The Los Angeles Dodgers took a flier on Ryan Brasier last season despite his struggles with the Boston Red Sox leading to getting designated for assignment and released after clearing waivers, and the signing wound up paying dividends.
Braiser joined the Dodgers on a Minor League contract in June and initially reported to Camelback Ranch in order to work with the organization’s pitching coaches. Two weeks later, the right-hander joined the Dodgers bullpen for the Freeway Series and remained part of the active roster for the remainder of the regular season.
Although free agency has been slow-moving for several pitchers, Brasier included, he’s been the subject of interest from several teams.
According to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, that includes Brasier possibly re-signing with the Dodgers:
#Dodgers remain firmly in the mix to re-sign veteran reliever Ryan Brasier, a 36-year-old right-hander who should have a fairly robust market after going 2-0 with an 0.70 ERA in 39 games as a setup man for Evan Phillips last season.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) January 8, 2024
Across 39 appearances for the Dodgers, Brasier pitched to a 0.70 ERA, 2.48 FIP and 0.72 WHIP in 38.2 innings.
Despite their continued interest, fitting Brasier back into the Dodgers bullpen would require some roster maneuvering. So far this offseason, the Dodgers already exercised Blake Treinen’s option for 2024, re-signed Joe Kelly, and reportedly have interest in Josh Hader as well.
Furthermore, Yency Almonte, Caleb Ferguson, J.P. Feyereisen, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia appear poised to be part of the Dodgers bullpen during the 2024 season as well.
Dave Roberts compared Ryan Brasier to Chris Martin
After watching Brasier emerge as a key contributor for multiple months, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts compared his turnaround to what Chris Martin experienced after being acquired in 2022.
“He’s had a tremendous impact,” Roberts said of Brasier last September. “I look at Ryan as a neutral leverage reliever. I didn’t know a whole lot about him, but probably a comparable would be what Chris Martin did for us last year.
“A guy you can trust in any spot, I love the compete, I love the pulse, he doesn’t get too high, doesn’t a say a whole lot. Whatever we’ve needed from him, he’s done. For me, he’s been a pleasant, pleasant surprise.”
Prior to being traded by the Chicago Cubs, Martin had a 4.31 ERA through roughly the midway point of the 2022 season. With the Dodgers, he pitched to a 1.46 ERA and 0.53 WHIP.
Martin went on to sign a two-year, $17.5 million contract with the Red Sox.
The St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs have also been among the teams linked to Brasier in free agency.
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