The Dodgers have designated 32-year old lefty reliever Jack Taschner for assignment. Taschner pitched in 3 games for the Dodgers this year working only 1/3 of an inning allowing 1 hit, 3 walks and 1 wild pitch. He has pitched in 20 games (0 starts) overall this season for the Dodgers & Pirates and he is 1-0 with a 6.41 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. This is absolutely no loss for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have acquired 34-year old lefty swining LF/CF Scott Podsednik from the Dodgers for 25-year old righty swinging catcher Lucas May and 22-year old righty starting pitcher Eilsaul Pimentel. Podsednik played in 95 games for the Royals this season and he was 121 of 390 (.310 avg, .753 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 5 homers, 44 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He has now played in 977 games in his 10 years in the majors and he is 997 of 3,558 (.280 avg, .724 OPS) with 527 runs scored, 40 homers, 293 RBIs and 296 stolen bases. Podsednik will start in LF until Manny Ramirez comes back from the D.L. and then he will be the Dodgers’ #4 outfielder. Lucas May was the Dodgers’ #17 prospect heading into this season. He played in 80 games in AA+AAA-ball this year and he was 81 of 284 (.285 avg, .816 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 11 homers, 46 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Elisaul Pimentel was not one of the Dodgers’ top 30 prospects coming into this year. He pitched in 17 games (16 starts) in A-ball for the Dodgers this year and he was 9-3 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. This was a good trade for the Dodgers who needed help at the major league level right now in the outfield and Scott Podsednik should give them plenty.

The Dodgers have signed 38-year old right swinging infielder Juan Castro to a minor league deal. Castro played in 54 games earlier this season for the Phillies and he was 25 of 126 (.198 avg, .475 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 0 homers and 13 RBIs. He has now played in 1,095 games in his major league career and he is 597 of 2,610 (.229 avg, .595 OPS) with 251 runs scored, 36 homers, 233 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Despite those ugly numbers Castro has put up in his career he was solid with the Dodgers last year. Castro played in 57 games for the Dodgers in 2009 and he was 31 of 112 (.277 avg, .650 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 1 homer and 9 RBIs. This was a good depth signing for the Dodgers as they will stash him in AAA for now.

The Dodgers have released 35-year old righty reliever Kiko Calero from his minor league contract. Calero pitched in 15 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Dodgers and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 3.00 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. I was kind of surprised by Calero’s release as he was pitching well in a very tough league (PCL) in the minors. I think the Dodgers should have given him a chance to show what he could do in L.A.

The Dodgers have designated 33-year old righty reliever Justin Miller for assignment. Miller pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers this year and he was 0-0 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He whiffed 30 batters in only 23 1/3 innings for the Dodgers this year but he also gave up 4 dingers which is way too many. The Dodgers have called up 22-year old righty reliever Kenley Jansen to replace Miller on the roster and in the bullpen. Jansen was the Dodgers’ #14 prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. Jansen is a converted catcher just in his second season as a pitcher. He has pitched in 33 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball this year and he is 5-1 with 8 saves, a 1.60 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He only has given up 29 hits in 45 innings while whiffing 70 batters showing just how nasty he has been. He has had some control issues that need corrected as he has walked 23 batters this year. He has now pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in two years in the minors as a pitcher and he is 5-1 with 8 saves, a 2.22 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Converting from catcher to pitcher likely saved Jansen’s career. He played six years as a catcher in the minors playing in 286 games in which he was 192 of 840 (.229 avg, .647 OPS) with 103 runs scored, 15 homers, 97 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.