The Diamondbacks have claimed right-hander Edwin Uceta off waivers from the division-rival Dodgers. While neither club has formally announced the move just yet, the claim is noted on the transaction log at MLB.com, and Uceta himself thanked the Dodgers org and expressed gratitude to the D-backs in an Instagram post last night. Uceta was designated for assignment by the Dodgers during the NLCS, when L.A. needed to create a roster spot for infielder Andy Burns in the wake of Justin Turner’s injury.
The 23-year-old Uceta made his big league debut with the Dodgers in 2021 but pitched just 20 1/3 frames throughout multiple stints at the MLB level. The results in that scattered cup of coffee weren’t great, as Uceta yielded 15 earned runs on 19 hits and a dozen walks — albeit with an impressive 25 punchouts.
Uceta pitched in just 25 total games (five starts, 20 relief outings) between the big leagues and the minors this season, missing time due to a pair of lumbar strains. He fanned 27.2 percent of his opponents in the big leagues and 29.5 percent in Triple-A, but Uceta also walked 10.1 percent of his Triple-A opponents and logged a 13 percent mark in the Majors.
Baseball America has ranked Uceta among the Dodgers’ top 30 prospects in each of the past three seasons, including a No. 18 placement on their midseason rankings in 2021. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen had him at No. 33 in the Dodgers’ system on his own midseason rankings, while Uceta was omitted from L.A.’s top 30 over at MLB.com. Both BA and FanGraphs call him a potential back-of-the-rotation starter who’ll likely need to add some bulk to his 6’0″, 155-pound frame. Uceta carries a career 3.79 ERA in 360 2/3 minor league frames and averaged 92.8 mph on his heater during this year’s brief MLB debut.
It’s hardly a surprise to see the D-backs quickly scoop up some potential rotation depth — particularly since Uceta has minor league options remaining beyond the 2021 season. The Snakes will have Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen, Luke Weaver, Tyler Gilbert and (assuming his eminently reasonable $5.25MM option is exercised) Merrill Kelly as the rotation favorites heading into 2022. They’ll need depth beyond that quintet, however, and it’s plausible that some of their incumbent arms — Kelly in particular, given that he’s a free agent after the ’22 season — could draw offseason trade interest.
if dude is any good going forward than this move was a huge failure by LAD. to lose anything of value to make a move and lose the game (and the series) anyways is bad asset management. i mean, they could have DFA’ed someone less projectable.
That they chose to designate him now just shows that he’d quite likely have been DFA’ed in the offseason anyhow. They have seven 60-day IL guys they’ll need to reinstate, plus several players they’ll end up wanting to protect from the Rule 5. And that’s before potentially re-signing any of their free agents, making other signings/trades, etc.
Quite suprise the FO choose Uceta than other pitcher like Andrew Vasquez or Darien Nunez
yeah Vasquez was an easy choice. Burns would have been after selection. you have another few fungible options after there. Uceta may have still bee in the top 7, but i cant imagine it was that easy?
I personally like Darien
Me too Tstats.
Lefty Cuban with a unique delivery is a good change of pace for the club
Nunez like Uceta has a very bright future in MLB & Nunez actually had opposing hitters shaking their heads in the few games he pitched in the Big Leagues
The Dodgers had to DFA 1 player to add Burns to the Active NL Playoff roster & unfortunately Edwin Uceta was the one who had to be DFA’d & the Dodgers were hoping that Edwin would have passed through waivers
Peripherals or not, uceta has been complete garbage every time he’s taken the mound for LA at EITHER level. Numbers don’t override the good old fashioned eye test. Good riddance.
eugh, he hasnt played 50 combined innings between AAA and the Majors and is still fairly young. id keep him over a lot of other options.
He was going to be DFA in the off-season anyway to make room for the rule 5 draft. Andy Burns will as well.
Dodgers don’t use their draft picks in the rule 5 draft & the last time they made a rule 5 draft choice was in 2004 & selected DJ Houlton from Houston
The real question is whether he should have been on the 40-man in the first place. He sure didn’t look ready for the bright lights and the big city. If the Dodgers don’t add him, this isn’t even a question, so in another way it does come down to roster management.
This guy was horrible. Always got hit and then couldn’t throw strikes.
You’re wrong about Edwin & he has a bright future in the big leagues
Seems ridiculous to have to lose a player to replace an injured guy in the playoffs. That rule needs to be changed.
its just bad roster management.
yeah, the Dodgers and Friedman have always been horrible managing their roster throughout this entire regime. No wonder they haven’t had any success.
I don’t think you understand our roster-
Mr Adams tryed to explain to you above but it seems you conveniently glazed over it–
He was getting cut either way 100% , end of story
Every team knows the rules & has to play accordingly. OH how do you think the Dodgers picked up Phil Bickford from Milwaukee because the Brewers DFA’d him & the Dodgers claimed him
Never seen him pitch with the good Ole eye test, but seems like at least a bullpen arm for a team like Arizona. Struck out a good number coming up and still young enough. I felt Uceta and Santana both had a bright future. Gotta trust though the Dodgers see what’s up, just lame to see him being dropped for a 30 year old minor leaguer in a situation like it was
Key for the Dbacks is that Uceta is very young. They wouldn’t go after a veteran, but a young guy with upside potential for a year or two down the line is the ideal move for the Dbacks right now. Good pickup.
I genuinely didn’t see Uceta panning out – especially wit the Dodgers. His change up is plus but he lacks command and he does not have a great fastball or anything else to play it off of – he’s a good arm but not really a starter or reliever at this point. If he got a major velocity jump on the fastball or another great secondary then maybe you’d have something more to work with. But, Arizona is a great spot to see if he can take that next step – and he has two options left. Would like to see him to well – of course not when facing the Dodgers.
The Dodgers and Yankees are regarded as the two best orgs at helping minor league pitchers add velocity. The fact the Dodgers couldn’t help here likely means his velocity is what it is. Still, worth a shot by the D’backs. .
Burns is a 4A piece that I’m sure a KBO or NPB team would love to have in their starting lineup.
Andy Burns has already played overseas
NPB/KBO teams usually needs corner IF/OF with power.
Domingo Santana play well IMHO in Yakult Swallows so far, and i believe he would improve in 2022 if the Yakult retain him. In 106gms, he hit .290/.366/.511 with 19HR and 24 XBH in 418 PA.
Jose Osuna in other hand, just decent IMHO. He batted .257/.292/.398 in 119 gms with 13HR and 25xbh in 493 PA
I shivered in horror every time he took the mound.
Can’t really scout the stat line, but he’s young and was good in 2019, reaching AA. While mostly a starter in the minors, might be a solid relief arm in the majors.