Continuing to display their desire to bolster organizational depth on mound for the 2023 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reunited with Rubby De La Rosa by signing him to a Minor League contract.
De La Rosa, who will turn 34 years old in February and last appeared in the Major Leagues in 2017 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, spent the last four seasons as a relief pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. Since 2019 he has posted respectable numbers overseas, delivering a 2.53 ERA in 124.1 innings.
Originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Dodgers in 2007, De La Rosa made his MLB debut with L.A. in 2011. His rookie season saw the Dominican Republic native carry a solid 3.71 ERA across 13 appearances (10 starts) over 60.2 innings of work.
The following season, De La Rosa’s brief time with the Dodgers came to an end when he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox as one of the two players to be named later in the trade that sent Adrián González, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to the West Coast.
Despite only making 98 total appearances (70 starts) on a big league mound, De La Rosa could offer Los Angeles reliable bullpen depth for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Over parts of seven seasons with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Red Sox, the right-hander is a lifetime 26-30 with a 4.49 ERA.
While it’s still to be determined if De La Rosa will receive an invitation to big league camp in Spring Training, it’s highly anticipated that once the season begins he will pitch as a member of the OKC Dodgers bullpen.
Although one could argue that it is unlikely that he will find his way onto the Dodgers roster in 2023, the team has regularly been known to tap into their depth.
Rubby De La Rosa joins recent Dodgers signings
In addition to De La Rosa, the Dodgers have signed the likes of Matt Andriese, Dylan Covey, Jordan Yamamoto and Adam Kolarek this offseason.
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