The Dodgers have signed Eduardo Salazar to a minor league contract, according to the right-hander’s MLB.com profile page. The Reds outrighted Salazar off their 40-man roster back in August, and he elected minor league free agency after the season.
A member of the Cincinnati organization since 2017, Salazar is now changing teams for the first time in his professional career. His stint with the Reds saw Salazar post a 4.38 ERA over 468 1/3 minor league innings, which includes a rough 9.09 ERA over 32 2/3 career frames at the Triple-A level.
However, 2023 saw Salazar pitch well at Double-A and then over his first few career Triple-A outings, which earned him his first look at the Major League level. The righty ended up posting an 8.03 ERA in 12 1/3 relief innings for the Reds, with an even number of walks and strikeouts (five apiece) over his eight appearances. Salazar’s production started to go south in Triple-A after his struggles in the big leagues, leading Cincinnati to make that outright assignment.
The 25-year-old Salazar had worked mostly as a starter before becoming a full-time reliever in 2023, though his low-strikeout, grounder-heavy approach doesn’t fit the preferred model for bullpen work. Nonetheless, there’s no risk for the Dodgers in bringing Salazar aboard on a minors contract to see if he can unlock any new level of performance. At worst, Salazar is a long relief option at Triple-A, and perhaps even in the majors if L.A. needs a fresh arm on short notice.
The Dodgers do use a low K, high grounder reliever in Graterol. But he throws 99+ mph, and this guy throws 93 mph, per Fangraphs.
This must be the move Friedman was talking about when he said we will do everything to get the Dodgers ready for October.
Salazar threw like 20 scoreless innings or something to start the year which was in AA and AAA. He cratered hard afterwards though
Friedman has officially opened up a brand new bottle, he’s obvious drunk again.