Dodgers News: Dodgers DFA Tony Gonsolin Amid Roster Crunch

LOS ANGELES, CA—With the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster expanding to 43 players after signing minor leaguers Ryan Ward and Robinson Ortiz and exercising the 1-year, $10 million club option on veteran third baseman Max Muncy, the team needed to make several moves to reduce the roster to 40. One of these moves involved right-hander Tony Gonsolin.

It was initially reported by Dodgers insider Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, and it was later confirmed that the team had DFA’d right-handed starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin as one of the moves to make room on the 40-man roster.

Gonsolin, who is 32 in May, is the most prominent player here. Since his debut in 2019, he has pitched 411.2 innings for the Dodgers, posting a 3.34 ERA, a 23.2% strikeout rate, and an 8.9% walk rate.

However, his recent years have been plagued by health issues. He had Tommy John surgery in 2023 and missed the entire 2024 season. Although he returned to pitching in 2025, he faced new elbow problems, leading to internal brace and flexor repair surgeries in August.

That procedure was an estimated 8-10 month rehab process, essentially putting him on the shelf not only for the rest of the 2025 season but, at a minimum, the first half of the 2026 regular season.

Gonsolin was eligible for one more year of arbitration before becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season, and while the two sides were able to avoid a hearing last offseason, Gonsolin was projected for around $5.4 million per MLB Trade Rumors.

With the DFA, the Dodgers will have a few days to try and work out a trade for any team willing to take a chance on the injured right-hander, but if there is the odd chance that Gonsolin clears waivers, he would have the right to elect free agency.

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