The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly decided to designate Alex Guerrero for assignment following his rehab stint. The Cuban signee will now try to catch on elsewhere in MLB.
According to Dodgers beat writer J.P Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, the team is expected to designate Alex Guerrero for assignment as his rehab has come to an end. The 29-year-old was coming back from a knee injury and has spent the full twenty days on his rehabilitation assignment, playing in 16 minor league games this season. He hit only .136/.162/.197 in his 68 plate appearances, leaving the Dodgers no choice for his future.
Hearing the #Dodgers will designate Alex Guerrero for assignment today. Not official yet.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) May 31, 2016
Guerrero signed in 2013 out of Cuba for $28 million and was expected to make the jump quickly into MLB. After half a season in the minor leagues, Guerrero made his debut in 2014 and then was a semi-regular in the Dodgers’ lineup last season. He played in 108 games, often as a pinch hitter, and saw time at both third base and in left field. Though he was generally a middle infielder in Cuba, reports on his defense in the majors were mixed, and the metrics have him as a very poor option in the outfield.
Part of his contract states that Guerrero cannot be optioned to the minors, meaning that this DFA will probably precede a release if no one decides to pick him up off waivers. It’s a hard pill to swallow for the Dodgers, who will see another international signing essentially lost without providing any value. Earlier this season they suspended Erisbel Arruebarrena indefinitely for the second time in two years, a player they committed $25 million to just after Guerrero.
Next: Cardinals Hacking Punishment Delayed
Obviously, Guerrero has no place on the roster as of now with Justin Turner holding down third base and the Dodgers having a multitude of options in the corner outfield positions. The fact that his contract also states that if he’s traded he becomes a free agent after the season would pause many teams from trying to deal for the struggling Guerrero.
Instead some team may try to give him an incentive laden deal and hope the former Serie Nacional star can find some of the ability that made him a .303/.386/.528 hitter in Cuba.