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Dodgers Designate Phil Bickford For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | July 29, 2023 at 6:35pm CDT

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.

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Los Angeles Dodgers Transactions Joe Kelly Phil Bickford

Rockies Select Chris Flexen
Main
Alec Burleson Drawing Trade Interest
View Comments (50)

Comments

  1. DodgerDan

    2 months ago

    FINALLY!!!!!!

    8
    Reply
    • Mikeyman

      2 months ago

      Seems to me this season B-ford didn’t have a clue where his pitch was headed.

      Reply
  2. THEY LIVE!!!

    2 months ago

    About F.ing time they DFA Bickford!

    5
    Reply
  3. THEY LIVE!!!

    2 months ago

    Next a replacement for Austin Banes and his .100 BA !!!

    9
    Reply
    • iverbure

      2 months ago

      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

      1
      Reply
  4. Tacoshells

    2 months ago

    Dude smoke too much weed

    1
    Reply
    • vtadave

      2 months ago

      95% of NBA players smoke weed and they seem to do ok

      1
      Reply
      • MannyBeingMVP

        2 months ago

        How do you know that it is that figure? Or are you just blowing smoke?

        7
        Reply
      • Tacoshells

        2 months ago

        Wow pretty racist comment bro

        1
        Reply
        • halloffamernobodycares

          2 months ago

          zero racism in that comment. Why you mad?

          9
          Reply
        • receo

          2 months ago

          Where’s the racism? We know where your mind is, racist!

          1
          Reply
      • VirginiaGiant

        2 months ago

        We’ll there’s your sign off, ROTFL!

        Reply
    • mlb fan

      2 months ago

      Cyrano De Bergerac on line one.

      1
      Reply
    • Trueblue 5

      2 months ago

      True

      Reply
  5. VincentChase

    2 months ago

    Who do we think Lynn will replace on the active roster?

    Reply
    • MannyBeingMVP

      2 months ago

      Buihl

      Reply
      • MannyBeingMVP

        2 months ago

        Justin Bruihl for Lynn, Bickford for Kelly

        1
        Reply
    • VincentChase

      2 months ago

      I meant to say **active roster. He is currently not on the Active roster

      Reply
      • MannyBeingMVP

        2 months ago

        Well eventually rotation will be Kershaw, Urias, Gonsolin, Miller and Lynn

        Reply
        • VincentChase

          2 months ago

          Are you sure about that?

          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          2 months ago

          And/or Pepiot though he might running out of time.

          Reply
        • MannyBeingMVP

          2 months ago

          “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.

          1
          Reply
        • Joshy

          2 months ago

          I thought Eddys’ spot went to Lynn, Bruihl’s to Kelly? Didn’t know a third DFA was necessary.

          Reply
        • VincentChase

          2 months ago

          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.

          Reply
    • dodgerfan83

      2 months ago

      The other Miller is my guess

      1
      Reply
  6. mannyl101

    2 months ago

    Good luck Phil! Hard job to do in a bad bullpen!

    1
    Reply
  7. norcalblue

    2 months ago

    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.

    Reply
  8. mlb fan

    2 months ago

    He gone…

    Reply
  9. fre5hwind

    2 months ago

    Bruihl better. Finally.

    Reply
  10. Jordan 5

    2 months ago

    Long overdue. He should be surfing in HB tomorrow

    Reply
  11. Airbal

    2 months ago

    Dave did him no favors the way he used him in the bullpen.

    7
    Reply
    • cobby100

      2 months ago

      Fernando usage 2.0

      1
      Reply
    • IMissVin

      2 months ago

      Dave doesn’t do any pitchers any favors the way he uses them in the bullpen. Let’s DFA Roberts next

      5
      Reply
      • Airbal

        2 months ago

        Couldn’t agree more DFA Dave

        2
        Reply
      • Trueblue 5

        2 months ago

        2nd that

        Reply
      • BlueSkies_LA

        2 months ago

        Yeah it amazing how he keeps his job when he refuses to play the Friedman game plan and roster.

        2
        Reply
    • hunteralan

      2 months ago

      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.

      Reply
    • Zerbs63

      2 months ago

      Put him in a game? I agree

      Reply
  12. King Floch

    2 months ago

    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.

    Reply
    • Rickey O'Sunnyvale

      2 months ago

      Bickford to Huntington Beach as part of the Ohtani deal.,

      Reply
  13. Dotnet22

    2 months ago

    Always be known for giving up 700 to Pujols.

    Reply
    • MannyBeingMVP

      2 months ago

      Um, not quite Al Downing and Hank Aaron

      2
      Reply
  14. soxfan1

    2 months ago

    Looks like a solid reclamation project/churn for Chaim Bloom

    1
    Reply
  15. Neon Cop

    2 months ago

    LOL but we were told Mark Prior has the Midas touch?

    Reply
  16. MetsRTrash

    2 months ago

    This move is probably worth two games in the standings. Bravo!

    3
    Reply
  17. Jacksson13

    2 months ago

    Giants can get him back !!

    Reply
    • agnes gooch

      2 months ago

      I remember the day the Giants drafted him, so much hope up in smoke!

      Reply
  18. NineChampionships

    2 months ago

    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.

    1
    Reply
    • Joshy

      2 months ago

      Definitely seems like an Oakland or Pittsburgh claim here. Same for bruihl.

      1
      Reply
  19. semut

    2 months ago

    THANK GOD Pedro Baez- er, Phil Bickford is gone!!

    Reply

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