True Blue LA - 2016 Dodgers player reviewsWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2016-12-31T05:00:02-08:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/132118552016-12-31T05:00:02-08:002016-12-31T05:00:02-08:002016 review: Julio Urias
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lulBZkisgY0It6f2B74Pm40WdAA=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52340383/611466168.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LHP was youngest Dodgers starting pitcher in 53 years</p> <p id="EEGHPJ">Julio Urias entered the season with unreal expectations at a ridiculously young age, and managed to live up to them with the Dodgers in 2016.</p>
<h4 id="h1kwCm">What went right</h4>
<p id="c4urgK">A minuscule 1.10 ERA with Triple-A Oklahoma City and a scoreless streak of 27 innings, including a six-inning start against New Orleans on May 4 with no hits allowed, earned Urias a call The Show in May.</p>
<p id="Ex6CL6">Urias made his major league debut on May 27 in New York against the Mets, at 19 years, 289 days <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/5/26/11790958/julio-urias-dodgers-teenage-starting-pitchers-history">the youngest Dodgers pitcher to start a game in 53 years</a>, since Dick Calmus in 1963.</p>
<p id="roVIwK">After struggling in his first two starts, Urias allowed more than three runs just once and more than two runs only three times the rest of the season, finishing with a 2.73 ERA and 77 strikeouts in his final 69⅓ innings.</p>
<p id="SIKRIl">Urias picked off five runners in his final four Triple-A starts in May, then despite only 77 big league innings led the majors with six pickoffs, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/9/29/13109312/julio-urias-pickoffs-dodgers-improvement-matt-herges">thanks to a devastating move</a>.</p>
<p id="OJp5mh">Urias got the win in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nationals, the youngest pitcher ever to win a postseason game, then in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Cubs was the youngest pitcher ever to start a postseason game.</p>
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<h4 id="T3u5tv">What went wrong</h4>
<p id="JHFwWw">Urias needed 81 pitches to record only eight outs in his major league debut, allowing three runs and four walks. Six days later he allowed three home runs and six runs in five innings in a loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p id="4n8dW1">But after those three home runs allowed to the Cubs, Urias allowed only two home runs in the rest of the regular season.</p>
<p id="v40ui6">In Game 4 of the NLCS, Urias couldn’t escape the fourth inning, allowing four runs in a Dodgers loss.</p>
<h4 id="Wx7pQc">2016 particulars</h4>
<p id="lFbHXS">Age: 19</p>
<p id="WRe1GF">Stats: 3.39 ERA, 3.17 FIP in 18 games, 15 starts; 84 K, 31 BB in 77 IP; 1.0 rWAR, 1.8 fWAR</p>
<p id="JUvljH">Salary: $507,500, pro-rated for his time in the majors, roughly $275,000</p>
<h4 id="rVYjLD">Game of the year</h4>
<p id="2PI2Z7">On Aug. 21 in Cincinnati, following a pair of losses that saw Dodgers starters last a total of just 6⅔ innings, and in the midst of a month when LA starting pitchers averaged just 4.63 innings per start with a 5.48. ERA, Urias helped stabilize the depleted staff with six scoreless innings to beat the Reds, with six strikeouts and no walks.</p>
<p id="EERdTA">Urias followed that up with another six-inning start. He was 3-0 when lasting six innings in 2016.</p>
<h4 id="2ktJm9">Roster status</h4>
<p id="F85REh">Urias has 99 days of service time and two option years remaining.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/31/13995088/julio-urias-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen2016-12-30T05:00:01-08:002016-12-30T05:00:01-08:002016 review: Chase Utley
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<img alt="NLCS - Chicago Cubs v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Three" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vchD6Y31m5uMaKEhYJKoJhjgUO0=/0x0:4152x2768/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52339733/615552362.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="EEGHPJ">After an injury-plagued year, Chase Utley enjoyed a nice bounce-back season in his second season, and first full year, with the Dodgers in 2016.</p>
