..his command. If Bickford ever harnassed that, he wouldn’t bounce around like he has. Of course that is the issue with SO many….good stuff/velocity, poor command.
Due to injuries, think of how many ABs have been given to Raley, Peters, and Neuse (double UGH on Neuse). And you know the team was struggling when Kershaw was used TWICE in one week as a pinch-hitter. If they can keep guys healthy…..the bench has stunk!
Also, I would like the DH back because it will help cut down on Roberts burning through the bench and running out of players. And it drives me crazy when he pinch-hits for Beaty, especially in the 5th inning.
Roberts pulls batters out even if they have homered and doubled earlier in the game. He has done this in the post-season, too…David Freese comes to mind. The righty-lefty thing is overblown.
Bickford is a thrower. Friedman has a history of believing that kind of reliever can be fixed. He goes after an awful lot of them and gives up on them pretty reluctantly. If any of them have ever been fixed I don’t remember who. Floro, maybe, but then he was traded, so maybe not.
All of that matchup stuff comes from the analytics. If Roberts wasn’t playing the numbers game according to the FO he wouldn’t have the job.
I realize that it comes from the FO. But I think it is relied on too much.
Floro wasn’t really a flamethrower. He is more of a sinkerballer. I still am scratching my head over that trade. And so far Alex Vesia has been very disappointing. Trades need to be evaluated down the line, I know. But for now, it looks bad.
On Floro I believe it was a matter of him being out of options and Vesia having at least one left.
Bickford threw the ball well tonight
About time Nate Jones was DFA’d, I was surprised Souza got the call though.
He’s been hot to start the year at AAA, hopefully he’s the next reclamation success story for the Dodgers.
I wonder if the Dodgers would like to have Enrique Hernandez back. I exhort the Red Sox to inquire!
no to Hernandez , he still can’t hit
This is another big reason why it is imperative to re-sign Chris Taylor. If they lose him, they will be in trouble.
Some team, however, will guarantee him a full-time job, probably at one position for multiple years, like Kike got. I don’t expect Taylor to return here, but I would be thrilled if he did. There is hope. They really need to make Taylor a priority. He is a better all-around player than Kike was (and I loved Kike).
One place where I differ is on whether Taylor has a full-time job. He does but it’s in a different position nearly every day. Whether he’s really after playing a single position I don’t know, but I believe a lot of his value to the Dodgers and to any other team is the versatility. It’s really difficult to find players who can fit into so many slots and do it as well.
Yes, he basically IS an everyday player. I agree. But my point was that, if he wants the long-term deal where he is guaranteed a certain position for X years and big bucks, he will go.
I don’t know that he does. That is why I hold out hope. I am only speculating. I am hoping he doesn’t go Kike’s route. I think that the Dodgers value him more highly than they did Kike (not that they didn’t value Kike–just that Taylor can do more things).
If he does go after a contract prioritizing playing at one position over continuing on as a Swiss Army knife then he probably shortchanges himself. Versatility is a valuable commodity. On Hernandez I believe this was more a matter of timing than anything else. He was made expendable by McKinstry.
When are the Dodger’s going to realize Zachary McKinstry is NOT an OF. He looks lost out there most of the time.
Oof have you seen him at 2b? Dodgers subs have some major major defensive problems…once all healthy we will be fine but boy Mckinstry Pujols and Beaty on the field at once is not ideal
Crazy how deep this team really is. Guess when a tv deal alone can pay your entire payroll every year. $$$LA
Dodgers need a swing man that can provide length desperately in the pen – Id say its their 1st, 2nd and 3rd need right now—
Jose Urena from Det would be my pick for the 5 starter then move Gonsolin into that swing role outta the pen