The Dodgers have traded 28-year old righty swinging catcher John Otness to the Marlins for future considerations. This is an amazing deal for the Dodgers as Otness never played a game for them even in the minors. He has played 7 years in the minors in his career and he is 480 of 1,712 (.280 avg, .721 OPS) with 196 runs scored, 20 homers and 215 RBIs. So the Dodgers will essentially get something for nothing in this deal with the Marlins.

The Dodgers have signed 32-year old lefty reliever Jack Taschner to a minor league deal. Taschner pitched in 17 games (0 starts) earlier this season for the Pirates and he was 1-0 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has now pitched in 219 games (0 starts) in his six years in the majors and he is 10-5 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. Taschner has really had trouble with control in his career walking 101 batters in 188 2/3 innings. If he starts throwing more strikes he might be able to be helpful out of the pen at some point in 2010 for the Dodgers.

25-year old Matt Kemp turned in a monster year for the Dodgers in 2009. He played in 159 games last season for the Dodgers and he was 180 of 606 (.297 avg, .842 OPS) with 97 runs scored, 26 homers and 101 RBIs. He also was 34/42 on stolen bases last season and his only problem at the plate was with the whiffs (139). Kemp doesn’t look like the same player for the Dodgers in 2010. That’s not to say that he is a stiff or anything like that as a lot of players would like his numbers this season so far. Kemp has played in 75 games for the Dodgers so far this season and he is 77 of 299 (.258 avg, .771 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 12 homers and 40 RBIs. He is only 10 of 20 stealing bases so far this season and he has whiffed an amazing 86 times already this year. The Dodgers need Kemp to step up if they are going to keep up with the Padres, Giants and Rockies in the tough N.L. West.

28-year old lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo is unhittable once again this season for the Dodgers. He has pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers so far this season and he is 2-1 with 1 save, a 1.25 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP. Kuo has only given up 9 hits this season while whiffing 27 batters in only 21 2/3 innings showing just how dominating he has been. The Dodgers hope that they can keep him healthy the rest of the year as an injury is the only thing that could slow this cat down. Since being converted to the pen three years ago, Kuo has pitched in 99 games (3 starts) in which he is 9-4 with 2 saves, a 2.19 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.

The Dodgers have designated 26-year old righty starter/reliever Charlie Haeger for assignment. Haeger pitched in 9 games (6 starts) for the Dodgers this year and he was 0-4 with a 8.40 ERA and a 2.07 WHIP. He walked an amazing 26 batters in only 30 innings this season for the Dodgers. In two years with the Dodgers, Haeger pitched in 15 games (9 starts) in which he was 1-5 with a 6.43 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Dodgers’ fans should rejoice as you won’t have to ever worry if he’s pitching when you have tickets to the game.