LOS ANGELES — With each large acquisition the Dodgers have made this winter, they knew that it additionally would include some tough selections relating to their 40-man roster.
Needing to clear at the very least one 40-man spot for outfielder Teoscar Hernández, the Dodgers and Cubs accomplished a commerce on Thursday, which despatched 2019 first-round decide Michael Busch and right-handed reliever Yency Almonte to Chicago, in alternate for left-handed pitching prospect Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope.
TRADE DETAILSDodgers obtain: LHP Jackson Ferris (Cubs’ No. 8 prospect), OF Zyhir HopeCubs obtain: 3B Michael Busch (Dodgers’ No. 2), RHP Yency Almonte
Busch is ranked the No. 44 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, and had been thought-about among the best Minor Leaguers within the Dodgers’ system from the second he was drafted out of North Carolina.
However as extremely touted as Busch has been on the offensive aspect of the ball, there have been equally as many questions relating to his protection. After enjoying first base in school, Busch was transitioning to second base early in his Minor League profession. With Gavin Lux enjoying the place for a number of seasons and Mookie Betts enjoying an increasing number of infield, there was no path for Busch there.
At first base, the Dodgers have Freddie Freeman for the subsequent 4 years. In 2023, Busch performed extra third base, however that place has been occupied by Max Muncy for a number of seasons. With no clear spot for Busch to make an affect on the large league degree, the Dodgers felt it was time to provide him a possibility for on a regular basis at-bats elsewhere, whereas additionally getting a pair of prospects and 40-man roster flexibility.
In 98 video games for Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis final season, Busch hit .323 with 27 homers, 26 doubles and 90 RBIs. His .618 slugging proportion ranked fourth amongst all certified Minor League batters, whereas his 1.049 OPS ranked seventh. Busch additionally confirmed robust plate self-discipline, posting an 18.8 % strikeout charge to associate with a 13.9 % stroll charge. He has a profession .919 OPS within the Minors.
As for Almonte, he was additionally one other sufferer of a roster logjam with the Dodgers anticipated to have lots of wholesome relievers heading into Spring Coaching. The Dodgers and Almonte had agreed to a $1.9 million deal to keep away from arbitration and he was nonetheless below staff management for one more season.
Almonte was a non-roster invitee with the Dodgers in 2022, however rapidly turned one of many membership’s prime relievers, posting a 1.02 ERA over 33 appearances. Final season, nonetheless, Almonte handled proper forearm accidents and was by no means capable of match that degree of manufacturing. He finally missed the previous couple of months of the common season and wasn’t on the postseason roster.
In Ferris and Hope, the Dodgers are getting two prospects they’ve been excessive on for fairly some time. Hope’s athleticism was one thing that jumped out to Dodgers evaluators throughout the Draft course of. There’s lots of early buzz round him regardless of his not being a ranked prospect after the Cubs took him within the eleventh spherical of final yr’s Draft. He’ll have so much to show in his first full season of professional ball.
Ferris, whom MLB Pipeline now ranks because the No. 5 prospect within the Dodgers’ system, might flip into among the best pitching prospects within the Minors inside a yr or two. The 19-year-old made 18 appearances for Single-A Myrtle Seashore final season, posting a 2-3 document with a 3.38 ERA. He struck out 77 batters over 56 innings, whereas permitting simply 35 hits. He was drafted within the second spherical by the Cubs in 2022.
The Dodgers’ 40-man roster now stands at 38, with one of many spots anticipated to be crammed by Hernández, which ought to develop into official early subsequent week following a bodily.
