DODGERS NOTEBOOK: A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer It's not often a team calls up a pair of 21-year-old prospects this late in the season with an eye on helping the future and the present, but that's exactly what the Dodgers had in mind Friday when they recalled Triple-A catcher Dioner Navarro Dioner Favian Navarro (born February 9, 1984 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball catcher and switch-hitter who plays for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Career In 2000, Navarro was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent. and purchased the contract of Double-A right-handed pitcher Noun 1. right-handed pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who throws with the right hand right-hander baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played Jonathan Broxton Jonathan Roy Broxton[1] (born June 16, 1984, in Augusta, Georgia),[2] nicknamed "The Ox," and "The Biggest Man In The World" by former Cub and current Arizona Diamondbacks announcer Mark Grace, is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. . To make room for the pair, the Dodgers optioned catcher Mike Rose to Triple-A Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. and designated pitcher Scott Erickson Erickson began his professional career in 1989 when he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the amateur draft. for assignment. Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta Paul DePodesta (born December 16, 1972) is baseball front-office assistant for the San Diego Padres. He has also served as general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from February 16, 2004 to October 29, 2005. hasn't ruled out making a major move before Sunday's trade deadline, but he thinks Navarro and Broxton can fill areas he's actively tried to address through trades. Navarro, the centerpiece of last winter's Shawn Green Shawn David Green (born November 10, 1972, in Des Plaines, Illinois) is a 6' 4" left-handed Major League Baseball player. Green is the starting right fielder for the New York Mets.[1] Green was a 1st round draft pick, and has been a two-time major league All-Star. trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks, was immediately inserted into the starting lineup Friday against St. Louis. With the Dodgers having well-known problems throwing out base stealers this year, Navarro's promotion was clearly made to improve an obvious weakness. With Navarro in the starting lineup Friday, Jason Phillips started at first base for the fourth time this year. Dodgers manager Jim Tracy stressed Phillips was not being pushed out from behind the plate permanently, but it's obvious the hope is Navarro asserts himself quickly. ``We didn't bring him up to play once a week,'' Tracy said. ``But we'll see how it goes.'' Broxton's role is less defined, but no less intriguing. A starter his entire career, the former second-round pick was recently moved to the bullpen for Double-A Jacksonville and saw the velocity on his fastball increase. A hard thrower even before the move, Broxton has hit 101 mph on the speed gun. --Erickson's options: On Monday Erickson will begin the process of clearing waivers. If nobody claims the veteran pitcher over the following 72 hours the Dodgers will have five days to trade him, release him or outright him. If he goes unclaimed the plan is to send Erickson to Triple-A Las Vegas to build up arm strength as a starter, then revisit the situation in September. |
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