Tulsa was the least successful LAD affiliate this year. They were 63-74, good for 6th best record in the Texas League. Maybe that is why it has taken me so long to do this write up.
The Dodgers have three top 30 prospects on the Tulsa roster at the end of the season: LHSP Jackson Ferris (#4), RHSP Jared Karros (#22), and SS Noah Miller (#25). Outside of Jackson Ferris’ 7 games, there was not much to write home about with this group.
2024 Tulsa Drillers no longer in the organization:
- Brandon Lewis (3B/1B) – 4th round draft pick from UC Irvine in 2019 – Released
- Brendon Davis (3B) – MiLB free agent
- Donovan Casey (OF) – MiLB free agent
- Michael Martinez (RHP) – MiLB free agent
- Cristian Santana (3B) – MiLB free agent
- Juan Morillo (RHP) – MiLB free agent
- Jorge Benetiz (LHP) – MiLB free agent
The toughest to lose of the bunch was RHP Juan Morillo. To make matters more difficult, he signed a MiLB deal with Arizona. Not saying he will, but he does have the potential of an Edgardo Henriquez.
Tulsa players who also played for OKC and were covered in my OKC autopsy report:
- Diego Cartaya (C)
- Dalton Rushing (C/1B/LF)
- Alex Freeland (SS)
- Austin Gauthier (Utility)
- Justin Wrobleski (LHP)
- Ben Casparius (RHP)
- Edgardo Henriquez (RHRP)
If I had an untouchable, it would be Jackson Ferris. LHSP are gold, and Ferris is a good one. Ferris will turn 21 January 15. He is 6’4”, 195 pounds. He has four above average pitches: fastball (60), curve (60), slider (55), and change (55). His fastball sits at 92-95 and touches 97 with carry. Everything else will works around the fastball. He does need to harness his control (don’t all LAD prospects).
For 2024:
- A+ – 20 GS, 98.1 IP, 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .198 BAA, 119 K, 43 BB, 4 HR
- AA – 7 GS, 28.1 IP, 2.54 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, .216 BAA, 26 K, 14 BB, 2 HR
Under AF/BG, the Dodgers do not like to push their pitching prospects (or any prospect?), so while other organizations might push him to AAA to start 2025, Ferris will probably start off in Tulsa where he had good success in his 7 starts. But I do think he gets increased exposure in hitter friendly AAA, hopefully earlier than later.
I am a Jared Karros fan. He was my 2024 darkhorse prospect. Maybe it is because he is a Dodger legacy. While he did pitch well in 2024, and moved to AA, he did have an injury (unknown), and did spend time on the Development List (also unknown).
Karros is 6’7”, 195 pounds. He just turned 24, so he is not a young prospect. He gets good extension making his fastball seem livelier than it is (sits 91-93, tops out at 96). His money pitch is his changeup. He has a workable slider. He repeats his delivery and throws strikes. MLB Pipeline sees him as a back of the rotation starter. That pushes him into the longshot starter and long reliever category.
- A+ – 7 GS, 34.0 IP, 1.59 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, .174 BAA, 36 K, 7 BB, 1 HR
- AA – 8 GS, 33.2 IP, 4.01 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, .248 BAA, 38 K, 15 BB, 3 HR
The third LAD top 30 prospect on Tulsa’s roster is SS Noah Miller. He just turned 22, and is another Wisconsin middle infielder. Miller is from Fredonia, WI which is 70 miles due north from Kenosha, WI (Gavin Lux). Miller was drafted as a CB-A pick in the first round of the 2021 draft by Minnesota.
Miller is a glove first SS, who won a MiLB GG at SS in 2023. The Dodgers got Miller in a February 2024 trade with Minnesota for OF Manuel Margot and infield prospect Rayne Doncon. He is light in the bat, which makes his profile more defensive utility player than regular SS.
- A+ – 454 PA, .251/.336/.332/.668, 6 HR, 20 XBH, 66 K, 49 BB
- AA – 136 PA, .225/.257/.264/.521, 0 HR, 5 XBH, 28 K, 6 BB
Others:
José Ramos (OF) – 2nd full season with Tulsa – Turns 24 on January 1.
- 506 PA, .221/.308/.388/.696, 17 HR, 38 XBH, 172 K, 57 BB
Ramos was #6 in the Texas League in HR, and 13th in the Texas League in XBH.
