The Dodgers announced that right-handed pitcher Dustin May has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list. In a corresponding move, fellow right-hander Reyes Moronta was designated for assignment.
May, 24, has finished his long journey back from Tommy John surgery. It was reported earlier this week that the club was planning to reinstate May to take the hill today. He will jump back into a rotation that certainly has its strengths but also has its concerns. Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Anderson are all having great seasons, but Walker Buehler is done for the season. Clayton Kershaw is also on the IL, currently working his way back. Andrew Heaney is currently with the club but has only made eight starts on the year between various IL stints.
As for Moronta, 29, he had a tremendous showing with the Giants in 2018 and 2019 but has faced adversity in the subsequent seasons. Over that ’18-’19 stretch, he threw 121 2/3 innings with a 2.66 ERA and 29.3% strikeout rate. That also came with a high 13.8% walk rate, though it was still a very encouraging breakout, with Moronta racking up 27 holds in that stretch.
Since then, shoulder surgery kept him from appearing in the 2020 season before a flexor strain limited him to just four innings last year. He was outrighted by the Giants and elected free agency, signing with the Dodgers on a minor league with a $1.5MM guarantee if he made the active roster.
Moronta did indeed crack the roster, getting selected towards the end of April. Since then, he’s thrown 23 2/3 innings for the Dodgers, though he hasn’t quite returned to his previous form. Through 23 2/3 innings, he has a 4.18 ERA. He’s still getting strikeouts at a healthy 27.6% clip, but is also still giving out walks at a 10.2% rate. The key difference might be the long ball, however, as Moronta has allow five this season after only allowing eight over that two-year stretch with the Giants.
Despite that increase in homers, Moronta could find plenty of interest on the waiver wire, given that he still has the ability to set down batters on strikes. He’s still owed roughly $370K for the remainder of the season, not a huge sum by MLB standards. He could also be retained into the future for any team that believed in him. He came into this year with exactly four years of MLB service time but wasn’t called up until a few weeks into the season. That means he could be retained via arbitration for another two seasons by any club that wanted to give him a shot. Since the trade deadline has now passed, the Dodgers will have no choice but to put him on outright waivers or release waivers in the coming days.
Goodbye Moronta
He has also incorporated his new and improved “change up” to his repertoire since he last pitched in the big leagues.
Can’t wait to see it. Big boost for LA here.
Be afraid. Be berry berry afraid.
Kewl Dood 69 We will have to see about that..
Guess Moronta wasn’t eligible to be optioned anymore? Jake Reed could have been DFA for the 40 man just as easily. Of course the correct move ( and I know it won’t happen), is to DFA Kimbrel, he is the Dodgers worst reliever, not even worth roster spot for mop up. Unfortunately they’ll option Bickford for Graterol soon more than likely. Maybe when Trienen comes back is when Kimbrel will be DFA, but somehow Kimbrel will survive.
He will until playoff rosters come out
The Kimbrel trade was low key brilliant tho , he’s cost us nothing in the standings , kept guys like Phillips arb lower by taking the 9th, given Dave the opportunity to have a settled 9th but most of all wiped Pollock’s salary next year off the books
No need to rock the boat today with the established vet when skies are blue, Kimbrel will have his day of reckoning soon enough;until then just shake smile and nod at the man
Just think with AJ rostered Lux may have never fully broken out, Trayce probably isnt here , we dont get to see Outman/Amaya and we have to pay him 10 mill next year to clog up the OF all over again w a 26/40 spot
You know I’m never going to agree that it was a brilliant move on any level. For one thing, the contract cost for Pollock (this year + the buyout) is exactly the same as Kimbrel’s salary. Second, they didn’t bring him on to be an innings eater or a mop-up guy. That kind of pitcher is a dime a dozen. They wanted him to close. In fact they passed on signing Jansen back at exactly the same salary. So it was only a brilliant move where actual results don’t matter and I kinda think they do matter.
We saw a possible future in yesterday’s game. At least we can hope so.
If Pollock still had a 130 OPS+, it’s a bad move
But he fell off a cliff with the bat as much as Kimbrel has been shaky with his command. I’d rather have the talented pitcher who is not having a great year but still striking guys out over the possibly over-the-hill OFer who is just.. over the hill. And I was a big Pollock proponent while he was in blue. With that all said, it’s not nearly as big a win as it could have been
Pollock could have fallen down a crack and into the center of the earth and it would matter not one iota to my point. By now I’m sure you know what it is, but for everyone sitting in the cheap seats, it’s that they traded for a closer who can’t close. How they got him is completely immaterial. What matters is a key job on the roster was filled with someone who can’t do it.
Pollock had a 10 mill option to pick up –
You really gotta address my Lux /Trayce points if being honest tho-
Pollock is/was toast and a bad signing. Money was better off absorbed this year than next. Great trade, great housekeeping of the books and 40 spots. Type of innovative trades I really dig from our FO
He won’t close when it matters.
The $5m buyout is what you count. The guaranteed money. And no, I don’t have to address any of the others because they are irrelevant to the point. I hope you are right about not having to worry about this in October.
Anyhow May looked pretty awesome tonight.
I actually prefer they DFA Kimbrel not Beckford though. Yes, Bickford performance this year is awful, but he still have 4 years of service, hopefully Dodgers pitching coach can help him to be better.
I don’t think Bickford gets DFA, but he will be optioned for Graterol. Some 40 man move must be done to add Trienen back though, but Alvarez and Reed are easy moves there.
Bickford still has options
They’ll make it too Sept (expanded rosters ) w/out having to cut anyone
My guess is Oct 5th (end of reg season ) is the last time Kimbrel wears the Blue
* Appropriate time to give props to DPrice for his season to date- He got a lotta heat on this board this year and has answered the bell. Some chance he actually makes a playoff roster as well. Nice way to end a storied career. Be nice for him and Friedman to come full circle with ring at the end together
Agree with you on Price. He’s quietly been very good in his new role and he could be very important to the Dodgers in the postseason.
I saw him pitch against the Giants and I thought it was PANDA on the mound. He has put on the weight !!
This year’s winner of the Terry Forster award.
Moronta’s arm troubles have taken him from “future closer” to DFA world (again). I hope he gets another chance.
I loved watching the big boy pitch
Any news on a pitch limit for May?
He threw 70 his last start, so I’d expect 80-90
Tops, I suspect. They have no incentive to push him.
What’s your prediction for May’s numbers tonight?
Three.
May the Force