The Non-Roster Invitees 2016

I always like to see who the Dodgers invite to spring training that are not on the 40 man roster. These players are collectively known as the non-roster invitees. Every team does it. These players are a collection of highly ranked organizational prospects, players that have some major league time in, and players that are too old to be considered prospects but still may be able to help the team whether it be through spot call up duty or to provide organizational depth.

The Dodgers invited several prospects to the 2016 Spring Training camp and a total of 16 players. #1 ranked left handed pitching prospect Julio Urias, #5 ranked pitching prospect Jose De Leon, and #6 ranked first base prospect Cody Bellinger all got invitations and it is an opportunity for them to work with the major league team for a month and to improve their game. None of these players are in the Dodgers plans for 2016.

The Dodgers are still looking for infield depth going into Spring Training 2016 so they invited ex-Dodger and utility infielder Elian Herrera as well as ex-Colorado Rockies third baseman Charlie Culberson to camp. Herrera spent parts of the 2012 and '13 seasons with the Dodgers and the past two season with the Milwaukee Brewers setting career highs in homeruns with seven and RBI's with 33 last year. Culberson started his career with the San Francisco Giants in 2012 and spent parts of 2013 and '14 with the Colorado Rockies before missing all of 2015 with a back injury.

A Quiet Off Season

After being one of the shakers and movers of the 2014-15 off season, the Dodgers have spent this off season very quietly. The Dodgers signed a few free agent pitchers to try to shore up their starting pitching and their long relief out of the bullpen and they signed all of their arbitration eligible players, but a few minor trades of players that really didn't fit in the Dodgers plans.

The biggest free agent signee was a veteran of the Japanese professional baseball league, starting pitcher Kenta Maeda to an incentive laden eight year contract. The Dodgers also signed veteran right handed pitcher Joe Blanton, who remade his career coming out of the bullpen for the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates last season after spending most of his career as a starter. The Dodgers also re-signed veteran second baseman Chase Utley who joined the Dodgers via trade at the end of last season for the stretch run.

This off season became more about who the Dodgers lost through free agency. The Dodgers lost right handed starting pitcher Zack Greinke to division rival Arizona Diamondbacks and shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick were not re-signed. Kendrick turned down a qualifying offer of $15.8 million from the Dodgers and Rollins' contract expired. Kendrick only played in 117 games due to injury and Rollins had the worst season of his major league career, only batting .224 after hovering near .200 for most of the season. They are both still free agents.