1:37pm: The Dodgers formally announced the selection of Covey’s contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City. In a pair of corresponding moves, lefty Justin Bruihl was optioned to Triple-A and right-hander Jimmy Nelson was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Nelson hasn’t pitched in the Majors this season as he recovers from 2022 Tommy John surgery, and his rehab assignment was recently halted due to some soreness, so his move to the 60-day IL was largely a formality and not a particular surprise.
1:06pm: The Dodgers are going to select the contract of right-hander Dylan Covey, manager Dave Roberts tells reporters, including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The righty isn’t currently on the 40-man, so the club will need a corresponding move or moves to get him a spot there and on the active roster.
Covey, 31, pitched for the White Sox from 2017 through 2019, primarily as a starter. He logged 250 1/3 innings over those three seasons but registered an unimpressive 6.54 ERA. He got grounders at a solid 50% clip but struck out just 15.3% of batters faced while walking 10.1%. The Red Sox gave him eight relief appearances in 2020 but he put up a 7.07 ERA in those.
He then spent the next two years with the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, faring quite well. He made 33 starts there over 2021 and 2022 with a 3.63 ERA in 198 1/3 innings. He returned to North America this winter by signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers and currently has a 4.22 ERA through 32 Triple-A innings over six starts and one relief appearance, getting grounders on 62.2% of balls in play.
He will add a fresh arm to a bullpen that has been busy this week. The club played a 12-inning game on Monday and then saw Clayton Kershaw last just four innings yesterday, leading to the relief corps getting plenty of work. Covey can slot in and potentially cover multiple innings if need be, with the club’s next off-day not until May 25, next Thursday.
Eric Gagne…. Move over!!
Presumably clayton is going on the bereavement list. Just speculation on my part
He played in China for the Rakutun Monkees.
Dodgers signed him for a case of Rhesus Peanut Butter Cups.
So long, Trayce? Or Kershaw bereavement fill in.
Dylan Covey reminds me of the time when the White Sox were bumbling and incompetent. Wait a minute…
Appears they throwing in Covey in ASAP…. Get to see what the former first round pick can do in a hurry. May left in the 1st unexpectedly…. Hope May is okay.
Covey was pretty awful for the Red Sox in 2020, and pretty awful for the White Sox before that. Maybe the Dodgers work some magic and make him at least somewhat useable
He was solid today. Kept them in it
He was amazing. Kept hitters off balance and wasn’t afraid to pitch inside inducing a lot of weak contact. He was obviously gassed his final inning as he lost command and his pitches started to flatten out. Managed to only give up two solo homeruns. He could be a big boost as the Dodger bullpen has gotten a lot of work having to cover 21 innings the last 3 games.