Damon Keith (OF) – Keith turns 25 in May – First year at Tulsa
- 318 PA, .259/.340/.496/.836, 16 HR, 33 XBH, 94 K, 32 BB
Keith was #10 in HR in the Texas League. He is Rule 5 eligible, but only reaching AA and not dominating, it is unlikely he will be selected this year.
Griffin Lockwood-Powell (1B/C) – Turns 27 in February. Signed as an UDFA in August 2021 out of Central Michigan. I refer him as GLP.
- 469 PA, .231/.303/.369/.672, 14 HR, 30 XBH, 108 K, 40 BB
Taylor Young (2B) – 26 years old – First full year at Tulsa – 8th round pick in 2022 draft by LAD.
- 547 PA, .236/.333/.329/.662, 4 HR, 34 XBH, 138 K, 59 BB
Young’s strength is his base stealing. He stole 46 bases in 2024, #1 in Texas League
Chris Newell (OF) – Will turn 24 in April. 13th round pick in 2022 draft by LAD.
- A+ – 413 PA, .212/.338/.465/.803, 23 HR, 39 XBH, 140 K, 60 BB
- AA – 113 PA, .162/.248/.253/.501, 2 HR, 5 XBH, 37 K, 11 BB
Another in the three true outcome hitter.
Yeiner Fernandez (2B/C) – Signed as an International Free Agent in 2019. He is 22 years old. First full season in Tulsa. No, he is not the next Craig Biggio.
- 419 PA, .245/.337/.335/.672, 3 HR, 27 XBH, 56 K, 39 BB
Love contact hitters. He hit better wRISP – .258/.361/.371/.732. I hope he starts the season in OKC.
Jerming Rosario (RHP) – Most know by now that Rosario is a favorite of mine. He signed in 2018 with Diego Cartaya, and he reached AAA as a 22 year old; albeit for one start. He is Rule 5 eligible.
- A+ – 10 G (6 GS), 36.2 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, .198 BAA, 38 K, 11 BB, 3 HR
- AA – 16 G (16 GS), 67.0 IP, 4.70 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .200 BAA, 77 K, 56 BB, 3 HR
- AAA – 1 G (1 GS), 5.0 IP, 7.20 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, .188 BAA, 5 K, 6 BB
Yes, he has a control problem. He is a long way from MLB, but he is only 23 years old (in May).
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (RHP) – Will turn 27 on December 6. Was the only Tulsa pitcher to accumulate enough IP to be considered qualified. He was one of 9 qualified pitchers in Texas League.
- 2 IP, 4.71 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .253 BAA, 108 K, 60 BB, 18 HR
Want more information?
Tulsa hitting stats for 2024 – https://www.milb.com/tulsa/stats/?playerPool=ALL
Tulsa pitching stats for 2024 – https://www.milb.com/tulsa/stats/pitching
Texas League Standings 2024 – https://www.milb.com/tulsa/standings/
Next up – A+ (Great Lakes – Midwest League)
Teoscar we need to sign and play rightfield and I think Jesse Winker to play leftfield and I think Adames if they don’t then Edman moves to shortstop and they sign keke and keke and Pages platoon in centerfield but if they get Adames then he is at shortstop and Edman is in centeefield and yiu have Pages and Rushing as the two platoon plays with Taylor Barnes and Rojas
Stopped for the night in Gallup NM
So it looks like the Arenado rumors merit discussion after all.
If nothing else, Arenado’s social media post featuring the tune “Dodger Blue” suggests that Arenado is signaling that he’d waive his no-trade clause if he could come to LA. (The post was “liked” by his ex-Card teammate Tommy Edman, btw.)
Certainly Friedman and Gomes have to give this serious consideration.
Replacing Max at 3B with Arenado would be a big defensive upgrade–but Max has outslugged Arenado over the last two seasons.
Could Arenado revitalize his bat with the Dodgers? Maybe.
FWIW, Arenado, who was raised in OC, is one year younger than Max. He is due $21 million for ’25, compared to Max’s $13.5m. To the big-spending Dodgers, the difference may be negligible–but not to the Cards.
