Dodgers could capitalize on Cubs DFA to improve battered bullpen with tested veteran

The bullpen was a clear area of need for the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into Thursday's trade deadline, and they addressed it ... sort of.

Los Angeles made some relatively low-profile additions to its relief corps, acquiring right-handed reliever Brock Stewart from the Minnesota Twins and rookie bullpen arm Paul Gervase from the Tampa Bay Rays. It was a rather modest deadline overall for the reigning World Series champs, indicating that they are banking on getting a great deal of talent back from their lengthy injured list down the stretch.

The Dodgers' pitching staff took another hit on Friday, however, when setup man Kirby Yates landed on the IL with lower back soreness. In the meantime, the Dodgers can use all the bullpen help they can get, and a new veteran option may have just become available after the Chicago Cubs designated right-hander Ryan Pressly for assignment as a deadline casualty on Thursday.

Dodgers could capitalize on Cubs DFA to improve battered bullpen with tested veteran Ryan Pressly

As a 13-year MLB veteran and two-time All-Star in 2019 and 2021, Pressly is looking for a bounce-back opportunity after posting some of the worst numbers of his career this season in Chicago. The 36-year-old has pitched to a 4.35 ERA with five saves over 41 1/3 innings, a far cry from his career ERA of 3.33. Perhaps more importantly, though, Pressly owns a 2.78 ERA, 2.01 FIP and 1.08 WHIP across 45 1/3 postseason innings. He absolutely dominated the Yankees and Phillies en route to the Astros' World Series victory in 2022.

Assuming Pressly is eventually released after he clears waivers, any interested new team can sign him to a contract and then just owe him a prorated Major League minimum salary while the Cubs (or the Houston Astros, who traded him to Chicago in January) cover the rest of the $4.5 million he is owed from his previous contract.

The Dodgers certainly aren't the only team still in need of bullpen help after the trade deadline, and Pressly will almost certainly sign with another contender if he doesn't land in Los Angeles. Considering he would cost basically nothing, he would be worth consideration for a Dodgers team that should hardly be taking the health of its pitching staff for granted as they pursue a second consecutive championship.

Another interesting tidbit? Pressly is on pace to log at least 50 games of action dating back to 2019 (excluding the 2020 season, obviously). That could give LA some stability.

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