In the last week or so the Dodgers have signed a trio of players to minor league contracts, per the MLB.com transaction logs. Nick Frasso returning after getting non-tendered was already reported, but
a couple others have returned as well — catcher Chuckie Robinson and pitcher Carlos Duran.
Robinson had a busy year transactionally, spending time in three organizations. The Dodgers claimed the veteran catcher off waivers from the Angels in May, then lost him on waivers to the Atlanta Braves in September. While with the Dodgers he had two stints on the 40-man roster, and hit .254/.337/.348 with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Robinson started 41 games behind the plate for the Comets, and eight more at designated hitter.
When Dodgers catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing got injured on the same road trip in September, Robinson got called up to the majors and caught one game for Los Angeles, on September 15, and batted twice.
Atlanta outrighted Robinson off the 40-man roster on November 6, and he elected free agency. He signed back with the Dodgers on Thursday, four days after his 31st birthday.
Duran originally signed with the Dodgers in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic, and pitched parts of six seasons for them in the minors until he was traded to the A’s for outfielder Esteury Ruiz on April 2.
Duran made his major league debut on May 22 in Sacramento against the Angels, but he walked three and allowed a single among his five batters faced, with three runs allowed. The A’s designated Duran for assignment in June and he spent the rest of the season in Triple-A, putting up a 5.25 ERA in 37 games, with 59 strikeouts and 34 walks in 58 1/3 innings.
The now-24-year-old Duran was a minor league free agent at the end of the season.
