Just before Spring Training officially began, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Anthony Banda to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for international bonus pool money.
Banda first came to the Dodgers organization on May 17, 2024, after being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians. Before getting to the Dodgers, Banda had spent time with 11 different organizations since he was drafted in 2012.
It wasn’t until he got to L.A. that the left-handed reliever finally found his footing at the MLB level. In his two seasons with the Dodgers, Banda posted a 3.14 ERA in 114.2 innings while helping the club win two World Series titles.
Following the trade, Banda shared a heartfelt message on his Instagram:
Los Angeles
The last two seasons changed my career.
I came here looking for a chance to contribute. What I found was an organization that challenged me, trusted me, and pushed me to be better every day. Because of that, I played the best baseball of my life – and I was fortunate enough to be part of two World Series championships along the way.
To my teammates – thank you for the work, the preparation, the accountability, and the bond we built in that clubhouse. The standard in that room matters, and I’m proud to have been part of it.
To the coaches, staff, and everyone behind the scenes – thank you for the belief and the support that allowed me to grow.
And to Dodger fans – running out to that mound at Dodger Stadium is something I’ll never take for granted. Your energy, passion, and love for the game are special.
I’ll always be grateful for my time in LA.
This chapter meant a lot to me.Thank you. 💙
In his first season with the Dodgers, Banda tossed 49.2 innings with a 3.08 ERA, 23.9% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate while helping L.A. win the 2024 World Series on the strength of their relief corps as one of the “Bullpen Dogs.”
The fan favorite led the bullpen with 71 appearances in 2025, but he saw some regression with a FIP that rose by nearly one run from 3.67 to 4.52, a strikeout rate that declined by 1%, and a walk rate that increased by 4%. Still, he played a role in the postseason on another championship team by tossing one scoreless inning in the National League Division Series, 1.2 scoreless innings in the NL Championship Series.
The Dodgers decided to move on from Banda due to their roster crunch, specifically from the left side of their bullpen. Banda was out of options and had been overtaken on the depth chart by Tanner Scott, Jack Dreyer and Justin Wrobleski, placing him fifth in a group that also includes Alex Vesia.
Earlier in the offseason, the Dodgers and Banda agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.625 million to avoid arbitration. He has one more year of team control before he is eligible to become a free agent.
Anthony Banda trade details
Although the full terms were not officially announced, the Dodgers reportedly acquired $500,000 in bonus pool money from the Twins. International bonus pool funds must be traded in increments of $250,000, and they allow teams to sign more international prospects in a capped market.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
