The Dodgers announced this morning that they’ve selected the contract of lefty Darien Nunez and optioned right-hander Mitch White to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Their 40-man roster is now full.
Nunez, 28, signed with the Dodgers out of Cuba back in 2018 and has consistently posted solid numbers out of the bullpen as he’s risen through their system. He’s gotten his first experience at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2021, pitching to a combined 2.70 ERA with a 35.3 percent strikeout rate and a 12.6 percent walk rate in 30 innings. Obviously, the Dodgers will hope his control of the strike zone improves — he’s also hit a batter and tossed three wild pitches — but it’s a generally encouraging showing for the lefty.
Nunez has never ranked among the Dodgers’ best prospect, perhaps in part due to his age, but he’ll nevertheless get his first look at the MLB level. Since he’s only just been selected, he’ll be optionable for all of this year and each of the two subsequent seasons, which could make him an up-and-down bit of depth while he looks to establish himself. The Dodgers frequently turn over the edges of their pitching staff — as White, who has now been optioned five times in 2021 aloone, can attest. Nunez will now be part of that churn for the foreseeable future, and he’ll give manager Dave Roberts a third lefty alongside David Price and Garrett Cleavinger while Victor Gonzalez is on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis.
honest question, but why haven’t they slotted Price into Bauer’s rotation slot.
He hasn’t been stretched out yet as he has been a bullpen arm. Not sure what the delay is, but it’s about time for either him or Nelson to slot in there and become a starter. We can’t keep going like this, the BP is getting overtaxed.
well yeah, it mean someone’s got to. weekly BP games only work if your TB.
oh, and I guess to you have another open spot with Kersh down too.
Part of it will solve when Gonsolin is fully stretched out but the dodgers NEED to get a solid-good starter at the deadline if they want to hold pace on the giants. Ideally that man is Mad Max but again lots say he won’t move. If the Yankees sell, how about Kluber assuming he can prove health? I am also a big Kyle Hendricks fan of the Cubs tank…
They’re already over the tax line so I doubt any large addition will occur.
@sdbaseballguy you hope.
I’m actually a very very longtime Dodger fan living in San Diego.
If you’re already, then screw it. What’s a few more million in taxes
The tax line is a suggestion to LA lol
They only go over the tax line once every few years, with the idea of that year being a splurge.
I wouldn’t bet on the Dodgers caring about $ price.
Dodgers haven’t been over the luxury tax since 2017 season. In 2021, they were already projected to be over the luxury tax with the Bauer and Turner signings, so I don’t see the luxury tax being a deterrent to obtaining another starting pitcher. They would just need to reset the luxury tax penalty at some point in the future so that they don’t get hit with further fees and penalties.
And maybe the new CBA will reset things anyway
Yeah, this is looking like Torre’s bullpen work. RIP Troncoso’s arm.
Lost last year+Late build up+his own injury=he hasn’t thrown more than 50 pitches in an appearance this Year
Robert’s has said recently they’ll “continue” to stretch him out, but at what rate we’ll see
He hasn’t shown capable of going any amount of length all year
My worry was the long Rp this year. Didn’t have faith in Price to carry the torch. It was the right move at the time, but they could sure use Stripling today
SURE
Solve the team’s problems
Send down
the
WHITE guy !!
This joke is such bait and I love it.
I’m surprised it wasn’t Uceta that got demoted.
Uceta has nice stuff but he’s definitely not ready for the big leagues. They need Price to step up. It’s been 3+ months, it’s time for him to pitch some length. He’s a veteran, he should be stretched out by now. I don’t understand their handling of him. Either he can pitch or he can’t but it’s time to find out. Additionally, they’re paying half of 32 million for him.
Uceta only threw 10 pitches yesterday compared to 65 by Mitch White. I’d think that this is a big factor in their patchwork rotation right now. Both are fringe pitchers right now. Fans cringe when they come into the game. Let’s face it, when Uceta came in to pitch the 9th we were all thinking that there is a very good chance that the game doesn’t go to extra innings.