<h4 id="h1kwCm">What went right</h4>
<p id="c4urgK">Back with the Dodgers on a one-year deal, Utley through May 31 was hitting .283/.369/.428.</p>
<p id="roVIwK">Universally respected in the clubhouse, Utley provided mentorship to double play partner Corey Seager. Clayton Kershaw said in May of Utley, “If I had a son, I’d tell him to play the game like Chase Utley.”</p>
<p id="MWn1MJ">Utley, a 13-year veteran of the Phillies, came alive at the plate in National League East parks in 2016. In 13 such games, Utley hit .268/.311/.571 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 61 plate appearances.</p>
<p id="aLiIBV">With runners in scoring position, Utley hit .276/.354/.460. He hit two of the Dodgers’ seven grand slams in 2016, and was 4-for-5 with a double and those two home runs with the bases loaded.</p>
<p id="itC8zi">Utley drove in the winning run in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Nationals.</p>
<p id="hftgGu">Utley hit .281/.343/.466 with 10 home runs and 16 doubles on the road.</p>
<h4 id="T3u5tv">What went wrong</h4>
<p id="JHFwWw">Utley hit .216/.290/.312 with four home runs and 10 doubles at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="w6PhHS">Utley over the final four months hit .236/.292/.381 in 91 games, and was miscast as leadoff hitter with 73 of his 78 starts from June 1 through the end of the season batting first despite his low on-base percentage.</p>
<p id="8FXKJw">He hit just .154/.206/.264 against left-handed pitchers. But the Dodgers mostly platooned Utley; he only started seven times in the club’s 46 games against southpaw starting pitchers.</p>
<p id="1WDRJc">Utley was 3-for-28 (.107) with three walks and a hit by pitch in the postseason, including 0-for-12 in the NLCS against the Cubs.</p>
<h4 id="Wx7pQc">2016 particulars</h4>
<p id="lFbHXS">Age: 37</p>
<p id="WRe1GF">Stats: .252/.319/.396, 14 HR, 26 doubles, 95 OPS+, 2.0 rWAR, 2.0 fWAR</p>
<p id="JUvljH">Salary: $7 million</p>
<h4 id="rVYjLD">Game of the year</h4>
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<p id="2PI2Z7">In one of the more magical games of the season, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/8/16/12509468/chase-utley-the-man-dodgers-phillies-recap">Utley on Aug. 16 triumphantly returned to Philadelphia</a> for the first time since being traded to the Dodgers in August 2015. Utley homered twice, including a grand slam in the seventh inning in the Dodgers’ 15-5 win over the Phillies.</p>
<p id="hjvGnd">More amazingly, in a night filled with standing ovations for Utley, the city that booed Santa Claus gave a visiting player not one, but two curtain calls.</p>
<h4 id="2ktJm9">Roster status</h4>
<p id="vXM0DS">Utley is a free agent.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/30/13995086/chase-utley-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen2016-12-29T05:00:01-08:002016-12-29T05:00:01-08:002016 review: Adam Liberatore
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3CJD22wFhZkwW483vDcm9-3nctE=/0x0:4176x2784/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52339057/usa_today_9498501.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LHP set franchise record for consecutive scoreless appearances</p> <p id="EEGHPJ">Left-hander Adam Liberatore was a key member of the Dodgers bullpen in 2016 before injuries and a second-half fade slowed his season.</p>
<h4 id="h1kwCm">What went right</h4>
<p id="fbWM8H">Liberatore allowed two runs on May 18, but that was the only time in his first 42 appearances of the season that he allowed runs. His streak of 28 consecutive appearances from May 20 to July 22 without allowing a run established a new Dodgers record, surpassing John Candelaria’s 23-game streak in 1991.</p>
<p id="jWJiiw">During his streak, Liberatore struck out 28 and walked six, allowing only nine hits in 22⅓ innings.</p>
<p id="cBtXSD">Liberatore allowed just six of 32 inherited runners to score (18.8%). NL average was 30.1%.</p>
<p id="uxvTOE">Left-handed batters hit just .171/.250/.244 against him.</p>
<p id="yXf7mN">Liberatore increased his strikeout rate from 23.8% in 2015 to 26.7% in 2016.</p>
<h4 id="T3u5tv">What went wrong</h4>
