The Dodgers have signed right-hander Lou Trivino to a minor league contract, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco reports. Trivino was only briefly on the open market, as he elected to become a free agent just yesterday after he was designated for assignment by the Giants and cleared waivers.
Trivino inked a minors deal with San Francisco during the offseason, and he locked in a $1.5MM salary from that contract after an impressive spring performance earned Trivino a spot on the Opening Day roster. Unfortunately, the righty’s Spring Training numbers didn’t translate to the regular season, as Trivino posted a 5.84 ERA over 12 1/3 innings out of the Giants’ bullpen. His strikeout and walk rates were below average, but the largest issue was the long ball, as Trivino gave up four home runs in his short span as a Giant.
The Pro Edge Sports Management client now looks for a fresh start with the Giants’ arch-rivals in Los Angeles. A minor league deal is a no-risk endeavor for the Dodgers in seeing what Trivino can bring, and the club’s ever-present need for healthy arms means that Trivino could see some action with the World Series champs in pretty short order. Given the Dodgers’ history of reviving pitchers’ careers, it wouldn’t even be a surprise to see Trivino return to pre-injury form.
Trivino posted a 3.86 ERA in 284 2/3 innings with the A’s and Yankees from 2018-22, with the bulk of that work coming with Oakland before the Athletics dealt him to the Bronx at the 2022 trade deadline. Trivino’s penchant for walks led to some inconsistent performances, but when he was on, he was very sharp. For instance, he performed well as the Athletics’ closer in 2021, and he had 1.66 ERA in 21 2/3 innings with the Yankees over the remainder of the 2022 season.
Unfortunately, Trivino missed the entirety of the 2023-24 seasons due to a Tommy John surgery, and then some elbow and shoulder soreness that held up his rehab enough that he couldn’t make it back it back onto a big league mound before 2024 was over. His early-season struggles and a minor dip in his pre-2023 velocity could well be some side effects of Trivino just working his way back into form after the long layoff, adding to the possible upside for the Dodgers.
low risk to a team filled with injured arms
Yeah, I guess, but not “no risk” as it says here. The cost may be relatively small, but not nothing, and he takes up a roster spot. I don’t know why we keep hearing about these signings as Dodgers turnaround projects. The actual pattern is marginal relievers getting a few innings of mop-up work and being sent on their way. He’s basically the new Gomez. If he’d cleared waivers, the Dodgers wouldn’t have gone after Trivino.
If they need the room on the 40 he’ll be the first one gone.
If he can make the adjustments that they’ll recommend he’ll get a shot at the big club, pitch 6 innings or so that’ll act as a showcase. If effective, and the roster permits, he might stick. If not he’ll get designated and signed by the Pirates or similar.
Next April they’ll mail his World Series ring to Indianapolis.
No risk.
I have to wonder after watching the Dodgers process so many disposable mediocre relievers through their system over the years how anyone can believe any of them are even remotely special. The vast majority of them throw a few innings and are gone.
Any time a roster spot is allocated to a player this represents a risk. No matter how much money a team has to spend, they all have to work with the same number of players.
RIF. He cleared waivers, was a free agent and therefore is not on the 40-man because he signed a MINOR league contract. The low risk is they can coach him to see if he’s got anything.
For the third time, my argument isn’t with “low” risk, it’s with “no” risk. And just to be clearer still, the minor league rosters are also limited. Every player added to one means someone else is removed. So each time this is done, it represents a choice. It is not a freebee, no matter how often it is implied to be.
I don’t get it I said LOW RISK. who are you arguing with
Read. I actually agreed with you. The disagreement was with the statement in the article.
Dodgers, everybody’s first guess.
I saw Lou Trivino sink a birdie at the masters
Anthony breaks stories?? Cool.
Maybe he can be another effective long reliever in time.
They’ll increase his spin rate and hope for the best.
Dodgers take on all discarded pitchers then In a few weeks he will be DFA’D.
Big Lou is an A’s legend – hope he can turn it back around with the Trolley Dodgers!
another body
Trevino shook head when Happy went ballistic at the putt putt green on Mister clownie