The Dodgers and left-hander Andrew Heaney have agreed to a deal, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The southpaw had recently been released by the Pirates. Heyman notes that Heaney signed in time to be eligible for the playoffs, so the deal must have been signed late last night. Heyman also says Heaney will initially report to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which suggests this is a minor league deal. Chris Cotillo of MassLive had previously reported that Heaney would be signing with a National League team.
It’s a reunion between the two parties, as Heaney spent the 2022 season with the Dodgers and enjoyed some of the best success of his career. He logged an excellent 3.10 ERA with L.A. and fanned a career-best 35.5% of his opponents against a tidy 6.1% walk rate (second-lowest of his career). Shoulder problems limited Heaney to just 14 starts and 72 2/3 innings that season, however.
His relatively small-sample dominance was still enough to earn him a two-year deal with an opt-out in Texas. Though he wasn’t nearly as dominant on a rate basis with the Rangers, Heaney did pile up 307 1/3 innings over 59 starts, pitching to a 4.22 ERA with a quality 23.2% strikeout rate and a better-than-average 7.6% walk rate. It was at least mildly surprising that he lingered on the free-agent market into February this past offseason, and his one-year, $5.25MM deal with the Bucs looked like a bargain early in the season.
Through mid-June, Heaney sported a 3.33 ERA with an 18.5% strikeout rate and 7.5% walk rate. The 34-year-old lefty’s average velocity had dipped slightly under 90 mph, and his strikeout rate declined accordingly, but Heaney continued to post solid results, even while ERA alternatives like SIERA (4.53) remained skeptical of those run-prevention numbers.
Regression indeed reared its ugly head. Heaney was trounced for seven runs in back-to-back starts in mid-June and hasn’t been able to right the ship. In 42 innings since mid-June (nine starts, three relief appearances), Heaney has been throttled for 43 earned runs in 42 innings. He’s continued to limit walks nicely (7.3%), but his strikeout rate has plummeted to 12% and he’s averaged A staggering 2.79 homers per nine innings pitched.
For now, Heaney will look to get back on track in Oklahoma City. The Dodgers are quite familiar with Heaney and have gotten strong results from him in the past, so they’ll hope to turn the clock back a few years. Heaney has experience both in the rotation and bullpen, so he can be depth for a variety of roles in his return to the Dodger organization.
That was a bit of a predictable move. Let’s go BEAT LA!!!! Any team but LA this year.
Heavy was released by the Pirates last week and the Dodgers play at PNC this week. Too bad Brandy is going to OKC, would have been fun to see his reception in Pittsburgh.
There are 2 versions of Heaney. One, total lock down. The other? Batting practice. Nothing in between.
this is a better gamble than Ferris?
Yes, only if they plan on using Heaney for a couple of games to eat guys and then to release Heaney.
Ferris is the better option if they are looking for a post-season reliever.
An arm is an arm i guess.
Would have rather signed Walker back instead of this.
If I ever have a son I’m going to make him learn how to pitch left handed.
The Dodger bullpen is hurting – maybe he can channel his 2022 strikeout stuff in a relief role.
Heaney, if he gets called up, won’t stay on the 28-man for long. He won’t make it to the end of regular season…take it to the bank.
It’s been an hour, officially marking his second longest tenure in three attempts.