Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao rejected his Minor League assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City and instead elected free agency, per Eric Stephen of True Blue LA. Tsao was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Oklahoma City on Nov. 9.
He had the option to refuse the assignment due to holding over three years of Major League service time and having previously been outrighted to the Minors. The 35-year-old made an improbable return to the Majors last season after signing with the Dodgers in January 2015.
Tsao appeared in five games that year, sporting a 10.29 ERA over five games. The 35-year-old only managed to pitch in two games for the Dodgers this season before suffering a triceps strain at the end of May.
In his final game of 2016, Tsao walked the bases loaded, then walked home the winning run against the San Diego Padres in an extra-innings loss at Petco Park.
Prior to joining the Dodgers the right-hander made 17 appearances for Oklahoma City, recording six saves, and going 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 14 strikeouts to five walks in 16.1 innings.
Tsao pitched for the Colorado Rockies from 2003-05 before latching on with the Dodgers in 2007. He then did not pitch in the Majors until 2015. Tsao was with Los Angeles in each of the past two seasons on Minor League contracts.
