RSS Dodgers Team Notes

Are the Dodgers done adding players?

gettyimages-2261691947.jpg

Phoenix, AZ - February 17, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas and Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy take a ride on the back of a cart at the 2026 Dodgers spring training at Camelback Ranch, Phoenix, AZ on February 17, 2026. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

We are nearly at the point where we get to watch the Dodgers play actual games, with the exhibition slate starting this Saturday. Timelines over the last week-plus have been inundated with the sights and sounds from spring training, from backfield workouts to clubhouse speeches.

The Dodgers already brought back two of the players most of us expected to return, with Evan Phillips and Kiké Hernández signing last week, though both will miss the beginning of the season while rehabbing.

Also rehabbing is Tommy Edman after right ankle surgery, and his injured list stint to begin the season opens up an actual position battle in camp, for second base.

Blake Snell being a bit behind schedule in throwing at least puts his opening day readiness into question, which could open up another opportunity for another pitcher to earn some early starts in the rotation.

With 41 players on the 40-man roster (Phillips is on the 60-day injured list) and another 34 non-roster invitees after infielder Santiago Espinal signed this week, that means a whopping 75 players in big league camp at the moment at Camelback Ranch.

It feels like the Dodgers will make an active roster out of those 75 players currently in camp, but with just over five weeks remaining until opening day, there’s plenty of time remaining for more moves to be made. You never know who might hit the waiver wire in the next few weeks, maybe even a certain backup catcher.

Today’s question is what’s one roster move you think the Dodgers should make before opening day?
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/daily-question/109947/dodgers-roster-spring-training
 
Brusdar Graterol will open season on injured list

gettyimages-2261571421.jpg

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Brusdar Graterol #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws on the field during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Brusdar Graterol pitch in an actual game. And it’s going to be a little while longer too, as manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Wednesday at Camelback Ranch that the Dodgers reliever won’t be ready to open the regular season.

Graterol is coming off shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum from November 2024, and did not pitch in the majors or minors in 2025. There was excitement during the offseason that he’d be ready to go for a full spring training this year, but things took a turn for the worse once Graterol wasn’t getting the expected results while throwing in camp.

“With Brusdar, he’s shown that we can count on him in the biggest of spots. We just gotta get him up to the velocity. It’s an intentionally slow build up,” Roberts said Wednesday. “He’s not going to start the season [active].”

Other Dodgers who won’t be ready to start the season are Evan Phillips, who is already on the 60-day injured list after Tommy John surgery last June; Brock Stewart, who had shoulder surgery in October; Tommy Edman, who had right ankle surgery in November; and Kiké Hernández, after left elbow surgery in November. There will almost certainly be others.

We’ve talked before about how opening day is just one of 186 days on the regular season schedule, and on a Dodgers team with postseason aspirations they basically plan for seven months instead of six. Last year, for instance, the Dodgers tied their franchise record with 40 pitchers used, but only four were active for the entire regular season — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, and Jack Dreyer.

But it still has to be disheartening for Graterol, who also had shoulder trouble and a hamstring injury in 2024 that limited him to only 10 games between the regular season and postseason that year, only pitching a combined 9 2/3 innings over the last two seasons.

Graterol with his five years, 167 days of major league service time will be a free agent after this season. But he enters his launch season with 190 2/3 career innings. Weirdly, that almost exactly matches Dustin May (191 2/3) heading into last season with similar service time. May though was a starter and after two Tommy John surgeries was able to pitch 132 1/3 innings in 2025, more than any two of his previous seasons combined heading into the open market.

Phillips will also be a free agent at the end of the season, and will have less of a runway into free agency, as he’s not expected back before the All-Star break. He has a little more bulk stats under his belt at this point with 252 innings and 46 saves (45 of them with the Dodgers).

Graterol will still have time to put together his 2026 season, even if the build-up to get there is methodical.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...r-graterol-shoulder-slow-play-spring-training
 
What to expect from Teoscar Hernández in 2026?

gettyimages-2262495934.jpg

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day at Camelback Ranch on February 19, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Teoscar Hernández was a driving force in the Dodgers lineup in his first year in Los Angeles, in 2024, but last year struggled mightily.

After starting the All-Star Game, winning a Silver Slugger Award, and leading all National League outfielders in home runs (33) and RBI (99) with a 132 wRC+ in his first year with the Dodgers, Hernández in 2025 hit 25 home runs and 102 wRC+.

