LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers made a pair of moves to set their bullpen before the opening of spring training later this week.
Free-agent right-hander Ryan Brasier reportedly agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Dodgers. The contract will pay him $9 million with incentives that could add to that. The move is not official until the Dodgers clear a spot on their 40-man roster.
Additionally, the Dodgers traded left-hander Caleb Ferguson to the New York Yankees in exchange for two pitchers – left-hander Matt Gage and 19-year-old right-hander Christian Zazueta Jr.
Ferguson spent five seasons with the Dodgers, missing the 2021 season while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. The 27-year-old lefty signed a one-year contract for $2.4 million earlier this offseason, avoiding arbitration. He will be eligible for free agency next winter.
Ferguson was 18-9 with five saves and a 3.43 ERA in 201 games for the Dodgers. He tied with Brusdar Graterol with a team-high 68 appearances last season including seven starts as an ‘opener.’ He did not pitch well in that role, allowing five runs in 6 2/3 innings.
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The 36-year-old Brasier was a key piece of the Dodgers’ 2023 bullpen, helping turn the relief corps around after a poor first two months of the season.
After six seasons with the Boston Red Sox (including the 2018 World Series championship), Brasier was released in May with a 7.29 ERA after 20 appearances. The Dodgers signed him and encouraged him to add a cutter to his pitch mix. The result was an 0.70 ERA, 38 strikeouts and only 18 hits in 38 2/3 innings for the Dodgers.
In Gage, the Dodgers get a well-traveled 30-year-old who has pitched in five organizations, the Mexican League and independent baseball. Gage had a 1.83 ERA in 16 big-league games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 and the Houston Astros last season. He was claimed on waivers by the Yankees last month.
Swapping…
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