Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed former Padres All-Star relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz to a minor-league deal, per Alex Freedman, the broadcaster/communications director for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The lefty has been assigned to OKC.
Pomeranz, 35, is a testament to resilience, looking to make a comeback to the majors after two challenging seasons. He signed a minor league deal with the Angels this winter but was released at the end of camp.
The lefty had once been one of the most dominant relievers in the league. The Brewers acquired him at the 2019 deadline and moved him from the rotation to the bullpen, at which point Pomeranz fired off 26 1/3 innings with a 2.39 earned run average.
The Padres decided to bet on that breakout, signing Pomeranz to a four-year deal with a $32MM guarantee. Pomeranz made 47 appearances with an ERA of 1.62. His 11.4% walk rate was high, but he struck out 33.7% of batters.
Pomeranz has been out since August 2021 due to surgery for a torn flexor tendon. In Spring Training with the Angels this year, he made nine appearances, striking out six batters while giving up three walks, allowing eight hits and five earned runs.
Why the deal makes sense
The Dodgers, strategically addressing their lack of left-handed relief depth, are taking a calculated risk on Pomeranz. If he performs well in OKC, it’s not far-fetched to imagine the Dodgers utilizing him as a lefty specialist in the bullpen come July.
The Dodgers’ current left-handed specialist is Alex Vesia, who has had an up-and-down three seasons with LA. Vesia has seen a noticeable dip in velocity since 2021, spikes in walks, and decreases in strikeouts. The Dodgers could be preparing for the worst.
Ryan Yarbrough is the other lefty in the Dodgers bullpen who collected the save pitching three innings in the Opening Day 2.0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Dodgers love to take chances on talented pitchers who are recovering from significant injuries, and there’s effectively no risk on a minor deal like this.
Pomeranz can utilize the tools of an organization with a strong track record to help pitchers maximize their results, which could benefit both the player and the club if Pomeranz stays on the mound.
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