The Los Angeles Dodgers made their second trade in as many days on Monday, acquiring right-handed pitcher Jesus Liranzo from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Luis Ysla.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Liranzo, the Dodgers transferred injured reliever Tom Koehler to the 60-day disabled list. He continues to recover from an anterior capsule strain in his right shoulder suffered during Spring Training.
Being transferred to the 60-day disabled list means that the earliest Koehler can be activated is now May 28. However, the paper move does not mean that Koehler’s timetable for a return has been moved back or that he’s encountered trouble, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
RHP Tom Koehler said his rehab from sprained shoulder capsule continues without setback and being moved to 60-day DL does not change his anticipated return.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 2, 2018
When that return will be is still unknown. Koehler originally estimated the injury could sideline him anywhere from weeks to months.
The Dodgers signed Koehler this past offseason in hopes of molding him into the organization’s latest starter turned effective reliever, a la Joe Blanton and Brandon Morrow.
Koehler was a failed starter last year with the Miami Marlins who then found some success as a reliever after being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He went into Spring Training hoping to replicate that success but injured his shoulder in just his second outing.
After the Dodgers opening series against the San Francisco Giants, both Koehler and Justin Turner returned to Camelback Ranch to continue their rehabs. There has been no indication of Koehler picking up a ball, so he is still a ways away from being back.
He will likely need to complete some sort of rehab assignment before returning as well.
