The Dodgers announced that outfielder Jason Heyward has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to lower back tightness. His roster spot goes to outfielder Taylor Trammell, who was claimed off waivers from the Mariners yesterday.
Heyward, 34, hasn’t played in any of the club’s past three games due to a stiff back. He was sent for some imaging and manager Dave Roberts relayed yesterday that the scans came back negative, but it seems the Dodgers will give him some time to rest up. IL placements can be backdated as much as three days if the player hasn’t been playing. Assuming the Dodgers backdated Heyward’s transaction, he could be back in a week if he heals up quickly.
After years of struggles with the Cubs, Heyward had a bounceback year with the Dodgers in 2023. He hit .269/.340/.473 for a wRC+ of 121, though largely in a platoon capacity. The left-handed hitter stepped to the plate 349 times against righties but just 28 times against southpaws. The Dodgers were impressed enough to re-sign him on a one-year, $9MM deal over the winter.
The Dodgers started out this year using Heyward in right field against righties, with Teoscar Hernández in left field. With a left-handed starter on the mound, Hernández would take right with Chris Taylor in left.
Trammell hits from the left side and could perhaps take over the role Heyward was in previously. He has struggled in the big leagues but has actually been decent with the platoon advantage, hitting 14 home runs in 261 plate appearances while walking at an 11.1% rate. He has struck out at a 36.4% clip and his batting average isn’t pretty but his .193/.292/.434 line against righties does translate to a 106 wRC+. At Triple-A last year, Trammell slashed .256/.396/.540 against righties compared to .239/.331/.425 against lefties.
The Dodgers could also opt for the more experienced Taylor to take over Heyward’s playing time, despite him hitting right-handed, as he has fairly even platoon splits in his career. He’s hit .256/.331/.424 against righties for a 106 wRC+ and .247/.332/.444 versus lefties for a 110 wRC+. But having Trammell will give them another option and perhaps allow the club to move Taylor around to other positions. Trammell is out of options and may end up designated for assignment again when Heyward gets back. If Trammell manages to stick around, he has under two years of service time and can be controlled for another four seasons beyond the current campaign.
Thought Pages would be next in line. Perhaps they want him to get regular ABs?
They clearly don’t think Heyward will be out long and it isn’t worth burning an option yr/40 man spot for just a couple of games this early in the yr. Plus, Trammel being on waivers at the exact right time likely influenced the decision
Our season is officially over.
why can’t Barnes get the phantom injury ?
Why do some fans hate Austin Barnes?
and why do some fans want one of the kid catchers to sit 6 days a week?
BlueSkies_LA
I’ve been following your posts here for a VERY long time! You’re obviously WELL versed in all things Dodger Blue!! With all due respect, Scooter Barnes has been outright HORRIBLE at the plate for a few seasons now. I’m willing to bet that when Kersh retires, Barnes will be released. At BEST, he could become their Bullpen Catchers Coach. He’s a pretty darn good defensive catcher but has a weak arm and has killed more rallies than I can remember. Last year (and the year before) he was an automatic out. It’s time for Barnsey to go…. Just my humble opinion. Thanks for all of your contributions to this site!!
……….. A lot of Dodger Fans want to see some of these young Catchers we have in the Minors get their chance in the Bigs.. He’s holding some very talented “kids” back. It’s time to move on.
I believe Barnes is a free agent after this season.
His offensive profile is not what keeps him on the roster.
Barnes has become a defensive liability too. Last year he was one of the worst game callers in the league as well. His catchers ERA recovered some late in the season but most metrics put him in the bottom 10% of the league.
@Skruf
Barnes is more than just your average backup catcher. Many Dodgers players refer to him as the “captain of the clubhouse.” Not to mention many Dodgers pitchers prefer him to Smith due to his excellent game calling skills. He’s never going to do much with the bat, but when you have 8 other above average to elite players in the lineup, they can afford that. There are a lot of intangibles with him that boost his cause that many fans don’t recognize.
With them just recently signing Smith to a 10 year deal and Freeman being here for the long haul as well, there is really no spot for Rushing on the Dodgers. He is a tremendously talented prospect, and deserves to be more than a backup catcher.
Cartaya is coming off a horrendous hitting season at double A and needs more seasoning.
Feduccia is the only feasible option to replace Barnes as the backup catcher. However he hasn’t hit much in the minors either and doesn’t have anywhere the experience Barnes has..
Everyone else is too young/inexperienced to be a big league catcher. Just my thoughts on the backup catcher state.
Source: Trust me bro.
