Having reportedly agreed to terms with Kenley Jansen on a five-year, $80 million contract, the Los Angeles Dodgers can now shift their focus in the bullpen to adding complementary pieces. Aside from Jansen, the club’s most notable reliever to hit the open market was Joe Blanton.
He remains a free agent, and a recent report indicated interest in Blanton and other second-tier relievers was growing after Aroldis Chapman, Jansen and Mark Melancon signed. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi identified Blanton as one of the club’s priorities this offseason.
Along with Blanton, Los Angeles has been connected to former Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland and most recently, Pittsburgh Pirates free agent Neftali Feliz.
While either of the two may eventually sign with the Dodgers, the team has first added former Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Steve Geltz on a Minor-League contract, according to Chris Cotillo of SB Nation:
Reliever Steve Geltz to the Dodgers on a minor-league deal.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 7, 2017
Geltz, who was signed as an amateur free agent by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008, but only appeared in two games for them prior to being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013. Geltz went 2-9 with a 4.22 ERA, 5.34 FIP, 1.12 WHIP and averaged 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 108 games over parts of the past three seasons with the Rays.
The 29-year-old spent the bulk of the 2016 season with Triple-A Durham, going 0-2 with three saves and a 3.03 ERA in 31 games. The Milwaukee Brewers claimed Geltz off waivers last November, then outrighted him five days later.
Geltz is the Dodgers’ second signing in as many days, with the club previously inking former Rays catcher Bobby Wilson to a Minor League contract.
