The Dodgers announced they’ve selected the contract of utility player Luke Williams. He’ll take the active roster spot of infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts, who has been placed on the paternity list. To open a spot for Williams on the 40-man roster, right-hander Daniel Hudson was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reported that Williams was with the club prior to the official announcement.
Williams could be in position to make his team debut. Initially claimed off waivers from the Marlins at the start of last offseason, he was promptly non-tendered. The Dodgers circled back to re-sign him to a minor league deal, assigning him to Triple-A Oklahoma City to open the year. The right-handed hitter has been on a tear through his first couple weeks in OKC, hitting .375/.455/.696 with seven walks and only ten strikeouts through 66 plate appearances.
Initially a third-round pick of the Phillies, Williams has briefly appeared for three teams at the MLB level. He’s a .240/.299/.316 hitter across 244 big league plate appearances. He’s up to a more impressive .307/.378/.455 line in 60 Triple-A contests split through a trio of seasons. Williams brings a fair bit of defensive flexibility to the bench, as he has ample experience at the three infield spots to the left of first base and each outfield position.
That versatility takes on some immediate importance in L.A., as Chris Taylor has been bothered by side soreness. The utilityman told reporters he’s not scheduled for imaging and hopes he can avoid an injured list stint (via Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic). He’s out of tonight’s game though, thinning the depth behind Miguel Rojas at shortstop.
It seems Betts could factor into that mix as well. He’s expected to rejoin the team tomorrow — Williams still has a pair of minor league options and could easily be sent back to Oklahoma City — and skipper Dave Roberts implied Betts could get some starts at shortstop (relayed by Juan Toribio of MLB.com). Betts has never started a professional game at shortstop, so it’s unlikely he’ll offer the plus defense there that Rojas provides. Betts has experience at second base, however, and he’s obviously a far better hitter than Rojas. The glove-first veteran is off to a meager .129/.182/.161 start to his Dodger tenure.
As for Hudson, he’s now officially ruled out through late May. The IL placement backdates to the start of the regular season. The veteran reliever has been delayed by left knee soreness as he works back from last season’s ACL tear. Roberts said today that Hudson has battled patellar tenditis in the joint. The Dodgers are targeting a June return, so there’s little reason not to place him on the 60-day IL (Ardaya link).
Great of Mookie. Nothing better than becoming a father.
Use the Force, Luke…the Dodgers need all the help they can get. Although it’s not like anyone is running away with it in the NL West.
Looked good in triple A
The Dodgers’ time as a great (regular season) team is over. Anyone who’s in the know, knows. And they didn’t even get a single legitimate World Series title out of it- despite all those staggering top 3 payrolls (frequently the #1 payroll) year after year after year. Urias is gone from the Dodgers after this season. Gone! Friedman is grossly overrated and the fact that the Rays kept on humming right along after he left further proves that their success has much, much more to do with the organization than it had to do with him. Not to mention the fact that he never even put together a single (real) World Series team with the Dodgers.
Do the Dodgers pay rent on all that space in your head?
A simple depth move causes you to go on a rant like this? Maybe it’s time to go outside…
I feel like this fool copies and pastes this comment on all Dodger articles.
Oooof
Hudsy a little further away than I hoped
Hope Hudson has a safe recovery, but I will be rooting for the Dodgers as long as Luke Williams is with them.
Captain America is here to save the day!
Mookie at SS? He can probably pull it off. The guy is a great athlete and has a rocket for an arm. He looks really natural fielding groundballs at 2B and played a few games at SS in rookie and A- ball. Even if he can get just a few games over Rojas or CT3 it’s a huge upgrade with the bat for a small downgrade with the glove.
Belly update: View the As vs Cubs 04/18 Another phenomenon catch and clutch hitting!
We need to trade for Tim Anderson, our production is atrocious at ss
Need to not have CT3 batting clean up, what kinda mind altering substances is Roberts on, used to his terrible judgement when it comes 2pitching staff moves but now lineup miscues R becoming norm, like CT3 but man he is not hitting water falling outa boat, he’s become a K machine, looks lost up there
He takes a regular dose of Friedman pills.