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Jake Lamb, Kevin Pillar Will Open Season In Triple-A With Dodgers

By Steve Adams | April 4, 2022 at 1:41pm CDT

The Dodgers reassigned several non-roster invitees to minor league camp today, including Jake Lamb, Kevin Pillar, Tony Wolters, Shane Greene, Reyes Moronta, Tomas Telis, Stefen Romero and Eddy Alvarez.

While many minor league deals for veterans contain out clauses if they don’t make the roster, Lamb will remain with the Dodgers, per MLB.com’s Juan Toribio (Twitter link). His minor league deal does have out clauses in both May and July, Toribio adds. Similarly, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya tweets that Pillar passed on his first opt-out opportunity (April 2) but has other opt-out chances later in the deal.

Lamb had a huge Spring Training, going 9-for-27 with a pair of homers and three doubles, but his bid to make the roster as a corner bat off the bench will come up a bit short, at least initially. Los Angeles is going with a short three-man bench to begin the season, deferring to a slate of 16 pitchers at least early on in the wake of an abbreviated Spring Training.

Pillar, meanwhile, signed a bit later and had just two hits in 18 plate appearances, albeit one of them being a home run. He, in particular, seems like a candidate to eventually get a look as a bench option for the Dodgers, who don’t look as though they’ll carry a traditional fourth outfielder alongside backup catcher Austin Barnes, utility infielder Hanser Alberto and infielder/outfielder Edwin Rios. The recent trade of AJ Pollock thinned out the outfield mix in L.A., likely leaving Rios and infielder Gavin Lux as the backup options to Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor across the outfield.

It’s not yet clear whether all of the players who were reassigned today will stick with the team and head to the minors, though it’s common this time of year to see veterans on non-roster deals return to the open market or, in some instances, be traded to another club that has a more clear opening for their services.

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Los Angeles Dodgers Eddy Alvarez Jake Lamb Kevin Pillar Reyes Moronta Shane Greene Stefen Romero Tomas Telis Tony Wolters

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View Comments (48)

Comments

  1. Tacoshells

    1 month ago

    Dang thats gonna be a strong AAA team

    Reply
    • A'sfaninUK

      1 month ago

      Beats the brakes off the A’s and Orioles MLB teams lol ugh

      Reply
      • pileofsandwich

        1 month ago

        Can’t forget them Pirates

        Reply
  2. underdog

    1 month ago

    this literally could change after their opening series in Colorado, I bet. Between shortened ST and what Coors does to a pitching staff, I think they’re trying to play it safe with the extra pitcher(s). I bet a bench guy (whether Lamb, Pillar or someone else) is added within a week if not sooner.

    Reply
  3. fuchholz

    1 month ago

    I’d take Pillar back. He was good in Boston and they need RH hitting outfielders. He can play all 3 OF spots. Curious to see if Chaim sees it that way too

    Reply
  4. sdbaseballguy

    1 month ago

    As soon as rosters reduce (5/1) and pitcher limits are reinstated, at least one of them will be called up.

    Reply
  5. RobM

    1 month ago

    Pillar, no doubt, has an opt out. He’ll be back after he gets some more reps in AAA.

    Reply
  6. Samuel

    1 month ago

    Heavens people……

    By April 20 there will have been at least 50 transactions of players being called up and sent down.

    Teams roster well over 30 pitchers a year and at least 22-24 position players.

    Get a grip.

    Reply
    • johnnieleeboo

      1 month ago

      Sparky Anderson:”If he’s lefty and breathin’, I want him.”
      2022 version:
      “If he’s lefty and he’s got a Work Permit, I want him”
      Universal DH?
      More like Universal Coors Field./s

      Thoughtless of them not to pass a Mercy Rule.
      .

      Reply
    • thekid9

      1 month ago

      They are bored because the basement is cold and mommy doesn’t have any fresh baked cookies.
      Give ‘em a break

      Reply
  7. dirkg

    1 month ago

    If you would have told me in 2017 that Jake Lamb in 5 years would open the season in the minors, I would have told you to up your medication. Add Pillar to that conversation and I would then said to go ahead and double your meds.