@DF
Alright, here’s this.
Diego Cartaya 2023 stats: .189 avg, .657 OPS, 33% K rate. ie needs more time in the minors to figure out his hitting.
Hunter Feduccia: Career .786 hitter in the minors. Good but not good enough to warrant a major league roster spot..
Daulton Rushing should be included in a trade for a star player at the deadline/offseason. He should be the franchise catcher for some team, just won’t be with LA.
No other LA catcher in the top 30 prospects is anywhere near the majors.
Need any more “sources” ?
To sit on the bench?
They’re going to move Rushing to either 3rd, 1B, or Lf. Feduccia could easily supplant Barnes. Cartaya was hurt last year and should have a solid rebound year and he could be the one moved at the deadline. As far as Barnes being the “clubhouse captain” I’ve never heard any such thing. This isn’t some group of youngsters. they’re veteran professionals.
As a general rule it seems few fans understand what a catcher does other than swing a bat, when they have the hardest job on the field. Barnes is nearing the end of his playing career on account of his age alone, but the reality of the situation with the Smith extension is all the prospects are blocked. If they’re good enough to be a first string catcher they won’t be doing it with the Dodgers. When Barnes ages out of his position he’ll be replaced with someone just like him, if the Dodgers are fortunate enough to find one.
This is an older article but it should suffice to prove my point on barnes.
fansided.com/2022/07/03/dodgers-extend-captain-aus…
Whether or not Rushing is moved to another team or another position, he likely won’t be their backup catcher. He has below average speed (not good for the outfield) and has never played anything other than catcher or 1st significantly for the Dodgers. Max Muncy will likely be our 3rd basemen for the next 3-5 years, so so spot at 3rd for him either.
Even if Cartaya was injured, he still needs to prove that he can have a bounce back year before being considered for the bigs.
Yes, they could decide to switch out Barnes for Feduccia, but I don’t think there is much of a point to do that.
Pretty much a restatement of what I said, but I don’t see Muncy as a longterm 3B solution, and for sure not for the next five years. He turns 34 this year and the Dodgers have extended him only year by year. He’ll never be more than adequate at the position and is unlikely to get better at it with age.
Backup catchers are usually awful hitters. He got on base twice on Sunday. ridiculous to dislike him that much
And a trivia question. Who had a better BA average in the second half of 2023, Smith or Barnes?
Not really fair to compare Smith to Barnes with all the injuries he was dealing with in the second half. Props to him for even playing half as good as he did. Although Barnes did look much better late last year.
Of course it’s fair
Grandpa needs to retire
Heyward hurt his back carrying his wallet
RE CMH
Or this much
RE Karensjer
Imagine being this much of a [donkey]
I still wanna know how he stole 9MM this season
Good ol’ case of old man back-itosis (aka BS IL placement) to pay the guy AND also get a look at someone else for real cheap.
They’re in CBT tax hell and have to pay 110% of what ever salary they add that’s not on their current roster.
Backup C is supposed to kinda suk, why there a backup C. Its a hard position to play. 1 of the kid Cs will get a shot through injury n steal the job frm em. Its a good problem to have, too many young stud Cs in the pipeline n Smith signed longterm. Cataya looked like the dude but has kinda fizzled@ AA. Barnes would be great bullpen coach. He does garner some anger frm posts on this site. Relax, he’s just the backup C. Seems like real team player. Go Dodgers !
Austin Barnes value is in that he allows Smith to get a day off once every 4-5 days. When he plays he’s an automatic out unless there are runners on base and then he’s good for 2 outs. As a catcher he almost never throws any runners out.
What worries me more is Muncy’s inability to play 3B & the Dodgers stubbornness to play Lux at 2B.
Lux can’t make the throw from short consistently enough to play the position. Team defense will inevitably be their downfall….
this dude is still in the majors? wtf?
Get well soon JHey
Trammell for Heyward is like swapping out beets, for Brussel sprouts.
You mean swapping the guy who had a .813 OPS and great defense for the guy who’s hitting below .200 for his career. Not to mention Heyward is a great clubhouse guy and team leader.
That seems about right. You clearly didn’t watch any Dodgers games last year.
So, with Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman, they need Heyward to be the clubhouse leader? You’re puttin’ lipstick on a pig, man.
Naming the 3 best players on the team doesn’t make them leaders. They don’t need him to be a leader, he just is one naturally. Many LA players have referenced his leadership, and mentoring of young players.
Take a look at this article: dodgersnation.com/dodgers-news-freddie-freeman-max…