The Dodgers have claimed right-handed reliever Erik Goeddel off waivers from the Mariners, reports J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group (via Twitter). He was designated for assignment earlier this week. Because he’s out of minor league options, he’ll be added to the MLB bullpen. It’s also worth noting that the Dodgers signed Goeddel’s younger brother, Tyler Goeddel, to a minor league contract yesterday, as reflected on the league’s transactions page.
The elder Goeddel, 29, had previously spent his career with the Mets organization before landing in Seattle this offseason. The righty was off to a nice start in the Seattle ’pen, tossing 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts, though he also issued five walks and threw a pair of wild pitches. His average fastball velocity, too, was down about a half mile per hour from 2017 and a mile per hour from its peak levels.
Erik entered the 2018 season with a lifetime 3.96 ERA, 9.4 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 104 2/3 MLB innings, though the majority of his best work came in 2014-15. Over the past two seasons, he struggled to a 4.87 ERA at the MLB level, maintaining his penchant for missing bats but also demonstrating shaky control and a proclivity for surrendering home runs. Walks have been an ongoing issue for him throughout his minor league tenure (4.2 BB/9 in 131 Triple-A innings), but home runs haven’t plagued him in the minors.
As for the younger of the two brothers, the 25-year-old Tyler was the 41st pick in the 2011 MLB Draft and the No. 1 pick in the 2015 Rule 5 Draft. The outfielder struggled with the Phillies in his lone big league season, though, hitting just .192/.258/.291 in 234 trips to the plate. He’s a career .263/.344/.358 hitter in 310 Triple-A plate appearances and had been with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate to open the year before being released.
I went to school with a Michael Goeddel, I’m sure they could track him down too
The Dodgers are the kings of picking up players and stashing them. I have a feeling he is gonna be off the roster by Monday.
They are cornering the market.
Why don’t they sign Roger Goodell while they’re at it?
Threshold tax implications.
And Jane Goodall too.
mo’ goeddels mo’ problems.
I heard the Dodgers bought a nice new computer for the analytics department too. It’s a good Dell.
Oodles of Goeddels
Are they also signing Roger Goddel ?
Well “Goed” for them!
Eddie Gaedel?
Eddie Gaedel?
Tribe totally missed the boat on this one. They need some serious bullpen help quickly, and I really thought they’d jump on Goeddel immediately. You snooze, you lose.
Any word on the compensation for the claim?
It’s the same for every claim. Believe it’s $50K.
Thanks. I was thinking of a DFA.
Just to try to clarify all of the different terms: he was originally designated for assignment, which starts a window within which to make a move. He could have been traded, in which case the return could in theory have been anything. But once he went on waivers, any team could simply post the waiver fee to acquire him.
Overheard in the Dodgers’ front office: “I said to claim Erik, not to sign Tyler. GOEDDELL IT! Don’t you listen!”