Los Angeles Dodgers: Yadier Álvarez clears waivers and will remain with the team

Designated for assignment after sustaining an injury to his throwing shoulder, Yadier Álvarez has cleared waivers and will remain with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

HIALEAH,FL– Yadier Álvarez who was designated for assignment two days ago has cleared waivers without being claimed and will be assigned to the minor league camp by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The young flamethrower was taken off the 40-man roster after the waiver process was completed say reports.

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The Matanzas native was DFA’d after his first spring start last Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, a start in which he asked to be removed due to an undisclosed illness, said Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts.

It was later determined that the young righty had sustained an injury to his throwing shoulder by the team’s training staff.

With the move, the team will free up a 40-man roster spot. This move closes the chapter on a long line of ill-fated signings by the California club.

Álvarez who was given a $16M bonus in 2016 joins Alex Guerrero, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Pablo Millan, Héctor Olivera and Yasiel Sierra in the long line of busts from Cuba acquired via international free agency.

In my opinion, the Los Angeles Dodgers gave too much money to a young man who had essentially only played a half-season of organized baseball before his defection.

It’s been a steady free fall for the one time top prospect of the organization since his #46 ranking by MLB in their top 100 of 2017.

Inconsistency and lack of discipline on and off the field have brought the team to the end of the line with the onetime heralded prospect.

Is Álvarez’s removal from the 40-man roster a motivational one, like how St. Louis did with Aledmys Díaz a few years back or is this a sign that the ball club is fed up and has thrown in the towel with what was once thought to be a cornerstone of the future for the team from Chavez ravine.

What will the future hold for Yadier Álvarez? That remains to be seen and how he takes this demotion, it might motivate him or be his end in organized baseball.