<p id="2rUwsc">Liberatore after his streak allowed 14 runs in his final 16 appearances, putting up a 13.03 ERA with nearly as many walks (7) as strikeouts (9) in 9⅔ innings.</p>
<p id="aL5qAp">The left-hander missed 17 games on the disabled list in July and August with left elbow inflammation.</p>
<p id="JHFwWw">Liberatore also missed out on the postseason because he <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/10/3/13158108/adam-liberatore-left-elbow-surgery-dodgers">had arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow on Oct. 3</a>, similar to the procedures performed on Alex Wood and Hyun-jin Ryu this season. Wood, who had his surgery in July, was back in the majors in two months. Liberatore is expected to be ready by the start of spring training.</p>
<h4 id="Wx7pQc">2016 particulars</h4>
<p id="lFbHXS">Age: 29</p>
<p id="WRe1GF">Stats: 3.38 ERA, 2.89 FIP in 58 games, 47 K, 17 BB in 42⅔ IP; 0.6 rWAR, 0.8 fWAR</p>
<p id="JUvljH">Salary: unknown, likely slightly above the MLB minimum of $507,500, pro-rated for his time in the majors, roughly just under $500,000.</p>
<h4 id="rVYjLD">Game of the year</h4>
<p id="2PI2Z7">Liberatore matched his season high with two scoreless innings on June 18 against the Brewers, and struck out four of the six batters he faced to close out a 10-6 Dodgers win.</p>
<h4 id="2ktJm9">Roster status</h4>
<p id="EXmNQ7">Liberatore has one year, 106 days of service time, and one option year remaining.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/29/13994602/adam-liberatore-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen2016-12-28T05:00:02-08:002016-12-28T05:00:02-08:002016 review: Austin Barnes
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<figcaption>Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Versatile catcher played infield and outfield as well this season</p> <p id="EEGHPJ">2016 was the second year for Austin Barnes with the Dodgers, and he spent most of the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City.</p>
<h4 id="h1kwCm">What went right</h4>
<p id="fbWM8H">Barnes made his first opening day roster, spending the first week and a half of the season with the first of his four regular season stints with the Dodgers.</p>
<p id="h5pgQI">Barnes hit .295/.380/.443 in 85 games in Oklahoma City, with a career-best 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts.</p>
<p id="ZHERTI">The 26-year-old again proved capable behind the plate as an expert pitch framer, ranking fifth in the minors and majors combined at 18.7 defensive runs saved <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1932279">per Baseball Prospectus</a>.</p>
<p id="dE6Llq">Barnes also showed versatility with five games and two starts at second base, plus part of one game at third base. Barnes is one of <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/4/5/11373816/austin-barnes-catcher-second-base-dodgers-padres-lineups">only four Dodgers to start at both catcher and second base in two different seasons</a>.</p>
<p id="rqXj6m">He even started one game in center field for Oklahoma City, his first time as a professional in the outfield.</p>
<p id="RO1lFv">Barnes made the Dodgers’ NLDS roster against the Nationals, and as a pinch runner scored the go-ahead run in the deciding Game 5 in Washington D.C.</p>
<h4 id="T3u5tv">What went wrong</h4>
<p id="Arvyd8">Barnes only made seven starts in the majors all year so it wasn’t conducive to getting into any kind of a rhythm. He was 5-for-32 (.156) with a double at the plate</p>
<p id="ObpOth">He was 0-for-9 as a pinch-hitter, including the playoffs.</p>
<h4 id="2rUwsc">2016 particulars</h4>
<p id="lFbHXS">Age: 26</p>
<p id="WRe1GF">Stats: 5-for-32 (.156/.270/.188), 2B, 5 BB in 37 PA</p>
<p id="JUvljH">Salary: $512,500, pro-rated for his time in the majors, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/10/21/4861112/los-angeles-dodgers-payroll#barnes">roughly $179,000</a>.</p>
<h4 id="rVYjLD">Game of the year</h4>
<p id="2PI2Z7">Barnes reached base three times with a single and two walks on Sept. 18 at Arizona, scoring two runs, driving in one and catching all 12 innings.</p>
<h4 id="2ktJm9">Roster status</h4>
