The Los Angeles Dodgers traded left-hander Jason Wheeler to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for international amateur signing bonus pool space. The 2017-18 international signing period began Sunday, and runs through June 15, 2018.
Los Angeles is limited to signing bonuses of $300,000 or less due to exceeding their bonus pool allotment in previous years. The Dodgers opened the international signing period with a pool of $4.75 million.
Clubs are permitted to trade up for 75 percent of their original pool allotment and they can trade away their entire pool.
The Dodgers acquired Wheeler from the Minnesota Twins on June 2 in exchange for cash considerations. Minnesota designated Wheeler for assignment just two days prior to the trade.
That came one day after Wheeler made his MLB. He allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits, including one home run, and issued four walks in three innings across two appearances this season with the Twins.
The Dodgers designated Wheeler for assignment on June 18 when the club claimed Peter O’Brien off waivers from the Texas Rangers. Wheeler cleared waivers and was sent outright to Double-A Tulsa.
Prior to that point he appeared in three games (one start) with Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 0-1 and allowing 11 runs (10 earned) in just 8.2 innings. The left-hander went on to appear in one game for the Drillers, throwing a scoreless inning of relief.
The trade between the Dodgers and Orioles is the third this year. In February, Vidal Nuño was sent to Baltimore, and Los Angeles acquired Joe Gunkel in April. Gunkel was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.
