Joe Wieland made two starts for the Dodgers in 2015. (Associated Press photo)
The Dodgers traded Joe Wieland to the Seattle Mariners today for 21-year-old infielder Erick Mejia.
Mejia wasn’t on the Mariners’ 40-man roster, so trading Wieland brings the Dodgers’ 40-man roster to 39. That would appear to clear the spot needed to add pitcher Yaisel Sierra, who agreed to terms on a six-year contract earlier today.
Here’s a bit about Mejia from a couple prospect watchers:
Mejia is a somewhat interesting return for Wieland. Can run, can play shortstop, gap power. Could be a solid bench option at some point.
— Christopher Crawford (@CVCrawfordBP) January 12, 2016
@truebluela FWIW, I nominated him for consideration. Excellent glove, plus runner.
— Brendan Gawlowski (@GawlowskiB) January 12, 2016
And here’s more from the Dodgers’ press release:
Mejia, 21, has a .273 career batting average with 49 stolen bases, a home run and 42 RBI in 133 minor league games in the Mariners organization after being signed as an amateur free agent on June 30, 2012 out of the Dominican Republic. In 2015, the switch-hitter combined to hit .282 in 51 games with Triple-A Tacoma, Single-A Clinton, Single-A Everett and the Rookie-level AZL Mariners, while successfully stealing 20 bases in 21 attempts. During the course of his minor league career, Mejia has posted a .908 fielding percentage in 78 games (72 starts) at shortstop and a .989 mark in 48 games (44 starts) at second base.
Wieland, 25, spent the majority of the 2015 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City (10-5 4.59 ERA in 22 G, 21 GS), but also made two starts for the Dodgers, going 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA. He was originally acquired by Los Angeles from San Diego on Dec. 18, 2014 in a five-player deal and has a 1-5 record with a 5.85 ERA in 11 career big league games (nine starts) with the Padres (2012, ’14) and Dodgers (2015).
Since the end of last season, the Dodgers added three pitchers who figure to start at Triple-A to their 40-man roster: Frankie Montas, Jharel Cotton and Ross Stripling. Brandon Beachy signed with the Dodgers earlier this month and can be optioned to Triple-A if needed.
Add in Mike Bolsinger, Carlos Frias, Jose De Leon, Julio Urias and Zach Lee, and the Oklahoma City Dodgers were teeming with potential starters even without Wieland.