<p id="sGizLD">Barnes has 124 days of service time, including 59 days before September rosters expand, meaning he exhausted his rookie status in 2016. Had Barnes still retained rookie status, he would have ranked sixth <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/15/13971860/dodgers-2017-top-prospects-list">on David Hood’s top Dodgers prospect list heading into 2017</a>.</p>
<p id="aaPvWa">With the trade of Carlos Ruiz to the Mariners in November, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/11/7/13548666/austin-barnes-opportunity-dodgers-carlos-ruiz-trade">the backup catcher’s job belongs to Barnes</a>, giving him a chance to stick on the active roster for an extended time next season.</p>
<p id="f7qiQv">“It’s his time,” manager Dave Roberts <a href="https://twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/806228738769817600">said of Barnes at the winter meetings</a>.</p>
<p id="l7ptLA">Barnes has one option year remaining.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/28/13903862/austin-barnes-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen2016-12-27T05:00:01-08:002016-12-27T05:00:01-08:002016 review: Alex Wood
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J1RCnQ8Ys2s3_G745yLae_1KLZ4=/1x0:4312x2874/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52294649/usa_today_9303990.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>An elbow injury knocked the LHP out of the rotation, but he returned in a relief role down the stretch.</p> <p id="EEGHPJ">A look back at the 2016 season of Alex Wood, who is in many ways the forgotten man on the Dodgers pitching staff.</p>
<h4 id="h1kwCm">What went right</h4>
<p id="X6Wcia">Wood had four quality starts in a five-start stretch, and from April 29 to May 30 he struck out 50 with only eight walks with a 2.48 ERA in six starts.</p>
<p id="OmmauA">His 25.9% strikeout rate in 2016 was a career high.</p>
<p id="AZlG5Y">After returning to the team in September, Wood switched to relief and pitched four scoreless innings with four strikeouts, retiring 11 of 13 batters.</p>
<p id="fbWM8H">Wood made the Dodgers’ NLCS roster and pitched two scoreless innings in his one appearance.</p>
<h4 id="T3u5tv">What went wrong</h4>
<p id="X79Gg0">Wood had a start pushed back in late May with left triceps tightness, though perhaps this is a positive since it opened the door for Julio Urias to make his major league debut.</p>
<p id="f6JAas">But things got worse for Wood, who only made one more start, on Memorial Day, before he was <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/1/11836278/alex-wood-elbow-impingement-4-weeks-rest-dodgers">shut down with a left elbow impingement</a>. That elbow injury progressed <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/20/12241668/alex-wood-elbow-surgery-arthroscopic-dodgers">to arthroscopic surgery on July 20</a>, which kept Wood out two more months before he returned in a relief role.</p>
<p id="Arvyd8">Wood had a weird home/road split, at least superficially, with a 5.73 ERA away from home compared to 1.32 at home. But the peripherals were mostly the same, with his FIP at home (3.07) not demonstrably better than on the road (3.27).</p>
<h4 id="2rUwsc">2016 particulars</h4>
<p id="lFbHXS">Age: 25</p>
<p id="WRe1GF">Stats: 3.73 ERA, 3.18 FIP in 14 games (10 starts), 66 K, 20 BB in 60⅓ IP; 0.3 rWAR, 1.3 fWAR</p>
<p id="JUvljH">Salary: $530,000</p>
<h4 id="rVYjLD">Game of the year</h4>
<p id="2PI2Z7">Wood allowed one run on five hits in seven innings on April 29 in a home win over the Padres, striking out nine with one walk.</p>
<h4 id="2ktJm9">Roster status</h4>
<p id="xs7Rni">Wood has three years, 123 days of service time and is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. Matt Swartz at MLB Trade Rumors <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-2017.html">projected Wood to earn $2 million in 2017</a>.</p>
<p id="6hH5k5">Wood has three option years remaining.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/27/13958078/alex-wood-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen2016-12-26T05:00:02-08:002016-12-26T05:00:02-08:002016 review: Lisalverto Bonilla