Part of me hates to contemplate this deal. I don’t like the idea of Max getting screwed over for his loyalty to the Dodgers. Nobody bleeds Dodgers blue more than Max, a grinder who was on the verge of quitting baseball before he took a minor league deal with the Dodgers. He turned himself into a solid first baseman and gamely moved to 3B to make room for Freddie. In a lot of ways, his story is similar to that of Justin Turner. Max would have done well as a free agent but accepted team-friendly deals to stay with LA. But just as JT eventually left the Dodgers, it may be time for Max to move on. (Yes, I am talking myself into this….)
So what might a deal look like?
In a straight-up swap, the Cards would save about $8 million and lose a player who evidently wants out. They’d probably have Max succeed Goldschmidt at 1B and use him as DH as well. Goldie is a FA now, and the Cards have a couple of young players who can shift to 3B. On defense, Max is much better at 1B than 3B. He’d add thump to the Cards attack.
But straight up is boring.
Perhaps the Dodgers and Cards would try to expand the deal, because the Cards need pitching. The Cards are rumored to be shopping closer Ryan Helsley, who could upgrade the Dodgers already strong bullpen. I’d inquire about young SS Masyn Winn, who could be gold glove contender for the next decade. Probably untouchable, but who knows? How about Bobby Miller + Alex Freeland to get Winn?
So maybe there’s a blockbuster in the works…
Someone suggested that the Dodgers could add Arenado and simply move Max to LF. Pundits giggle at the possibility, mostly because of Max’s husky build. His best position is 1B, clearly. Max’s foot speed is below average, but he’s faster and more athletic than he looks, and his arm would play fine from LF.
In many ways, Max is like the Dodgers version the Phils’ husky Kyle Schwarber, who played LF before he shifted to DH.
So just for fun, consider this Arenado-ized lineup:
Shohei DH
Mookie 2B
Freddie 1B
Arenado 3B
Max/Taylor LF
Smith C
Outman/Edman CF
Pages RF
Edman/Rojas SS
This is great information. I love following players up thru the ranks and seeing them in Spring Training! Thanks Jeff!
Question about escrow:
I know the Dodgers have to put say $46 million into escrow for Ohtani this season to “cover” his salary.
But does this have to be in cash? Can it be in appreciating assets like bonds, crypto or even equities?
Another LHP has been signed. LHRP Aroldis Chapman signed a one year deal for $10.75MM by Boston. At least he is not a Bora$ client.
Texas has signed free agent catcher Kyle Higashioka for 2 years, $12.5MM. They have a $7MM mutual option for 2027, with a $1MM buyout. That leaves San Diego with Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan as the two catchers. The Padres are not enamored with Campusano’s bat and he is arguably one of the worst defensive catchers in MLB. Fangraphs has him with a -17 DRS for last. Sullivan (31 years old for 2025) has a total of 103 career PA.
Their top catcher prospect, Ethan Salas, turns 19 this year, and spent all of 2024 in High A. The season did not go nearly as well as they had hoped. They only have one other catcher in their top 30. 24 year old Brandon Valenzuela who is graded as a backup catcher.
Danny Jansen and Carson Kelly are the top two catchers remaining in FA.
Makes no sense as to why San Diego did not re-sign Higashioka, unless their cash flow problems are worse than have been reported.
The Snell signing just keeps getting better. The deferrals are actually $13.2MM annually. The present value of Snell’s contract is now at $150.336MM per MLBPA caluclations as reported by Bob Nightengale.
https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1864030362508161367
There is also a $10MM club option for 2030, if: Snell hasn’t been assigned to another club and has 90 or more days in a row on the injured list due to specific injury.
This brings the LAD AAV payroll to approximately $309MM for 2025. They could approach $350MM this year. At $309MM, the tax is $51.056MM.
Speaking of our newest player, the Blake Snell press conference is at 2:30pm today.
It will be on AM 570, the Dodger tv network, and I’d bet the MLB network.
I assume the following will be met with mixed reactions here:
Andrew and Farhan are talking about a reunion, exact job description unknown.
I’d be OK with it because I think part of his lack of success in SF was simply that players didn’t want to sign in SF, whether that be because of the weather, the ballpark (in the case of hitters) or the general state of the city during those years. That wasn’t his fault.
Does anyone here know which players Farhan was responsible for “discovering” while he was here?
Made it to LA. Had some challenges