Doubtful Bauer will ever pitch for the Dodgers again. My guess is the dodgers will try to void his contract under a moral clause. Would that money still count against the dodgers in total salary and the luxury tax?
Similar situation was when the Rockies had Denny Neagle on a big contract and when he got caught with a prostitute the Rockies voided his contract.
Somehow I didn’t remember that Neagle fact. What sucks is he didn’t even get laid. What a dummy.
I was also going to add him to the list of pitchers to go to the Yankees and play terrible only to turn it around when they leave. Neagle never turned it back around, obviously because it was launch Colorado
Naegle probably dodged a bullet on that one
The Rockies tried to void Neagles contract but they ended up paying 16 million out of the 19.5 million that they owed Neagle.
Dodgers & MLB have been burning phone lines for 10 days to find a way to keep Bauer FAR away from MLB
Canceling the bobble head night AND pulling all his merchandise. Bauer is done. Internally a lot more is known the externally, it can be assumed.
“…and he’ll give manager Dave Roberts a third lefty…”
Wait – am I missing something? Isn’t Scott Alexander a lefty and if so, wouldn’t this give Roberts a fourth lefty in the pen?
You’re correct, everyone always overlooks a groundball specialist.
No because David Price is moving into the Starting Rotation with Dustin May out until sometime next season & Clayton Kershaw out for a week & a half with no timeline for Bauer to return from his administrative leave since he is out until after the All Star Break & most likely even longer than that
What happened to Bauer again?
My mind is drawing a blank as to what happened there…maybe someone could fill me in. One this is for sure, it couldn’t have happened to a better guy that Trevor Bauer!
Alleged sexual assault.
No. Aggravated assault. She’s not accusing him of any sexual crime, she’s saying he hurt her beyond reasonable expectations during the act of consensual sex
I believe she’s already declined to press charges and has stated from the start, as has Bauer, it began as a consensual act
told y’ll days ago, no more Bauer this season, and maybe never, except indy ball or Bauer gets his life together and spends rest of life quietly ministering to the needy
Bauer could be nothing more than he said/she said. I believe he comes back all refreshed in August.
Mitch White had high expectations but he is nothing more than a journeyman type at best now.
I read the police have him on tape admitting to punching her while she was unconscious but maybe that was wrong info.
I thought it was an interesting comment by her lawyer, “on two separate occasions, she was assaulted by Bauer”. Wait….it happened once and you went back? Either way, best case is that Bauer’s as stupid as you can be. Worst case, he’s stupid and committed multiple felonies.
Only positive coming from the Bauer fiasco would be a more active trade market. Just thought I’d add that here.
White is awful, happy trails
I wonder if we see Ryan Pepiot early 2nd half..
Tearing up the minors right now, big live arm
Speculation is Pepiot will make his MLB debut sometime in the 2nd half & the Dodgers shouldn’t rush him
Him and Josiah Gray will be up in August or September if not sooner I’d bet
Miller in Sept would be awesome
David Price is moving into the Starting Rotation with the Dodgers season opening rotation currently missing 3 starters & I believe Bauer will be out longer than the current 14 day administrative leave he is currently on & I believe Kershaw will be back next week & May is gone until sometime next season at best
Price is not a starter today – Lucky to get 3 strong outta him
Sadly, yes. David WHIP (1.66) says it all. At first i thought the same thing too, why in the hell Dave didnt put David as a SP again after Dustin May down and Tony G still in Oklahoma for rehab assignment. But you can clearly look that DP wasnt the same Pitcher he is back to, at least 2018
Are Brusdar Graterol injured again? I thought he was optioned to Triple A after 4 game series in DC is so the Dodgers can have more fresh arm in Miami.
Graterol is pitching for OKC
I think it’s just a fresh arm thing, per the dodgers mantra
Could be they want him to get consistent appearances through the mlb ASB