    There’s a lot of factors at play here, including stronger data than ever to show how to get a guy out (and shifts, etc.), but I guess more than ever, it’s a young man’s game.

    Reply
    • Samuel

      1 month ago

      It’s always been a young mans game.

      But one wouldn’t know it reading all the posts here each offseason encouraging all teams to overpay for veteran FA’s – and if they don’t, calling them “cheeep” and stating: “they aren’t trying to win”.

      Reply
    • tad2b13

      1 month ago

      Agree about Lamb, but not so much Pillar. Pillar hasn’t been very good with the bat for his entire career. He has a career 88 OPS+, which is also what he gave the Mets last season.. He did have a 106 OPS in 2020, but that seems to be a short season outlier, since it was his only 100+ of his career.

      He had value because he could play CF, but even that skill has waned. He has negative numbers in DRS and OAA since 2018, and at age 33, isn’t getting any better.

      Reply
    • thekid9

      1 month ago

      Thank you Johnny Superscout

      Reply
      • tad2b13

        1 month ago

        What’s your point? You feel the need to make a snide comment, because I disagree with someone, since they obviously didn’t looked at the stats, that are easy and available for anyone to find?

        Reply
    • C-Daddy

      1 month ago

      Pillar was already a borderline major leaguer in 2017.

      Reply
      • C-Daddy

        1 month ago

        I realize he had 3 bWAR that season, but an 86 OPS+.

        Reply
  8. alaman

    1 month ago

    I don’t remember Rios having much (if any) playing time in the OF, did I miss something?

    Reply
    • Mike Piazza Pie

      1 month ago

      Infield is full, plus Bellinger and Lux aren’t looking like Maris and Mantle lately

      Reply
    • Steve Adams

      1 month ago

      He’s only played nine innings in the outfield in the Majors but has 300 (mostly LF) in the minors.

      Reply
  9. Ron Tingley

    1 month ago

    Even more intrigued why Beaty is gone

    Reply
    • Mike Piazza Pie

      1 month ago

      Because Rios has a better bat and glove than Beaty. Busch and/or Vargas will need a spot on the big league roster soon anyway

      Reply
  10. Old York

    1 month ago

    Quite unfortunate. Was expecting both of them to make the team given the lack of talent on the Dodgers team. Oh well, maybe next year…

    Reply
  11. tbob1

    1 month ago

    That AAA team would win against the D- backs or Rockies that is serious depth , and this from a Diehard Pads fan.
    God Bless.

    Reply
  12. HalosHeavenJJ

    1 month ago

    Lamb looked great in Spring Training. I figured he’d land a big league deal somewhere (don’t act like agents aren’t calling around to find things out before these opt outs).

    Incredible depth pieces for the Dodgers.

    Reply
    • bobtillman

      1 month ago

      Of course, agents are calling around. The good agent never sleeps, and there are negotiations between player and team all year long: “I want 2 Baseball Betties in my room at night, not just one!”

      Which of course makes this “I don’t want to negotiate a contract during the season’ stuff laughable. As Jim Bouton said, these guys want to negotiate contracts during their mothers’ funeral.

      Not being cynical; it’s dog eat dog and you and I would do it too.

      Reply
    • Mike Piazza Pie

      1 month ago

      It shows how much he wants to stick with the dodgers. Players recognize how Justin Turner,. Chris Taylor and Muncy revived their careers in blue. The dodgers have a reputation for unlocking the next level in guys. Angels do a great job of finding talent but they struggle at maximizing that in turning it into wins. Some guys take the most $ and others go where they can thrive

      Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 month ago

      Would have liked to see them find a roster spot for Lamb at least temporarily, considering the way the Dodgers have been hitting in spring training. Instead he’s probably he’s going to be sacrificed, which makes him…

      Reply
  13. bravesfan0618

    1 month ago

    Pillar is a beast in the field. .240-.250 hitter but can run down all kind of fly balls and will sacrifice his body.

