The Los Angeles Dodgers are shaking up their bullpen with a pair of moves on Monday. According to sources from MLB.com, the team has agreed to a two-year deal with free agent reliever Ryan Brasier and has also struck a trade with the New York Yankees. While the club has not officially confirmed the transactions, it is reported that the trade will send left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson to the Yankees in exchange for a package that includes left-hander Matt Gage.
Brasier’s journey to the Dodgers has been an interesting one. After being released by the Boston Red Sox in late May, he was signed to a minor league contract by the Dodgers. He made his debut for Los Angeles on June 21 and had an impressive 0.70 ERA for the remainder of the season, which was the second-best in baseball (minimum 30 innings).
The 34-year-old reliever has had a winding career, including a stint with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan before signing a minor league contract with the Red Sox in 2018. His strong performance with Boston earned him a place on the playoff roster and helped the team win the World Series that year.
While Brasier’s effectiveness dipped in the following seasons and was marred by injuries, he has worked with the Dodgers to improve his game. The implementation of a new cutter has helped diversify his pitching arsenal, giving him a mix of four pitches.
Despite unimpressive strikeout and walk numbers, Brasier showed elite performance in barrel rate (95th percentile) and out-of-zone swing rate (82nd percentile) in 2023.
The acquisition of Brasier and the trade with the Yankees signal the Dodgers’ commitment to strengthening their bullpen for the upcoming season. As the team continues to make moves ahead of the new season, fans are eager to see how Brasier will contribute to the team’s success.