The Dodgers announced that they have designated right-hander Phil Bickford for assignment. His roster spot will go to righty Joe Kelly, who has now been activated after being acquired from the White Sox yesterday.
Bickford, now 28, made a very brief major league debut with the Brewers before getting claimed off waivers by the Dodgers in May of 2021. He went on to make 56 appearances in the rest of that season, posting a 2.50 earned run average. He struck out 29.5% of batters faced while walking 9% of them and kept the ball on the ground at a 47.9% clip. He was likely helped by the baseball gods a little bit, as his .243 batting average on balls in play and 83.3% strand rate were both on the lucky side, but his 3.57 FIP and 3.28 SIERA still suggested he was a solid waiver wire pickup.
Things have trended in the wrong direction since then, however. He posted a 4.72 ERA in 60 appearances last year, with his strikeout and ground ball rates both dropping from the year prior. This year, his ERA is all the way up to 5.14 as he’s walking 13.7% of opponents. He’s still getting punchouts at a solid 25.3% clip but the overall results have been poor enough that he’s been squeezed out of the club’s plans. Since he’s out of options, they had little choice but to designate him for assignment.
The trade deadline is now just three days away, so the Dodgers have some time to potentially flip Bickford elsewhere. Despite the rough showing of late, he’s been in better form before. He’s also a former first-round pick, as the Giants grabbed him with the 18th overall selection in 2015, before sending him to the Brewers in the 2016 Will Smith trade. He has between two and three years of service time, meaning he could be retained for four more seasons beyond this one, though his out-of-options status means he would need an active roster spot.
FINALLY!!!!!!
Seems to me this season B-ford didn’t have a clue where his pitch was headed.
About F.ing time they DFA Bickford!
Next a replacement for Austin Banes and his .100 BA !!!
Why do fans spend so much time complaining about back up catchers batting average. Firstly it doesn’t matter, all batting averages. And it certainly doesn’t matter for a back up catcher who’s main responsibility is defence
Dude smoke too much weed
95% of NBA players smoke weed and they seem to do ok
How do you know that it is that figure? Or are you just blowing smoke?
Wow pretty racist comment bro
zero racism in that comment. Why you mad?
Where’s the racism? We know where your mind is, racist!
We’ll there’s your sign off, ROTFL!
Cyrano De Bergerac on line one.
True
Who do we think Lynn will replace on the active roster?
Buihl
Justin Bruihl for Lynn, Bickford for Kelly
I meant to say **active roster. He is currently not on the Active roster
Well eventually rotation will be Kershaw, Urias, Gonsolin, Miller and Lynn
Are you sure about that?
And/or Pepiot though he might running out of time.
“Sure”? No. They could make another trade or there could be an injury. But they aren’t bumping Julio or Tony for Pepiot or Grove.
I thought Eddys’ spot went to Lynn, Bruihl’s to Kelly? Didn’t know a third DFA was necessary.
Sheehan pitched Saturday night like a man that doesn’t want to lose his spot in the rotation. It was great to see. Tony G might not be a lock for the 5th spot after all.
The other Miller is my guess
Good luck Phil! Hard job to do in a bad bullpen!
Hard to see Tyson Miller having more value to Dodgers or other teams than Bickford. Have to believe Phil will be included in a deadline deal.
He gone…
Bruihl better. Finally.
Long overdue. He should be surfing in HB tomorrow
Dave did him no favors the way he used him in the bullpen.
Fernando usage 2.0
Dave doesn’t do any pitchers any favors the way he uses them in the bullpen. Let’s DFA Roberts next
Couldn’t agree more DFA Dave
2nd that
Yeah it amazing how he keeps his job when he refuses to play the Friedman game plan and roster.
Has absolutely nothing to do with his usage. Phillips is used in several different ways and he’s been great. The difference . . . Phillips is good; Bickford is not. This is all on Bickford, not Roberts.
Put him in a game? I agree
Good hair and good K numbers. I wouldn’t mind the Orioles seeing if they can get him back on track if he can be optioned.
Bickford to Huntington Beach as part of the Ohtani deal.,
Always be known for giving up 700 to Pujols.
Um, not quite Al Downing and Hank Aaron
Looks like a solid reclamation project/churn for Chaim Bloom
LOL but we were told Mark Prior has the Midas touch?
This move is probably worth two games in the standings. Bravo!
Giants can get him back !!
I remember the day the Giants drafted him, so much hope up in smoke!
Oakland needs to pick this dude up and see if they can fix him. We’ve passed on a couple interesting arms like Chirinos when there are spots available in the pen. Not sure what the FO is doing not taking a chance on some of these players.
Definitely seems like an Oakland or Pittsburgh claim here. Same for bruihl.
THANK GOD Pedro Baez- er, Phil Bickford is gone!!