Shortly after learning Edwin Rios would require season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to address their bench by claiming Yoshi Tsutsugo off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Tsutsugo, who was in the final season of a two-year, $12 million contract, had been designated for assignment by the Rays in order to call up Kevin Padlo. Tsutsugo struggled last year with the Rays and didn’t show much improvement this season.
The Dodgers were confident they could assist the 29-year-old in replicating his success from 10 seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, but he still couldn’t gain much traction.
A right calf strain forced Tsutsugo to the 10-day injured list in June and an eventual rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He cleared waivers in July was sent outright to OKC, but now Tsutsugo is signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates after being released, per Yuki Yamada of Sankei Sports:
#筒香嘉智 選手はパイレーツ移籍が決定。月曜からパイレーツの一員として、ロサンゼルスでのドジャース戦に臨みます。#YoshiTsutsugo who was released from the OKC #Dodgers, will sign with the #Pirates and face his former team, the Dodgers from Monday. Source confirmed to Sankei Sports.
— 山田結軌⚾️サンスポMLB記者🇺🇸 (@mlbkishayamada) August 15, 2021
Tsutsugo hit .167/.244/.218 in 26 games with the Dodgers. He began to swing the bat well for OKC but despite the Dodgers seemingly being in need of production off their bench, Tsutsugo did not earn a call-up.
That decision presumably stemmed from Tsutsugo being out of Minor League options and therefore he would have needed to be designated for assignment and clear waivers once more in order to remain with the organization.
Dodgers remove Bemboom from 40-man roster
After losing Chad Wallach to the L.A. Angels, the Dodgers claimed Anthony Bemboom off waivers from them. The Angels designated Bemboom for assignment in order to claim Wallach from the Dodgers.
L.A. has since passed Bemboom through waivers and sent him outright to Oklahoma City, removing the 31-year-old catcher from their 40-man roster.
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