Guerrero’s time with club could end soon
CHICAGO — Members of the Dodgers front office intended to huddle Monday to officially decide the fate of Cuban prospect Alex Guerrero, whose fate probably was decided well before his 20-day rehabilitation assignment ended earlier in the day.
Guerrero, 29, has little value for the team because of his inability to credibly handle a defensive position, team officials believe. But his four-year, $28-million contract includes a clause that allows him to block any minor league stint. The Dodgers are expected to designate him for assignment, which would still leave them on the hook for his salary through 2017, unless another team claims him on waivers.
There is an eight-day waiver window. If another team plucks Guerrero off the wire, that team must absorb his salary. The prospect is considered unlikely. Guerrero has hit .224 in his big league career and was hitting .136 through 16 minor league games on this rehab assignment.
The Dodgers could, conceivably, trade Guerrero to another club. Or the team could diagnose another injury, which would reset Guerrero’s rehab clock. But Manager Dave Roberts has said, on several occasions, that Guerrero is considered sound after suffering a knee injury in spring training.
Weeks ago, Roberts grew tired of questions about Guerrero’s status. Reporters now lob them toward him more for comedic effect than for actual information. Roberts had little to offer about the situation after a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
“I should get word here, shortly,” Roberts said. “But I don’t know what his fate is.”
Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, inherited Guerrero’s contract from the front office of Ned Colletti. Friedman declined to comment, except to say that the team would discuss the matter later.
Short hops
A.J. Ellis will catch Mike Bolsinger on Wednesday night, Roberts said. Yasmani Grandal will start the other three games this series . . . . Trayce Thompson (lower back soreness) was available to play but sat on the bench for the second day in a row.