The Dodgers are bringing right-handed reliever Yency Almonte back on a minor league contract, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reports. The Rosenhaus Sports client will presumably be in big league camp.
It’s the second stint with the Dodgers for the 31-year-old Almonte. He was with Los Angeles in 2022-23, combining for 83 1/3 innings with a 3.35 ERA, 23.9% strikeout rate and 11.9% walk rate out of manager Dave Roberts’ bullpen. That production came in quite uneven fashion, however; Almonte delivered 35 1/3 innings of immaculate 1.02 ERA ball in 2022 but was roughed up for a 5.06 mark in 48 innings in 2023. The Dodgers traded Almonte to the Cubs alongside Michael Busch in a 2024 swap that brought prospects Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris back to Los Angeles. (Neither has made his MLB debut yet, but Hope currently sits No. 63 on Baseball America’s Top 100 list.)
Almonte’s two years in Chicago didn’t go as either he or the team hoped. He posted a 3.45 ERA in 2024 but was limited to just 15 2/3 innings due to a shoulder strain that wiped out the bulk of his season. The Cubs passed Almonte through outright waivers in November 2024. He subsequently elected free agency but returned on a minor league contract. Injuries again derailed his season, as he pitched just 19 1/3 frames in Chicago’s minor league ranks in 2025.
In 223 major league innings, Almonte carries a 4.44 ERA, 22.5% strikeout rate, 9.9% walk rate and 43.5% ground-ball rate. He struggled with the Rockies earlier in his career (5.30 ERA in four seasons) but carries a more encouraging 3.36 mark in 99 innings since moving away from Coors Field. Almonte sat at or just shy of 96 mph with both his four-seamer and sinker during his time with the Dodgers but was down about two miles per hour on each pitch with the Cubs prior to hitting the injured list with that shoulder strain.
The Dodgers don’t have a clear need for another arm in a deep bullpen that’s headlined by Edwin Diaz, Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia, but Almonte could fight for a job in camp and, failing that, provide some experienced depth with their Triple-A club in Oklahoma City.
Wow.
Why?
Wow doesn’t need a reason.
I have this guttural reaction to seeing any news about the Dodgers adding someone as just more bullsh*t. Even the typical minor league signings like this. Dodgers are the NEW New York Yankees. Love to hate them.
How endearing.
Uncle Ricky
Would you read us a bedtime story?
Please, huh? Please?
About the time Bob had a guttural reaction?
If you know you know
I would tell you a bedtime story about Bob and his Gutteral Reaction but it’s an all too common tale that every child knows by heart.
These pesky Dodgers and their minor league pickups. They need to sign some real talent if they ever hope to compete.
And we love you to hate them, especially when you go all guttural.
BTW, it’s highly unlikely that Almonte ends up either on the roster or in the minors.
I hope he growled in a cool way when it happened.
That would be awesome.
Yeah. The Jettsons’ dog Astro comes to mind.
See!!! You guys are already just like Yankee fans!! Its great!!
Not quite there yet. Give it another few chips and the yearly expectation of winning it every season. Then, we’ll be on that level. At this point, we’re not even used to it yet….
@bob9988 2 sorry the Mariners ain’t on the Dodgers level. Perhaps your Mariners should follow what the Dodgers do and use that money a bit more.
Be honest now, which Dodgers teams did you like better — the ones that lost in the postseason, or the ones that won in the postseason? Either? Neither? About equal?
Yency Almonte broke baseball by joining the only team he ever had success with!!!!
Welcome back, Champ.
I’m okay with this. The Cubs still have Matthew Busch (IYKYK) Thanks LA
It’s Michael Busch.
Dodgers went back to back without Busch. They are just fine with collecting the prospects
Danny Almonte?!? Wow! Where ya been?
I honestly didn’t realize he is an American until I looked at his Baseball reference page and realized he might be the 3rd most famous athlete from his high school behind Heisman Mendoza then Mr Coffee Ed Lynch and finally Yancheng