The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to evaluate their Major League roster as they continue looking to bring back some valued contributors from their World Series team and add new players to the mix.
Aside from those, the front office is also bringing in Minor League signings for their Spring Training roster and organizational depth. The Dodgers have been busy, already signing David Bote, Aaron Bracho, Joe Jacques, Justin Jarvis and Sam Carlson.
According to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, the Dodgers also signed right-hander Matt Lauer to a Minor League contract that includes a non-roster invite to Spring Training:
RHP Matt Sauer has a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, per source. Deal includes a spring training invite.
The 25-year-old was a major league Rule 5 pick of the Royals last year and was a second round pick of the Yankees in the 2017 draft.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) December 16, 2024
Sauer didn’t find much success in 2024 at the big league level, appearing in 14 games for the Kansas City Royals. He logged a 7.71 ERA and 2.08 WHIP with nine strikeouts in 16.1 innings and a .324 batting average allowed.
First being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, he was returned to the New York Yankees after failing to stick with the Royals.
Sauer was sent down to Triple-A Scraton/Wilkes-Barre in May, but in July, he was demoted to Double-A with the Somerset Patriots. In 24 innings with the Patrios, he posted a 2.63 ERA with 21 strikeouts.
Does Matt Sauer have upside to stick with the Dodgers
Sauer profiles as a five-pitch guy with his main offering being the four-seam fastball. However, his fastball was rocked to a .414 batting average allowed this past season.
There was promise with his sinker and split finger offerings, which the Dodgers are likely to explore entering spring camp. Unless there is a drastic change in his approach, Sauer may be an organizational depth piece aiming for some innings during the 2025 season.
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