Dodgers Adjust 40-Man Roster Ahead of 2021 MLB Winter Meetings, Rule 5 Draft

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday afternoon added outfielder James Outman, infielders Jacob Amaya, Eddys Leonard, Jorbit Vivas and pitcher Michael Grove to the organizational 40-Man Roster.

To make room for the newcomers, the team designated outfielders Billy McKinney and Zach Reks for assignment.

Friday was the final day for teams to add players to their respective 40-man rosters to protect them from this year’s Rule 5 draft, which is scheduled for the final day of next month’s winter meetings.

Two weeks ago, I mentioned the possibilities of Amaya and Grove being added to the 40-man, but Leonard and Vivas were complete surprises. We’ve talked about Outman in the past, but his inclusion was also somewhat of an eye-opener.

Outman, 24, split the season between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa, batting a combined .266 (110-for-414) with 21 doubles, 18 homers and 54 RBI last season. The lefty hitter finished the season with the Drillers, batting .289 with nine homers and 24 RBI in 39 Double-A contests. He was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Sacramento State University and has played in 278 games in his minor league career with the Dodgers, batting .249 (265-for-1064) with 48 homers and 143 RBI.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Outman was named to the Arizona Fall League All-Star Game last Saturday and has hit .292 (19-for-65) with seven doubles, three homers, 10 RBI with a .994 OPS in 20 games for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

The 23-year-old, righty-hitting Amaya played in 113 games for Double-A Tulsa in 2021, batting .216 (90-for-417) with 12 homers and 47 RBI. The 6-foot, 180 pounder has appeared in 18 Arizona Fall League games, batting .320 (16-for-50) with three doubles, three homers and six RBI. In four minor league seasons with the Dodgers, he is batting .254 (311-for-1449) with 25 homers and 161 RBI.

Amaya was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2017 First Year Player Draft out of South Hills High School. I took a closer look at Amaya in a detailed profile before the beginning of last season.

Leonard, 21, split the season between Low-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes, batting a combined .296 (126-for-425) with 29 doubles, 22 homers and 81 RBI. The 6-foot, 160 pounder has played in seven games for his native Escogido team in the Dominican Republic, recording two hits and two RBI. He has been with the Dodgers organization three seasons, across four different levels, amassing 30 homers and 118 RBI in 207 minor league games.

The righty-hitting Leonard was originally signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic on July 3, 2017. He has made minor league appearances as a second baseman, a shortstop and a third baseman.

The 20-year-old, lefty hitting Vivas batted .312 (129-for-477) with 26 doubles, 14 homers and 87 RBI between Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes. The 5-foot-10, 170 pounder has been with the Dodgers three seasons, batting a combined .389 (233-for-928) with 16 homers and 130 RBI. He was originally signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on July 4, 2017.

Grove, 24, pitched in 21 games (19 starts) for the Tulsa Drillers in 2021, going 1-4 with a 7.86 ERA (62 ER/71.0 IP) and 88 strikeouts. In two seasons with the Dodgers organization, the 6-foot-3 righty has posted a 1-9 record with a combined 7.12 ERA (97 ER/122.2 IP) and 61 strikeouts. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of West Virginia University.

This year’s winter meetings will be held on December 6-9 in Orlando.

(Juan Dorado furnished some information provided in this report.)

22 thoughts on “Dodgers Adjust 40-Man Roster Ahead of 2021 MLB Winter Meetings, Rule 5 Draft

  1. As I stated on another thread I thought the Dodgers would add Outman and Grove. Maybe Amaya. Vivas and Leonard were a big surprise and I believe it means we are going to see some trades.

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  2. I believe I’ve read in a few different places that if there is a lockout on the 1st of December, the Winter Meetings will be cancelled and there will also be a freeze on trades and signings. It would also mean that players couldn’t use any of their teams facilities to train or rehab from injuries. All in all, a total mess. I expect all of that to happen. I really think that the players and the owners should look to the Republicans and Democrats to see how easy it is to compromise and get along……………………….oh, wait a minute, time warp, that was 50 years ago.

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      1. Interesting, although it probably means there still won’t be any trades or free agent signings so for our purposes very little of any interest. If they do have the Rule 5, we only lose guys since we never draft anyone these days (in the major league segment).

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  3. Dodgers sold Reks and McKinney to the Rangers for cash. Giants resigned McKinney for 3 and 36 mil. Working on a deal with Wood for 2 and 20. Matz expected to sign by the weekend.

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      1. You don’t think McKinney and Reks can get them to only 99 losses? Have some faith Scoop.

        And before we stick to that 100 loss projection, let’s see how many free agents they’re able to sign. They have very few commitments, salary-wise, and are apparently willing to spend money this year.

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      2. It’s true they have a lot of cap space. Maybe they use it on a collective that will give them 20 wins. They still don’t win the West.

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    1. How can he look his family in the eye settling for that puny amount. Not even as much as Lindor got. He should be ashamed of himself.
      You think he’s set for life with 223 mil? Have you been grocery shopping lately?

      All kidding aside, good for him and he’ll still be able to sign another contract at the age of 32 if he wants to. Nice to see someone make it big like that. Life is strange the way it blesses some people with extraordinary talent and then they have to be in the right place at the right time and hope someone recognizes it.

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      1. Yeah. the price of food is ridiculous. Meat is so high now. I usually do not eat much red meat, chicken and fish are the staples. But even coffee is expensive. That is why I drink so much ice tea….For 185 mil, I could live two lifetimes.

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  4. Hamburger is almost 4 bucks a pound. Yeah, just two. I do not have enough energy to go further than that. Frazier and Odor released by the Yankees.

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  5. Dodgers signed Jason Martin and Beau Burrows to minor league deals. Cardinals signed Matz to a 4 year 44 million dollar deal. MLB and MLBPA agree to move tender date up to the 30th of November.

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    1. Who?

      I want to know what’s going on with Bauer. What are they waiting for, Christmas?

      Well yeah, they might actually be waiting until after the holidays. Who wants to talk uglies when we have millions of turkeys to carve up and billions to spend on Christmas presents. Ho ho holy crap things are twisted out there.

      Beau Burrows? Good name. I never heard of him. Sounds like a Hollywood name.

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      1. Beau Burrows – former first round draft pick of the Tigers
        17 innings of major league experience – has given up 8 homers
        Sounds like the perfect replacement for Bauer

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