The Dodgers have released 26-year old righty reliever/starter Carlos Monasterios. He missed all of last season due to Tommy John Surgery and he recently had another surgery on the elbow that will likely keep him out all of this year. This is a bad break for Monasterios as he pitched well as a Rule 5 Draft Pick in 2010 for the Dodgers. He pitched in 32 games (13 starts) for the Dodgers in 2010 and he was 3-5 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP.

The Dodgers have released 30-year old righty starting pitcher Ian Snell. Snell pitched in 6 games (5 starts) in AAA-ball for the Dodgers last year and he was 1-2 with a 11.05 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2010 with the Mariners. Snell has pitched in 152 games (136 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 38-53 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Dodgers are loaded in the starting rotation, so they won’t miss Snell one bit in 2012.

The Dodgers have designated 29-year old righty reliever Ramon Troncoso for assignment. Troncoso pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. He has now pitched in 175 games (0 starts) in his four years with the Dodgers and he is 8-8 with 6 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Dodgers are loaded in the bullpen, so they won’t miss Troncoso if he gets claimed on waivers.

The Dodgers have signed 24-year old righty reliever Kyle Smit to a minor league deal. Smit pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last year for the Cubs and he was 4-2 with 2 saves, a 5.69 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP. He has now pitched in 162 games (40 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 20-25 with 10 saves, a 5.07 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Smit will likely start the 2012 season in AA-ball for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have signed 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jarrad Page to a minor league deal. He played in 11 games at safety for the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles last year in which he had 38 tackles and 2 passes defensed. Page played in 74 games in his six years in the NFL and he had 248 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 32 passes defensed and 12 interceptions. Page was drafted three times by Major League Baseball teams before deciding to play professional football. Page was impressive in an open tryout the Dodgers recently held and that was what led to his signing.