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<img alt="Lisalverto Bonilla started and relieved in the Dodgers' minors in 2016." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yGwvJ8ZEI9sp5y6R3uuG_8za-qc=/0x132:1707x1270/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52119783/lisalverto-bonilla-2016-okc-dodgers.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Lisalverto Bonilla started and relieved in the Dodgers' minors in 2016. | <a href='http://www.okcdodgers.com'>Photo: Oklahoma City Dodgers</a></figcaption>
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<p>Bonilla was on the Dodgers' 40-man roster for 6 weeks after the 2015 season.</p> <p><span>Lisalverto Bonilla</span> had a solid bounce-back season in 2016 after injury but never got called up to the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>.</p>
<h4>What went right</h4>
<p>The Dodgers <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/10/21/9587386/lisalverto-bonilla-waiver-claim-dodgers-rangers" target="_blank">claimed Bonilla off waivers from Texas on Oct. 21, 2015</a>, but on Dec. 2 <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/12/2/9823420/juan-nicasio-lisalverto-bonilla-non-tender-dodgers-free-agent" target="_blank">he was non-tendered</a>, making him a free agent. The club retained the rehabbing right-hander with a minor league contract on Dec. 11, 2015 that included <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.truebluela.com/nri" target="_blank">a non-roster invitation to spring training</a>.</p>
<p>After having Tommy John surgery on April 17, 2015, he made it back to a mound in under a year, pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 7.</p>
<p>Bonilla posted a 3.45 ERA in 13 starts between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City with 76 strikeouts and 20 walks in 75⅔ innings. After taking a few starts to build up his arm strength, Bonilla lasted at least six innings in each of his last nine starts.</p>
<h4>What went wrong</h4>
<p>Bonilla struggled in relief, with a 5.09 ERA in 18 games before getting briefly sent down to Double-A Tulsa in June. He had as many walks (20) in 35⅓ innings in relief than he did in 75⅔ innings as a starter.</p>
<h4>2016 particulars</h4>
<p>Age: 26</p>
<p>Stats: 3.97 ERA in 31 games, 13 starts, 118 K, 40 BB in 111 innings.</p>
<p>Salary: n/a</p>
<h4>Game of the year</h4>
<p>Bonilla struck out six in six scoreless innings in his final regular season start for Oklahoma City, on Sept. 2.</p>
<h4>Roster status</h4>
<p>Bonilla became a minor league free agent after the season, then <a href="http://www.bucsdugout.com/2016/11/29/13785790/pirates-sign-lisalverto-bonilla-designate-locke-for-assignment" target="_blank">signed a major league deal with the Pirates on Nov. 29</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/26/10819618/lisalverto-bonilla-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen2016-12-25T13:00:01-08:002016-12-25T13:00:01-08:002016 review: Shawn Zarraga
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers-Spring Training Media Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hkJQroCWJhBiKc9Fh_kZVIvVvq0=/0x581:3178x2700/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52280047/usa_today_9154247.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Switch-hitting catcher earned one day of major league service time in 2016</p> <p id="7BtK8f">Shawn Zarraga has yet to play in a major league game but has every right to call himself a major leaguer thanks to his 2016 stint with the Dodgers.</p>
<h4 id="0D1nvf">What went right</h4>
<p id="VzJ5aM">Zarraga, who was a non-roster invitee in Dodgers big league camp for a second straight season, went back and forth between the Dodgers’ two minor league teams in Oklahoma, with five different stints in Triple-A Oklahoma City and four trips to Double-A Tulsa.</p>
<p id="n0upUm">The switch-hitting catcher hit .306/.384/.388 with seven doubles in 27 games in Double-A.</p>
<p id="iF54Gq">Zarraga hit better from the left side, batting .268/.345/.330 in 110 plate appearances.</p>
<p id="UiYYFm">The 27-year-old was in the right place at the right time on Aug. 25, when the Dodgers needed a fill-in backup catcher in between the time they traded A.J. Ellis and when Carlos Ruiz arrived from Philadelphia. Zarraga <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/8/25/12653156/shawn-zarraga-dodgers-scott-van-slyke-60-day-dl">was called up for one game</a>, but did not play.</p>
