Cody Snavely
The Dodgers have made their first official move of the 2023-24 MLB offseason, resigning Ricky Vanasco to a one-year Major League deal.
The Dodgers acquired Vanasco last summer after the Texas Rangers designated him for assignment. Vanasco spent most of his big league career in the Rangers system and has been slowed down due to injuries and the cancelation of the 2020 minor league baseball season. In 2021, Vanasco ultimately had to get his first career Tommy John Surgery, pushing his career back.
Another project for LA in 2024?
Upon joining the Dodgers minor league system, it seems Vanasco has revitalized his career, posting a 0.64 ERA and a 36.5 strikeout rate. The Dodgers’ pitching depth in the minor leagues is among the best in baseball, so it is no surprise they got Vanasco on the right path.
When healthy, however, Vanasco pitched quite well in the Dodgers’ system. In fact, after being removed from the team’s 40-man roster, Vanasco logged 28 innings betweeen Double-A and Triple-A while pitching to a pristine 0.64 ERA with a 42-to-10 K/BB ratio (36.5% strikeout rate, 8.7% walk rate). That showing was apparently enough for the Dodgers to offer up a big league deal in order to keep him in the system.
via Steve Adams MLB Trade Rumors
What is surprising, however, is the Dodgers must have liked his numbers last year between AA/AAA enough that they have signed him to a big league deal, thus adding him to the 40-man roster, which now sits at 39 players. Vanasco still has one option remaining, but all signs look to him getting a shot to make the team’s opening-day bullpen in 2024, especially with RHP Shelby Miller unlikely to return.
Next up on the list is the non-tender deadline, which is tonight, where all arbitration-eligible players must be offered a contract, or they will become free agents. Here at DodgersBeat, we have covered who the team could non-tender as the 40-man roster is nearly full.
