The Los Angeles Dodgers surprised many by designating James Paxton for assignment, effectively removing him from the 40-man roster. Paxton had been underperforming, and with an 8.66 ERA over his last four starts, the Dodgers decided to release him to make room for top prospect River Ryan. Despite Paxton’s struggles, the Dodgers continue to make moves to address their pitching staff’s injury issues.
On Thursday morning, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Dodgers signed starting pitcher Jordan Lyles to a minor-league deal. Lyles, who was recently released by the Kansas City Royals, was not claimed off waivers by any team.
Lyles has had a challenging career, with a career ERA of 5.22 and never finishing a season with an ERA below 4.00. However, the 33-year-old provides the ability to pitch a lot of innings, averaging nearly 179 innings over the past three seasons. For the Dodgers, who need someone to cover innings due to their injured starters, Lyles could offer some valuable support.
The addition of Lyles is similar to last season’s trade for Lance Lynn. Reliable veteran starters who can pitch every four or five days are valuable, especially during the long regular season. This move also reflects the Dodgers front office’s confidence in their pitching coaches, as turning Lyles into a productive pitcher will require their expertise.
With Tyler Glasnow recently returning and Clayton Kershaw soon to follow, Lyles may not have a significant role for the Dodgers, even with Walker Buehler, Dustin May, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto still recovering from injuries.
