The Dodgers have designated first baseman Luken Baker for assignment, per a team announcement. He’d been claimed off waivers from the Cardinals just this past Monday. Baker’s spot on the 40-man roster will go to outfielder Justin Dean, whose previously reported promotion from Triple-A Oklahoma City is now official. Outfielder Esteury Ruiz was optioned to Triple-A to open an active roster spot for Dean.
Baker, 28, is a 2018 second-rounder who’s posted some big Triple-A numbers at times but has never gotten a real look in the majors. The Cardinals gave him brief auditions each year from 2023-25, but he’s never reached 100 plate appearances in a big league season. He’s totaled 189 trips to the plate and owns a .206/.317/.338 batting line in that time.
Though this year’s minor league production is down — .197/.311/.399 in 270 plate appearances — Baker slugged 32 home runs in 108 Triple-A games in 2024. A year prior, he drilled a whopping 33 home runs in only 84 Triple-A games while batting .334/.439/.720. The Cardinals still never found much of an opportunity for him — not with Paul Goldschmidt entrenched at first base and the combination of Willson Contreras, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman all seeing frequent time at designated hitter (in addition to occasional time there from Goldschmidt).
Baker has immense raw power but has typically hit for low averages, even in Triple-A (excluding that Herculean 2023 performance). He’s played in parts of five seasons at the top minor league level and turned in a .249/.334/.507 slash in that time. This is Baker’s final minor league option year, so while he can be shuttled from Triple-A to the majors freely for the remainder of the year, he’d need to stick on a big league roster beginning on Opening Day next year (unless he’s passed through waivers first). The Dodgers will place Baker on waivers within the next five days.
Pirates should snatch him up real quick- nice AAA #’s. low cost/low risk
Not nice this year. Sub 200 average for AAA St Louis
They literally could have had him just four days ago, yet 28 teams prior passed on him.
Dodgers are probably thinking he will pass through waivers to outright him.
Baker is a better hitter with less risk than at least three position players on the Pirates 40 man roster and his only defensive position is an historic black hole for the team.
Baker isn’t going to get regular MLB at bats on a contending team but he can get those at bats playing for a team like the Pirates to potentially establish himself as a starting caliber player.
It’s a low risk/high reward situation for both team and player but it could work out great.
Don’t worry we’d rather waste at bats on a nostalgic Andrew McCutchen or to save face and justify signing Tommy Pham.
Clear the deck
Cannon ball coming
Hed make alot of sense
For the pirates
Horwitz and Gonzales
Have been decent for them though
Cutch might be on the verge of retirement
So he could be there DH next season
Dodger lege
*Dodger legend
Here’s Luken at you, kid.
Let’s go to Lukenbach Texas, Willie and Waylon and the boys.
I hope his blue eyes aren’t crying in the rain. Keep your chin up!
Can anyone tell me why the Dodgers picked him up off of waivers and then DFAd him a week later?
They probably figured if 28 other teams passed and then they remove him from the 40 man that he will pass through waivers again untouched and they can then outright him.
Because they needed a 40 man roster spot. I swear nobody reads anymore.
Trying to pick my favorite Luken Baker moment as a Dodger.
All of them
That was quick.
Just when Luken thought another team may have wanted to give him a look, and the Dodgers no less, they kick him the teeth. I hope another team gives this guy an opportunity.
Luken good?
Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it never happened.
Ouch.
Guys like Luken Baker and Jake Mangum get no chances meanwhile “top prospects” put up mediocre numbers and get called up all the time. Doesn’t make sense to me, potential is just potential. I remember when the talent evaluators said Pete Alonso was “fat and slow” (Keith Law) but he was raving about Amed Rosario’s defense (which is horrible). Ethan Salas with his consistent Mendozaline batting average will probably get advanced sometime soon
Say it ain’t so!
These kind of transactions make no sense to me!
RIDICULOUS!!
Rockies need to sign him. He could possibly be very good power hitter in that thin air. Up until this year was pretty good power hitter in MiLB