<h4 id="ycag3K">What went wrong</h4>
<p id="qD1Opk">Zarraga missed over two months with a concussion sustained on April 14 in Memphis while with Triple-A.</p>
<p id="5N9fRn">He hit .167/.226/.208 in 19 games and 53 plate appearances with Oklahoma City, and on the season hit .222/.286/.306 in 42 plate appearances as a right-handed batter.</p>
<p id="utodz1">The Dodgers <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/8/26/12662494/carlos-ruiz-activated-dodgers-lineup">designated Zarraga for assignment on Aug. 26</a>, removing him from the 40-man roster, then sent him <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/8/28/12683950/shawn-zarraga-outright-minors-dodgers-40-man-roster">outright to Triple-A on Aug. 28</a>.</p>
<h4 id="726fLv">2016 particulars</h4>
<p id="WZQm0d">Age: 27</p>
<p id="jtKkH2">Stats: .256/.329/.323, 9 doubles in 46 games & 152 PA in Double-A & Triple-A</p>
<p id="4OvAfT">Salary: $507,500, pro-rated for his one day of major league service time, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/10/21/4861112/los-angeles-dodgers-payroll#zarraga">earning roughly $2,773</a>.</p>
<h4 id="nfkcdV">Game of the year</h4>
<p id="iQvCqd">He didn’t play, but Aug. 25 was Zarraga’s only day in the majors and he enjoyed every minute of it.</p>
<div id="GyfRBh">
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<h4 id="SnCoPg">Roster status</h4>
<p id="guPY9T">Zarraga was a minor league free agent at the end of the season, and signed a minor league deal with the Reds with a non-roster invitation to spring training.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/25/13944150/shawn-zarraga-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen2016-12-24T05:00:01-08:002016-12-24T05:00:01-08:002016 review: Zach Lee
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><span>Zach Lee</span> made the majors in 2016 with the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>, though he did not pitch.</p>
<h4>What went right</h4>
<p>Lee lost out in the race for Dodgers fifth starter to open the season, but was 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA after three starts in Triple-A Oklahoma City, with just one walk in 14 strikeouts.</p>
<p>That earned Lee <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/4/23/11495458/zach-lee-recalled-yimi-garcia-disabled-list-dodgers">a call up to the majors on April 23</a>, though more as insurance in relief for a pair of games in the hellmouth of Coors Field. Lee was with the team for three days, though he did not pitch.</p>
<h4>What went wrong</h4>
<p>After getting optioned back to Triple-A, Lee put up a 5.91 ERA in 10 starts, including 11 home runs allowed in 56⅓ innings.</p>
<p>Lee was <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/19/11974476/chris-taylor-zach-lee-trade-dodgers-mariners" target="_blank">traded to the Mariners</a> in exchange for infielder <span>Chris Taylor</span> on June 19, 2016.</p>
<p>After one (bad) major league start in six years in the Dodgers organization, Lee was never going to be viewed in the organization as anything other than through lens of a failed first-round pick. In theory, a trade should have been good for him, with a change of scenery and free from any unrealistic expectations of him.</p>
<p>But it got even worse after he joined Seattle. Lee made 14 starts with Triple-A Tacoma, and was 0-9 with a 7.39 ERA, with opposing batters hitting .313/.368/.489 against him.</p>
<h4>2016 particulars</h4>
<p>Age: 24</p>
<p>Stats: 7-5, 4.89 ERA in 13 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City, 57 K, 15 BB, 73⅔ IP</p>
<p>Salary: n/a</p>
<h4>Game of the year</h4>
<p>On April 7, Lee pitched six scoreless innings for Oklahoma City, allowing only three singles. It was his only scoreless outing of the season.</p>
<h4>Roster status</h4>
<p>Lee was <a href="http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2016/12/3/13830896/mariners-sign-marc-rzepczynski-casey-fien-designate-dean-kiekhefer-zach-lee-for-assignment" target="_blank">designated for assignment by the Mariners on Dec. 3</a>, then claimed by the Padres on Dec. 13, reuniting with former Dodgers draft chief Logan White.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2016/12/24/12135722/zach-lee-2016-dodgers-reviewEric Stephen