Dodgers News: Dodgers Bring Back Yency Almonte, Reuniting the Two Sides for First Time Since 2023
Almonte returns to L.A. seeking a fresh start after injuries derailed his previous stint in Chicago.
GLENDALE, AZ—As we inch closer to the first Cactus League game for the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the team has reportedly signed veteran right-handed relief pitcher Ynecy Almonte to a minor league deal, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Before reports of the deal were made public, Almonte announced the partnership between both sides again on an Instagram post this morning.
Almonte, 31, was a key relief pitcher for the Dodgers in 2022, posting an impressive 1.02 ERA over 35.1 innings that season. However, in the National League Division Series, he gave up 3 runs in 2.1 innings across three games, as the Dodgers lost in four games to their NL West rivals, the San Diego Padres.
Despite the slight setback, Almonte was set to become a key arm in the Dodgers’ 2023 bullpen but would suffer major setbacks, including the start of lingering shoulder issues, as his once dominant ERA would balloon to 7.71 over 48 innings.
The Dodgers would sell high on Almonte that offseason, shipping him and top prospect Michael Busch to the Chicago Cubs in a deal that would bring now top prospects Zyhir Hope and left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris to Los Angeles.
Almonte wasnt much help for the Cubs in his debut year in the Windy City, pitching just 15.2 innings in what would be his last appearances at the Major League level.
The right-hander would re-sign with the Cubs during the 2025 season on a minor league deal, splitting time between Class-A and Double-A, allowing four earned runs across 19.1 innings.
While the Dodgers’ bullpen is full on paper, the team has already suffered some setbacks with key players, losing right-hander Evan Phillips for the first half of the regular season and Brock Stewart and Brusdar Graterol to open the season due to their shoulder rehab.
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