Dodgers reportedly sign Jordan Schafer to minor league deal

The Dodgers have reportedly signed outfielder Jordan Schafer to a minor league deal, presumably with a non-roster invitation to big league camp in spring training.

Schafer, 29, will earn $1 million if in the majors in 2016, per Jon Heyman. The Dodgers have not yet confirmed the deal.

Adding to the intrigue, the Dodgers might try Schafer on the mound, per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, a nod to Schafer's prep pitching prowess.

Schafer was the Twins' opening day center fielder in 2015, and he played in 27 of the team's first 32 games, starting 20. Schafter hit just .217/.250/.261 in 74 plate appearances before missing 34 games with a sprained MCL in his right knee. But once Schafer returned from the disabled list he was released by Minnesota, and didn't play the rest of the season.

In parts of six major league seasons, the left-handed-hitting Schafer hit .228/.308/.307, a 70 OPS+, with 103 stolen bases (at a 77.4-percent clip) in 463 games for the Braves, Astros and Twins. Schafer has hit .242/.323/.328 with a .292 wOBA (82 wRC+) against right-handed pitchers in his career.

Should Schafer end up in Triple-A, it will be his third stint in Oklahoma City. He also played for RedHawks, then an Astros affiliate, in 2011-2012, going 12-for-33 (.364) with four walks (.432 on-base percentage) and five stolen bases in nine games.

Schafer served a 50-game suspension while in the minors for use of HGH in 2008.

The Dodgers currently have a relatively crowded outfield depth chart, with Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Joc Pederson, Carl Crawford, Scott Van Slyke and Trayce Thompson on the 40-man roster, plus multi-position players Kiké Hernandez and Alex Guerrero likely to see time in the outfield as well.

You can keep track of and find more information about Dodgers non-roster invitees all offseason at www.truebluela.com/nri.