The Dodgers have signed former Red Sox righty Ryan Brasier to a minor league contract, Brasier himself confirmed to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Boston designated the struggling right-hander for assignment in mid-May and released him a week later. He’ll give the Dodgers some experienced bullpen depth in the upper minors.
Brasier, 35, was a vital member of the Boston bullpen during the Sox’ 2018 World Series campaign, returning from a solid stint in Japan to pitch 33 2/3 innings of 1.60 ERA relief. He added another 8 2/3 frames of one-run ball in the postseason, effectively solidifying his place in the Boston bullpen for the foreseeable future.
It’s been a roller-coaster ride for Brasier in Beantown since, however, with more lowlights than highlights. In 176 innings dating back to the 2019 season, the right-hander has worked to an unsightly 5.11 ERA. That’s skewed by particularly rough showings in 2021-22 (6.16 ERA in 83 1/3 innings), which ultimately led to last month’s dismissal.
Recent struggles notwithstanding, Brasier averages nearly 96 mph on his fastball and showed a strong 24.3% strikeout rate and 4.9% walk rate as recently as last season. He continued to post above-average swinging-strike and opponents’ chase rates through the 2022 season. Most of those numbers dipped below the league average in 2023, though Brasier at least kept the ball in the yard at a better-than-average rate during this year’s 21 frames (albeit with concerning exit velocity and hard-contact numbers).
There’s little harm in the Dodgers taking a low-cost flier on the veteran righty, even with this year’s alarming numbers. The Red Sox are paying the remainder of Brasier’s $2MM salary, so all the Dodgers would owe him is the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the MLB roster. Even that’s not a given, as he’s likely headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City for the time being.
The Dodgers are, as usual, a force to be reckoned with in the National League West, sitting on a 35-25 record that puts them in a first-place tie with the upstart D-backs. If there’s one particularly notable flaw in L.A., it’s the bullpen. Dodgers relievers have combined for a 4.64 earned run average this season — the fifth-worst mark in Major League Baseball. They’ve gotten strong efforts from Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson thus far, and Shelby Miller has produced a resurgent 2.77 ERA as well (though with a 16.2% walk rate and .121 BABIP, making him a clear regression candidate). The rest of the relief corps has posted inconsistent or simply poor results, however, so it’s not a surprise to see the Dodgers taking a look at a veteran with some track record in a high-pressure, big-market situation.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is Farhan back with the Dodgers to dumpster dive?
Watch Brasier get called up and pitch lights out for the Dodgers! He can join Eovaldi, Wacha & JDM as former BOS players dominating so far this year.
Say what now? Of the players you mention only Eovaldi is dominating so far this year. JDM looks to have rebounded this season, Wacha looks like he did with the Red Sox and Brasier has been straight garbage.
Welcome to Los Karens
Can’t be much worse than Phil Bickford.
Or even Almonte. My God watching almonte and bickford pitch this year I ve started to grow gray hairs. Oofa
Trust me, it can. Braiser does this thing where he looks amazing for a stretch, then gives up two runs a game for another
Bickford is a thrower not a pitcher. Just watching his follow-through alone has always given me indigestion. Even when he gets results you get the feeling that it can’t last, and it hasn’t lasted.
From bringing up a huge chip like Bobby Miller to inking Brasier …
Babyneck for the win!
Oh great!!! Now we have to contend with my pal Brais in this year’s WS!!! I can see it now… game 7 down one bags loaded( like I am now) Brais vs Bobby Dalbec!!! A titanic moment in sports history!!!! Good for you Brais!!!
At least he didn’t sign with the Rays