He missed two weeks in May with a groin strain, and the difference in his numbers before and after the injury were stark:

  • .315/.333/.600, 155 wRC+, eight home runs in 33 games prior
  • .223/.268/.404, 84 wRC+, 17 home runs in 101 games after

Hernández spoke to reporters Tuesday at Camelback Ranch, and talked about losing 12 pounds this offseason after workouts with a group of players, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his old Blue Jays teammate. Hernández admitted the groin injury took a toll, from Dylan Hernández at The California Post:

“I never recovered 100 percent,” he said, adding that he believed his condition affected him both on offense and defense.

Following the World Series, Hernández said he did nothing for two months.

“I knew my body needed rest,” he said.
Click to expand...

Hernández played in only 134 games last year after playing in 154 games in his first year with the Dodgers and 160 games in 2023 with the Mariners. Since becoming a regular in 2018 with Toronto, Hernández has played in 86.3 percent of games, averaging 140 games and 134 starts per 162 games over the last eight seasons.

Now, Hernández enters his age-33 season.

Teoscar Hernández 2026 projections​

  • ZiPS: .266/.318/.485, 28 HR, 121 wRC+
  • THE BAT: .263/.314/.469, 25 HR, 116 wRC+
  • OOPSY: .258/.313/.472, 29 HR, 116 wRC+
  • Steamer: .255/.310/.461, 26 HR, 112 wRC+
  • Marcel: .254/.307/.448, 23 HR
  • PECOTA: .246/.299/.432, 24 HR, 98 DRC+

He’s playing left field this year now that Kyle Tucker has signed, but let’s throw this out to the group. What do you expect from Teoscar Hernández in 2026? Let us know his batting line, home runs, games played, or any other thing that comes to mind.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/daily-question/109984/teoscar-hernandez-2026-projections
 
Longest-tenured Dodgers list enters a new era

imagn-24034232.jpg

Aug 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) is greeted by catcher Will Smith (16) after hitting a two run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Last season was a year of roster transition for the Dodgers, who cut ties with longtime mainstays Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes in May, then Clayton Kershaw retired after 18 seasons. Those were the three longest-tenured players on the team.

So let’s look at the current roster and find the new deans. If we go by date added to the 40-man roster, Max Muncy is the longest-tenured Dodger, having joined them on April 17, 2018. If we go by date joining the organization, it’s catcher Will Smith, who signed on June 21, 2016 after getting drafted in the first round. Each are second on the other list, and both will be around for a while. Muncy signed through 2027 with a club option in 2028, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that goes even longer through the end of his career. Smith is signed all the way through 2033.

For purposes of accounting, if a player reached free agency and re-signed with the Dodgers without going anywhere else, I included them as having stayed continuously. Evan Phillips, who was non-tendered in November but re-signed last week, still counts has having been a Dodger since they claimed him off waivers during the 2021 season, for instance. Neither Smith nor Muncy have reached free agency since joining the Dodgers.

A few other fun facts about the Dodgers 40-man roster:

