The Dodgers outrighted three players off the 40-man roster this evening, the team informed reporters (including Juan Toribio of MLB.com). Relievers Scott Alexander and Jimmie Sherfy and utilityman Andy Burns have all passed through waivers unclaimed. All three players have the right to become minor league free agents.
Alexander is the most notable of the group, as he’d been a productive bullpen option for manager Dave Roberts when healthy. That’s a rather significant qualifier, though, as he hasn’t eclipsed twenty innings in any of the past three seasons. Alexander posted a sub-4.00 ERA in all four seasons as a Dodger (and in two preceding years with the Royals), but he’s been plagued by injuries in recent years.
The southpaw missed a good portion of the 2019 campaign with forearm inflammation, and he missed around four months of this past season because of a shoulder issue. Alexander didn’t pitch after July 19, and Los Angeles elected to clear a 40-man roster spot rather than bring him back for his final year of club control on a projected $1.3MM arbitration salary. Before the injury, the 32-year-old put up numbers right in line with his career trend. He’d tossed 15 1/3 frames of relief with a strong 2.93 ERA, making up for a minuscule 11.9% strikeout percentage with one of the game’s highest ground-ball rates (61.1%).
Sherfy also ended the season on the injured list, in his case due to a bout of elbow inflammation. L.A. had claimed him from the archrival Giants not long before, and Sherfy’s time in Dodger blue looks likely to consist of just four appearances. Between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the 29-year-old tossed 15 frames of 4.20 ERA ball in 2021. He spent the 2017-19 campaigns with the D-Backs and owns a 3.28 ERA with roughly average strikeout and walk rates (23.8% and 8.3%, respectively) in 60 1/3 big league innings.
Burns played in just nine regular season games before being outrighted off the roster. He was re-selected back after Justin Turner’s season-ending injury during the NLCS necessitated the club adding some extra infield depth. Burns didn’t wind up appearing in a playoff game, though, and he’s likely headed back to the open market. The 31-year-old hit .232/.361/.412 over 216 plate appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year but has very limited MLB experience.
These aren’t surprising but Scott did pretty good when he was healthy so I think he gets another chance with a different team.
$1.3 million is a more than reasonable price for Alexander. Quality LH relievers are in short supply. Surprised LA, especially with their huge cookie jar, are letting him walk. Hope he finds his way to Philly. We could use him. Our LH reliever, Alvarez, walks way too many batters. Every time he enters a game, I have to leave the room. Yeah, he throws 100 mph but he has no idea where it’s going.
Caleb Ferguson will be 100% before spring training (17 months after TJ surgery), Alex Vesia was a steal, Justin Bruihl exceeded expectations, Victor Gonzalez has the skill to be in the bullpen as does Garrett Cleavinger — all left-handed relievers for Dodgers with remaining minor league options. And, David David Price is still with team. There is no reason to retain Alexander at $1.3M and no minor league options.
Agreed that the Dodgers have lefty options but Alexander has always been the forgotten guy. He has pitched well enough to earn a roster spot but I guess the injuries kept getting in the way. Wish him well. I’m sure he’ll stick somewhere.
True enough but you’ll have to explain your confidence in Garrett Cleavinger. If he improved to mediocre I’d be surprised. He’s about as wild as a dive bar at 2AM.
Mariners might be interested in Alexander. They should be looking at any lefty relievers with a stronge history of success like Alexander has shown.
Scott Alexander clearing waivers proves to me that all mlb teams are insane. Take the stab at these buy low guys you idiots! Find these damn market inefficiencies!
Why would you want to pay $1.3 million for guy that is going to give you less than 20 innings. A Minor League contract is more appropriate.
Because he’s actually pretty darn good when healthy.
But…If he is not available most of the season, you can’t depend on him. So, why would you want to keep him on the big league roster?
” … when healthy” — best Alexander can hope for is a minor league deal with spring training invitation to make the team.
You mean like Hunter Harvey.
If he were claimed wouldn’t the claiming team have to put him on their 40 man roster? Teams are clearing space to stash prospects ahead of the Rule 5 draft. I’m sure there will be many teams after Alexander once that’s passed.
I wouldn’t mind seeing him back in KC.
Does he have options. One thing that often gets over looked is the way teams build bullpens they use a 14 man bullpen. You need optional guys teams can’t afford the too many roster spots on non optional guys. Not sure if that’s the case with Alexander but certainly might be true of others.
That’s the real problem I have with the cba young RP are sent down to the minors simply because they can be sent down so teams can bring fresh arms up. I dunno how you prevent that other than making rules that force teams to leave the starter in longer
Ackchyually, Andy had two ABs this postseason, with no results worth a mention.
Why would he say he didnt appear in a playoff game? Even a data nerd who doesnt watch the game would have noticed that.
That is the best spelling of actually I’ve ever seen!
Yea Burns had two at bats in the NLCS swung at the first pitch in each at bat and grounded out in both. One was up the middle and took a good play at both SS and 1st to get him out. Not sure why the author said he didn’t appear in a postseason game.
So they keep Andrew Vasquez and Darien Nunez. Interesting..
Btw, are Alexander trade value bad? I mean the FO probably try to trade them right?
They may very well try to re-sign him once Rule 5 has passed.
He has been outrighted — as a veteran he has the option of becoming a free agent, or he could accepted the outright assignment and go to spring training to win a job in Dodgers bullpen. Burns and Sherfy were also outrighted, so they could also show up in spring training with Dodgers..
Well, he cleared waivers — any team could have had him for nothing, but they all passed. So, what do you think his trade value might be?