Under normal circumstances Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers would be days away from officially reporting to Camelback Ranch for the start of Spring Training, but uncertainty remains because of the ongoing MLB lockout.
In addition to camps opening and the start of the 2022 regular season potentially getting pushed back due to the lack of a new collective bargaining agreement being in place, free agency has been on hold since December.
Over the past eight weeks teams have been limited to Minor League signings, and changes to coaching staffs and front offices.
For the Dodgers, their latest order of business was to sign Stefen Romero to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to Spring Training, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group:
Breaking away from paternity leave to report a bit of news. I’m told the Dodgers signed former Mariners OF/DH Stefen Romero to a minor league contract. The 33-year-old spent the last five seasons in Japan.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) February 12, 2022
Romero has been invited to major league spring training.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) February 12, 2022
The Seattle Mariners selected Romero out of Oregon State University in the 12th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Romero made his MLB debut four years later, but struggled to find much success at the plate over 72 games.
He appeared in 13 games for Seattle during the 2015 season, and only nine the following year. He’s hit a lifetime .195/.242/.307 with eight doubles, four home runs and 17 RBI in 94 games over parts of three seasons.
During that span Romero primarily played left field and right field, but also made one start each at first base and center field.
The potential designated hitter candidate has been playing overseas the past handful of years, doing so with the Orix Buffaloes of the Japan Pacific League from 2017-2019 and again in 2021, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Japan Western League in 2020.
Romero hit .265/.332/.498 with 70 doubles, 99 home runs and 272 RBI over 445 games in Japan.
Dodgers’ Minor League signings
In addition to the 33-year-old Romero, the Dodgers have signed Cole Duesing, Chris Betts, Sam Gaviglio, Tomas Telis, Eddy Alvarez and Yefry Ramirez to Minor League contracts throughout the offseason.
Ramirez remained with the organization after becoming a Minor League free agent. He appeared in one game for the Dodgers last season.
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