  • Edgardo Henriquez, born in June 2002, is both the second-youngest Dodger on the roster (one month older than Ronan Kopp) and fourth-longest-tenured, having signed in September 2018.
  • Andy Pages, born in December 2000, is the fifth-youngest Dodger and the third-longest-tenured, having signed in March 2018.
  • Ryan Ward was just added to the 40-man roster in November but has yet to play a game in the majors, but he was drafted in the eighth round in 2019 and is the fifth-longest-tenured player by date acquired.
  • Mookie Betts and Brusdar Graterol are tied for fourth-longest on the 40-man roster, both acquired back on February 10, 2020, and are tied for seventh-longest in the organization.
PosPlayer2026 ageBirthdate40-manAcquired
3BMax Muncy35Aug 25, 1990Apr 17, 2018Apr 28, 2017
CWill Smith31Mar 28, 1995May 27, 2019Jun 21, 2016
RHPBlake Treinen38Jun 30, 1998Dec 15, 2019Dec 15, 2019
RHPBrusdar Graterol27Aug 26, 1998Feb 10, 2020Feb 10, 2020
SSMookie Betts33Oct 7, 1992Feb 10, 2020Feb 10, 2020
LHPAlex Vesia30Apr 11, 1996Feb 12, 2021Feb 12, 2021
RHPEvan Phillips31Sep 11, 1994Aug 16, 2021Aug 16, 2021
1BFreddie Freeman36Sep 12, 1989Mar 18, 2022Mar 18, 2022
OFAndy Pages25Dec 8, 2000Nov 15, 2022Mar 1, 2018
IFMiguel Rojas37Feb 24, 1989Jan 11, 2023Jan 11, 2023
SPGavin Stone27Oct 15, 1998May 2, 2023Jun 17, 2020
RHPBobby Miller27Apr 5, 1999May 23, 2023Jun 22, 2020
SPEmmet Sheehan26Nov 15, 1999Jun 16, 2023Jul 23, 2021
IF/OFKiké Hernández33Aug 24, 1991Jul 25, 2023Jul 25, 2023
RHPKyle Hurt28May 30, 1998Sep 12, 2023Feb 12, 2021
SPLandon Knack28Jul 15, 1997Nov 14, 2023Jun 29, 2020
DH/SPShohei Ohtani31Jul 5, 1994Dec 11, 2023Dec 11, 2023
SPTyler Glasnow32Aug 23, 1993Dec 16, 2023Dec 16, 2023
SPYoshinobu Yamamoto 27Aug 17, 1998Dec 27, 2023Dec 27, 2023
OFTeoscar Hernández33Oct 15, 1992Jan 12, 2024Jan 12, 2024
LHPJustin Wrobleski25Jul 14, 2000Jul 7, 2024Jul 26, 2021
SPRiver Ryan27Aug 17, 1998Jul 22, 2024Mar 28, 2022
IF/OFTommy Edman31May 9, 1995Jul 29, 2024Jul 29, 2024
RHPBen Casparius27Feb 11, 1999Aug 18, 2024Jul 23, 2021
RHPEdgardo Henriquez24Jun 24, 2002Sep 24, 2024Sep 25, 2018
LHPJack Dreyer27Feb 27, 1999Nov 19, 2024Aug 3, 2021
SPBlake Snell33Dec 4, 1992Nov 30, 2024Nov 30, 2024
2B/CFHyeseong Kim27Jan 27, 1999Jan 3, 2025Jan 3, 2025
LHPTanner Scott31Jul 22, 1994Jan 23, 2025Jan 23, 2025
SPRoki Sasaki24Nov 3, 2001Mar 17, 2025Jan 22, 2025
CDalton Rushing25Feb 21, 2001May 14, 2025Aug 1, 2022
RHPWill Klein26Nov 28, 1999Jun 2, 2025Jun 2, 2025
IFAlex Freeland24Aug 24, 2001Jul 29, 2025Aug 1, 2022
RHPPaul Gervase26May 23, 2000Jul 31, 2025Jul 31, 2025
OFAlex Call31Sep 27, 1994Jul 31, 2025Jul 31, 2025
RHPBrock Stewart34Oct 3, 1991Jul 31, 2025Jul 31, 2025
LF/RF/1BRyan Ward28Feb 23, 1998Nov 6, 2025Jun 11, 2019
LHPRonan Kopp23Jul 28, 2002Nov 18, 2025Jul 23, 2021
RHPEdwin Díaz32Mar 22, 1994Dec 12, 2025Dec 12, 2025
OFKyle Tucker29Jan 17, 1997Jan 21, 2026Jan 21, 2026
OFMichael Siani26Jul 16, 1999Feb 3, 2026Feb 3, 2026
sorted by date added to 40-man roster
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-roster/110026/roster-longest-tenured
 
Dodgers on Deck: Saturday, February 21 at Angels

gettyimages-2082122663.jpg

TEMPE, - MARCH 16: A general view of the field prior to the 2024 Spring Breakout Game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Marison Bilagody/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The first game of the spring for the Dodgers is finally here on Saturday afternoon, with a bus ride to Tempe to face the Angels at Diablo Stadium.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the start for the Cactus League lid-lifter (hat tip to Bill Plunkett), making what will be his only start before leaving next week to join Japan for the World Baseball Classic. Shohei Ohtani will start at designated hitter in his earliest game action in spring since joining the Dodgers.

José Soriano will start on the mound for the Angels, who according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register “will have almost their entire projected everyday lineup when they face the Dodgers in the first Cactus League exhibition game on Saturday,” though Mike Trout is not expected to start.

Saturday game info​

  • Teams: Dodgers at Angels
  • Ballpark: Tempe Diablo Stadium
  • Time: 12:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (simulcast), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-schedule/109972/schedule-angels-february-21
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top