Scott Van Slyke Clears Waivers

facebooktwitterreddit

In a follow up to Stacie’s article about Scott Van Slyke being desginated for assignment, we have learned that Van Slyke has cleared waivers. The club announced earlier today that the 26 year old first baseman/outfielder Scott Van Slyke has cleared waivers and will be out-righted back to Albuquerque for the 2013 season.

When a player is put on waivers and nobody claims them, the original club that put the player on waivers reacquires his rights. Once this happens, the team can option the player back and forth from triple-a, to the big club. Not surprisingly nobody claimed Van Slyke. The big right handed hitter was drafted by the Dodgers in the 14 round of the 2005 amateur draft. The big right hander is the son of former all-star center fielder Andy Van Slyke.

Scott Van Slyke-Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Van Slyke was once considered a top ranked prospect within the Dodger’s farm system, but has since fallen off the depth chart and out of favor with the Dodgers.

Van Slyke played in 95 games for the Isotopes in 2012, and posted a triple slash line of .327/.404/.578 in 358 at-bats. He slugged 18 home runs, and drove in 67 runs. His OPS was .982, as he split time between first base, and the outfield. Obviously those are Albuquerque induced numbers. Finally Van Slyke was called up to the Dodgers in the early part of the 2012 season, because of all the injuries to the Dodger’s infield. Van Slyke played in 27 games for the Dodgers, and posted a putrid slash line of .167/.196/.315 (9 for 54), with two home runs, and seven RBI in 57 plate appearances. Of course we all remember his game winning home run against the Cardinals on Sunday Night Baseball. That was the peak of his season. Van Slyke split time between first base, and the outfield with the big club.

The Dodgers do need a right hand hitting backup first baseman to spell Adrian Gonzalez, and Van Slyke could be a cost effective internal option. Now that he has cleared waivers, the Dodgers can option him to and from Albuquerque as many times as they want next season.  We believe the club originally made the move in order to free up space on the 40-man roster