    Reply
    • tad2b13

      1 month ago

      I couldn’t disagree more. He’s about 12% below league average as a hitter. And while he used to be able to play a decent CF, at age 33 those days are gone. He’s -3 OAA since 2018. And he hasn’t had a positive number in DRS since 2017.

      Reply
      • Old York

        1 month ago

        @tad2b13

        Which only makes the whole DH-rule for pitchers only is ridiculous. They should expand it to a DH for all players on the field. Therefore, if you have a good defense team but they are terrible offensively, just have DHs for those players.

        Why should the pitcher get a DH, while only doing one job while the fielders have to do two jobs of fielding and hitting?

        Reply
        • raisinsss

          1 month ago

          It was through this post that I learned pitchers are not responsible for also fielding their position.

          Do they just stand there? Do they have a designated fielder, too? Was this part of the new CBA?

  14. mike156

    1 month ago

    16 pitchers to start the season. Yikes. Preparing for 6 pitchers per game, all throwing as hard as they can.

    Reply
    • tad2b13

      1 month ago

      That will change when the roster size is reduced.

      Reply
      • stymeedone

        1 month ago

        13 pitchers, all throwing as hard as they can.

        Reply
    • underdog

      1 month ago

      they start the season in Denver, and with starting pitchers not fully stretched out. Plus with a DH now there’s not much need for pinch hitters. This it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Again, within a week that will be reduced.

      Reply
  15. Datashark

    1 month ago

    Cody’s make or break year….he is in the Chris Davis zone right now which is well below mendoza line

    Reply
  16. neurogame

    1 month ago

    If Bellinger continues to tinker with his swing and struggle endlessly through the 2nd month of the season, he’ll be joining that AAA team.

    The Dodgers have a GREAT lineup when healthy, but let’s get some reality checking here – Mookie is coming off an injured season, Taylor had surgery on the off-season, Muncy is coming off a major injury, Lux will be given another runway that we can only hope he succeeds on, and Bellinger….. oh f*’in Geezus, he’s been an offensive mirage.

    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 month ago

      Betts has exactly one base hit in official spring training games. He isn’t coming off any sort of injury that should produce this kind of results so it’s mystifying. If I’m going to worry it would be about him over Bellinger.

      Reply
      • Mike Piazza Pie

        1 month ago

        Have you missed the last year? Bellinger looks cooked. Hopefully he figures it out but it’s not looking great for him.

        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 month ago

          Did you miss Bellinger’s two major injuries and surgeries? Did you miss the size and length of the commitment the Dodgers made to Betts? Bottom line, the Dodgers expect Betts, not Bellinger, to be the team’s tent pole. Without any obvious explanation for his terrible spring training performance you should be wondering and worrying about what is going on with him. Well I am anyway.

        • WarrenSpahn

          1 month ago

          Bellinger looks absolutely lost at the plate so far in spring training. At one point he struck out 7 at-bats in a row without a single hard contact foul ball. I feel for the guy but how long can they keep him in the starting lineup or even on the 26 man roster when he is not hitting at all? Don’t the Doyers have about a half dozen “hitting coaches”? what do these people do besides scribble in their notebooks, spit, and scratch themselves?

      • neurogame

        1 month ago

        But Betts is coming off an injury – the bone spur on his hip. Since he declined to have off-season surgery, I’d be concerned about the pain returning despite his, what I can only hope was, diligent treatment and rehab.

        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 month ago

          I’m pretty sure it’s safe to assume the $300m man got the best treatment the planet has to offer, and that the player is no kind of slacker.

  17. Rsox

    1 month ago

    Pillar will likely be up in short order. Dodgers have no OF depth on the MLB roster

    Reply
  18. Nobby

    1 month ago

    I’d rather Pillar over JBJ in CF for the Red Sox.

    Reply
  19. Canosucks

    1 month ago

    Pillar may have wished he didn’t do the thumbs down last year now it is thumbs down for him.

    Reply
  20. raisinsss

    1 month ago

    I’d probably take Marisnick as my 4th of over Pillar right now.

    Pillar just isn’t very good at anything anymore outside of recovering from a broken face.

    Reply

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