LOS ANGELES — When Luis García signed with the Dodgers in the final days before the 2024 season began, expectations were modest. He was a veteran arm with a long résumé, arriving on a minor league deal and fighting for a place on a bullpen that was already facing depth challenges. Fast forward to the end of June, and García has been designated for assignment to make room for the return of younger arms like Edgardo Henriquez. But before we turn the page, let’s take a moment to appreciate what García meant to the Dodgers in the first half of the season.
A Bullpen in Crisis
To understand García’s value, you have to rewind to the early months of the season when the “dogs” from Dodgers’ 2024 bullpen were few and far between. Daniel Hudson was retired. Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly both were not part of the Dodgers’ 2025 plans. Emmet Sheehan, Blake Treinen, and Brusdar Graterol were nowhere in sight, all on the IL. The high-leverage arms that manager Dave Roberts hoped to rely on were either out or being brought along slowly. It was a patchwork operation, and the team desperately needed someone who could take the ball regularly—even if it wasn’t in glamorous situations.
That someone turned out to be Luis García.
Eating Innings When No One Else Could
García’s 27 1/3 innings may not sound like much at first glance, but they represent a key piece of the early-season puzzle. In April and May, when the bullpen was stretched thin, García answered the call again and again. He wasn’t the fireman coming in to strike out the side with the bases loaded, but he was the one mopping up when the starter exited early, or keeping the score manageable during a rough outing. That role may not get the highlight treatment, but it’s essential to keeping a staff afloat over the long grind of a season.
Yes, his 5.27 ERA wasn’t pretty. But if you dig a little deeper, there’s reason to believe the numbers didn’t tell the full story. His .388 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) was wildly unlucky—well above the league average. Meanwhile, his groundball rate (54.1%) stayed solid, and his FIP (3.54) and SIERA (4.24) suggest he was closer to his usual self than the ERA column might indicate. Sometimes, being the steady veteran presence doesn’t come with eye-popping results—it just comes with showing up.
The Veteran Presence
At 38 years old and in his 13th big league season, García wasn’t here to chase personal milestones. He was here to help the team. He’s pitched for eight different MLB clubs and seen nearly every type of roster situation. That experience, especially in the early weeks of a season that started with high expectations but immediate adversity, made a difference in the clubhouse. He gave the Dodgers a durable, professional arm at a time when that was in short supply.
Making Room for the Next Wave
With García being designated for assignment, the Dodgers are making room for younger arms like Edgardo Henriquez, and freshly recalled righty Noah Davis. It’s a sign that some stability is finally returning to the bullpen, and García’s role as a placeholder has been fulfilled. Whether he catches on with another team or elects free agency, it’s clear his stint with the Dodgers served a purpose.
He wasn’t an All-Star. He wasn’t a closer. He wasn’t even someone most fans noticed on a nightly basis. But Luis García was exactly what the Dodgers needed in the early months of 2024—a dependable, veteran workhorse when the bullpen was running on fumes.
So here’s to García. For all the times you kept the game within reach. For every quiet three-out inning that gave the rest of the staff a breather. And for being the kind of teammate that helps hold a contender together when things are fragile.
You did your job, Luis. Dodgers fans noticed—and we thank you. Maybe there’ll be a ring in your future.
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