The Dodgers introduced that they’ve chosen catching prospect Dalton Speeding to their roster. Fellow catcher Austin Barnes has been designated for task because the corresponding transfer. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported the Speeding promotion previous to the official announcement whereas Robert Murray of FanSided relayed the Barnes DFA.
Speeding, now 24, was chosen by the Dodgers within the 2022 draft. It was technically a second-round decide, fortieth general, although that was the membership’s high choice that 12 months. It was moved again ten spots because of the Dodgers going over the third tier of the Aggressive Steadiness Tax in 2021. The membership gave him a signing bonus of slightly below $2MM, proper round slot worth.
Since then, Speeding has finished nothing however mash on the plate. He has stepped to the dish 1,150 occasions in whole, for numerous minor league golf equipment. He has been struck out at an affordable 21.5% tempo in that point, whereas drawing walks at a wonderful 15.6% clip. He has 54 house runs and a .277/.412/.519 batting line, which interprets to a 154 wRC+.
That manufacturing can be glorious from any place however particularly for a catcher, a spot that usually comes with decrease offensive expectations. He’s additionally thought of a great defender behind the plate, solely including to his prospect inventory. The mix makes Speeding a consensus high 50 prospect. Baseball America at the moment lists him at #31 with MLB Pipeline having him at #15. Within the preseason, FanGraphs gave him the #8 spot, ESPN and Keith Regulation of The Athletic each had him at #16.
Regardless of Speeding’s apparent abilities, it was unclear how the Dodgers would match him in. Will Smith has been the membership’s common catcher for years and is signed by means of 2033. Groups with two good catchers will typically use the designated hitter spot to distribute extra at-bats however the Dodgers can’t try this. They’ve Shohei Ohtani within the DH spot on daily basis and he’s additionally signed by means of 2033.
That led the Dodgers to have Speeding dabble at different positions. He has performed a little bit of first base and left discipline within the minors, although he’s nonetheless been behind the plate extra typically than he’s been in these spots.
With Barnes being the corresponding transfer, it appears Speeding will slot into the catching combine alongside Smith. Maybe his skill to play different positions will assist each backstops get into the lineup. Freddie Freeman has first base locked down, however there’s a path for Speeding to get some outfield taking part in time.
Each Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman are at the moment on the injured listing. That leaves the membership with an outfield alignment consisting of Andy Pages, Michael Conforto and James Outman, with utility guys Hyeseong Kim and Chris Taylor contributing once in a while as effectively. Pages is the one man in that group at the moment hitting effectively, so maybe Speeding will be capable to take some taking part in time from the others.
It’s too late within the season for Speeding to earn a full 12 months of service time, a minimum of the normal approach. As a high prospect, he technically has a path to incomes a full 12 months of service by ending within the high two of Rookie of the Yr voting, although that will likely be a problem. Nobody is at the moment operating away with the NL ROY race however Speeding continues to be weeks behind others who’ve been up all 12 months. Even one of the best prospects will typically wrestle when first promoted to the majors, so there’s no assure that Speeding can simply storm by means of the remainder of the season.
Regardless, it appears the membership plans for Speeding to be up for good, since they’re transferring on from Barnes. If Speeding struggles they usually need to ship him again down, Hunter Feduccia can be on the 40-man roster. Assuming Speeding finishes 2025 shy of the one-year service line, he’ll be beneath membership management by means of 2031, so he and Smith can theoretically be the catching duo for years to return.
As for Barnes, he has been serving as a glove-first backup catcher for over a decade now. He has appeared in 612 video games for the Dodgers, courting again to his 2015 debut. He has a mixed .223/.322/.338 line in that point, which interprets to an 85 wRC+. That signifies he’s been about 15% worse than the league common hitter, however catchers are usually about 10% worse than league-wide par, in order that’s not dangerous output for a backup catcher.
Since he additionally supplied good work behind the plate in that point, he has been a reasonably stable member of the roster, main the Dodgers to signal him to a modest extension in 2022. They had been glad sufficient along with his efficiency to select up a $2.5MM membership choice for the 2025 season.
Nonetheless, his offense appears to have a success new low this 12 months. He’s placing out at a 31.8% clip, simply the very best of his profession, whereas his 2.3% stroll price is a private worst by a notable quantity. He at the moment has a .214/.233/.286 slash and 44 wRC+.
Provided that Barnes is now 35 years previous, the membership might not have a lot hope of a turnaround. The mix of his struggles and Speeding’s ascendance has pushed Barnes off the roster. The Dodgers will now technically have every week of DFA limbo to work out what’s subsequent. The waiver course of takes 48 hours, so any commerce talks must come collectively within the subsequent 5 days.
There’s not prone to be a lot curiosity, based mostly on his wage and up to date efficiency. If he clears waivers, he has greater than sufficient service time to reject an outright task and elect free company whereas maintaining his total wage coming to him. If he finally ends up on the open market, one other membership might signal him and pay him the prorated league minimal for any time spent on the roster, with that quantity subtracted from what the Dodgers pay.
Pictures courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Bryan Terry and Matt Marton, Imagn Pictures
