The Dodgers introduced Monday that they’ve reinstated Mookie Betts from the 60-day injured listing and created house in considerably shocking style: infielder/outfielder and commerce deadline acquisition Amed Rosario has been designated for project.
Rosario, 28, was acquired in a commerce sending 28-year-old minor league reliever Michael Flynn again to the Rays. It wasn’t a steep value to pay essentially, however it’s nonetheless sudden to see Los Angeles transfer on in such fast style. The versatile Rosario acquired solely 12 plate appearances in his second stint with Los Angeles — the Dodgers additionally acquired him on the 2023 deadline — and has hit effectively all season. In 287 plate appearances between Tampa Bay and L.A., he’s slashing .305/.331/.415 — about 14% higher than league-average, by measure of wRC+.
Dodgers brass was largely selecting amongst Rosario, Enrique Hernandez and Nick Ahmed when figuring out who can be the odd man out to clear means for Betts’ return. Hernandez has struggled badly in 2024 general, however a well-timed sizzling streak has ostensibly saved his spot on the roster. He’s hitting .333/.405/.545 in 37 plate appearances this month. Ahmed has posted an empty .268 batting common in 42 plate appearances (.268/.286/.341, 77 wRC+), however he’s a high-end defender at shortstop. With Betts returning to proper discipline, maintaining an elite center infield defender like Ahmed apparently received out over maintaining a extra productive however much less priceless defensive piece in Rosario.
The veteran Rosario signed an eminently inexpensive one-year, $1.5MM contract with the Rays over the winter, seeking to rebound from a career-worst displaying with the Guardians and Dodgers final 12 months. After spending years as the first shortstop in Cleveland, he’s moved to a utility position that’s seen him log time at shortstop, second base, third base and in proper discipline this season. He’s drawn poor defensive grades normally and has by no means been considered a high-quality glove at shortstop on the large league stage. Rosario has been productive on the plate, nonetheless, and that’s notably true towards lefties, who he’s tagged for a powerful .327/.355/.462 line in 2024.
Between his gentle contract, offensive manufacturing and his rising expertise at a number of positions, Rosario stands a far higher probability of being claimed by one other group than most veterans who’re designated for project this time of 12 months. The commerce deadline has handed, so the one choice the Dodgers can have is to put Rosario on outright waivers or launch waivers. It’d be one other. extra modest shock if he handed by way of unclaimed.
With that in thoughts, it’s price noting that outright waiver order is set by the reverse order of the MLB-wide standings and is not league-specific. That’s a standard false impression, however league-specific waivers pertained to the now-defunct August commerce waiver course of. (MLBTR has confirmed this with league sources on a number of events.) Since Rosario is a free agent on the finish of the 12 months, it’s probably that rebuilding golf equipment and others whose postseason hopes have light will permit him to cross by way of.
For the time being, waiver precedence amongst postseason hopefuls (utilizing an admittedly arbitrary standards of fewer than six video games again in both a division race or Wild Card chase) can be ranked: Pirates, Reds, Cubs, Rays, Giants, Cardinals, Mets, Braves, Purple Sox, Mariners, Astros, Royals, Padres, D-backs, Twins, Brewers, Guardians, Phillies, Yankees and Orioles. As of this writing, Rosario remains to be owed $387K of this 12 months’s wage. Any group that claims him can be on the hook for the complete sum, whereas the Dodgers can be spared that sum plus the 110% tax as a third-time luxurious payor. Total, waiving Rosario may save the Dodgers about $813K — assuming he’s claimed.
As for Betts, he’ll return to his customary proper discipline and add one other former MVP to the highest of the Dodgers’ lineup, slotting into between fellow former MVPs Shohei Ohtani (leadoff) and Freddie Freeman (No. 3 hitter). Betts provides supervisor Dave Roberts a right-handed bat to interrupt up that pair of imposing lefties, and Betts after all is among the many extra feared hitters within the sport when wholesome.
Previous to the fractured hand that value him the previous eight-plus weeks, Betts was hitting .304/.405/.488 with 10 homers, 16 doubles, three triples, 9 steals (in 10 tries), a 14.2% stroll charge and only a 10.3% strikeout charge. With Betts now again in proper discipline, the Dodgers will play Miguel Rojas often at shortstop and Gavin Lux at second base, with the aforementioned Hernandez an choice to again up Lux (particularly towards lefties) and Ahmed offering a glove-first backup at shortstop.
