The Los Angeles Dodgers made another round of Spring Training roster cuts, though their smallest yet in terms of players involved, as outfielder Alex Verdugo was optioned and catcher Rocky Gale was reassigned to Minor League camp.
It comes one day after Dylan Baker and Adam Liberatore were optioned, and Donovan Solano and Jake Peter were reassigned. The latest moves leaves 32 players in Major League camp, but that includes the injured Tom Koehler, Justin Turner and Julio Urias.
Thus, the Dodgers essentially only need to cut four more players to set their Opening Day roster, which is not officially due until the morning of March 29.
Verdugo batted .324/.361/.618 with four doubles, two home runs, two strikeouts and six RBI while appearing in 18 Cactus League games. “I haven’t been able to give him consistent starts or playing time, but every time I do give him an opportunity he performs,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said over the weekend.
“I do believe that the consistency with his work has kind of bled into his consistent performance. He’s really impressed me first and foremost with his maturation as a professional. I know he’s bought into routine and kind of the preparation, and that’s translated itself to in the box, his work out there on the field playing defense. So he’s really matured and his skill set is very good, he can do essentially anything on a baseball field so he’s fun to watch.”
Gale was signed the Dodgers in February to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to Spring Training. The 30-year-old catcher had three hits and one RBI in just 12 at-bats over 10 Cactus League games.
Gale made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2015, appearing in 11 games. He played three games for the club last season.
