I had a feeling the Chicago Cubs might get involved in these conversations when the Los Angeles Dodgers DFA’d an already-signed, and very-effective reliever in Ryan Brasier. Sure enough, the Cubs are getting him.
Via Jeff Passan:
The Chicago Cubs are acquiring right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, sources tell ESPN. Brasier, 37, was DFA’d last week but should get leverage innings for Chicago.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 5, 2025
When he’s been healthy, Brasier has been sneaky good for a while now, which is why the Dodgers (and several other clubs, including the Cubs) were trying to sign him last year. With a cascade of pitchers and pitching additions, though, the Dodgers’ only option was to start shedding actually useful players. It’s really annoying that the Cubs are in a spot to pick up the cast-offs, so to speak, but better than just saying no to a good and roster-fitting player, right?
No details on the trade just yet, but the return should not be significant. Notable? Maybe so, depending on the dollars involved (Brasier is owed $4.5 million for 2025, so we’ll see if the Dodgers are eating any of that). But even if notable, this should not be a huge give by the Cubs.
Which isn’t to say Brasier isn’t a very good addition to the bullpen, and probably their final big league one.
“Brasier, 37, was a late bloomer, taking into his mid-30s to really find footing in the big leagues. He was a stud in 2023 between the Red Sox and Dodgers, though, which is what got him that interest last offseason. Ultimately, Brasier re-signed with the Dodgers on a two-year, $9 million deal. But he dealt with a serious calf injury in 2024, which limited him to just 28.0 innings of 3.54 ERA ball. The peripherals were still good (19% better than league average by FIP-), and, notably, he was very good in the final month and a half of the season after returning from the calf injury: 2.76 ERA, 1.94 FIP, 16.1 IP. He did get bit by the long ball in the postseason, for what that’s worth.”
Were Brasier a free agent, it seems likely he’d be looking at a deal in the range of what the Dodgers were set to pay him, if that helps you calibrate his value. ZiPS projects him for a 3.49 ERA, which would make him one of the better later-inning options for the Cubs.
Because he will not cost a huge salary, you could speculate that the addition of Brasier means the Cubs have dollars available to spend elsewhere on the roster (which will have you saying things like Alex Bregman, Dylan Cease, and the like). We’ll see. I’m less sanguine than some others about the Cubs’ ability/willingness to spend right up to the luxury tax line this offseason, but I hope I’m wrong.
The only thing I don’t love about this deal is that it probably closes the door on the Cubs signing David Robertson, who is three years older, but who has been healthier and projects at least as well for 2025 (and is coming off a dominant 2024).
The Cubs will need to clear a 40-man roster spot for Brasier, by the way. More soon.
UPDATE: Maddie Lee reports that the return to the Dodgers is a Player to Be Named Later, which sounds about right. If I had to guess, based on the timing, the Dodgers’ options on the list will be some guys who are close to the organizational roster bubble and are being evaluated in Spring Training. Like I said, it might be a name you know, but it probably will not be a significant loss. (The alternative is that it could be someone a little more experienced at the margins of the Cubs’ own 40-man roster, with the Dodgers wanting a couple guys like that on the list in case they suffer an injury in early spring.)
And, as with all PTBNLs, it could just wind up being cash down the road.
What I want to know is whether the Dodgers – who pay a 110% tax on everything right now – are kicking in any cash. Even if they sent $2 million (and retained that on their luxury tax number), they’d still be saving nearly $5.5 million in real money, since Brasier costs them about $9.5 million this year ($4.5 million plus the 110% tax).
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