Good News All Around

Jamie Hoffmann is back and Angel Berroa was released.

Winter Meetings News

Jon Weisman passes along multiple Dodger moves:

• Jamie Hoffmann was taken with the first selection in the Rule 5 Draft by the Yankees.
• The Dodgers are going to offer arbitration to Jason Repko. Color me fucking stunned. He must have pictures of someone in the organization.
• The Dodgers acquired Carlos Monasterios from the Mets, who selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. The price: CASH. Wasn't a lack of cash the problem? The reason why we couldn't offer arbitration to Wolf and Hudson? Oh wait, it was a "baseball decision". Fuck.
• The Dodgers acquired Armando Zerpa from the Rays, who selected him in the aforementioned Rule 5 Draft.
  

Dodgers Sign 2 To Minor League Contracts

RP Justin Miller and OF Prentice Redman.

Their claims to fame: Miller, 32, is tatted up, pretty much head to toe, and has to cover them up with long sleeves when on the mound, so as not to distract the batter ("The Justin Miller Rule"); Redman, 30, is the brother of former major leaguer Tike Redman.



Eh, they're just minor-league contracts, but I hope they don't end up on the 25-man roster and playing in meaningful games, i.e. any game. We have plenty, plenty of bullpen options, and Xavier Paul or Jamie Hoffmann can fill the 5th outfielder role, and hopefully the 4th, which of course depends upon whether we can find some G.M. dumber than Colletti to take Juan Pierre away for good.

Waiting For Hoffmann

To re-sign ends.

I'm thrilled he's back with the organization. Only 25 years old, gives us good depth, a hell of a lot better than Repko, and I think he could have made a difference, even if it was just a small one, coming off of the bench down the stretch.

I think he's earned a bench spot next year, but hey, I don't get to make those decisions.

Travis Schlichting Heads To The 60-Day DL & Return Of The Kuroda

According to Beto Duran. This, combined with the DFAing of Jamie Hoffmann, opens up the necessary spots on the 40-man roster for Jim Thome and Jon Garland.

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Hiroki Kuroda returned to the mound in his first rehab start after being hit in the head by a line drive. He could re-join the big boys Sunday at home against the Padres.

Bye Bye Jamie

Jamie Hoffmann has been designated for assignment. This allows Jim Thome to be added to the 40-man roster and be available for tonight's game. One more move will need to be made to allow Jon Garland to be added to the 40-man.


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And yet it won't be Jason Repko.

Joining Repko as September call-ups are Scott Elbert and A.J. Ellis.

Repko should have received the DFA tag, as Hoffmann is younger and has more upside than the perennially-injured Repko. Great job Ned.

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The Dodgers will pay $1 million of Thome's remaining 2009 salary.