Dodgers' desperate MiLB signing spree continues with oft-injured former Tigers reliever

It's been nearly impossible to keep track of the relievers the Dodgers have been signing to minor league deals, grabbing off of the waiver wire, or making tiny trades for over the past few weeks. Two days into June, they recalled and then optioned Noah Davis, traded Joe Jacques to the Mariners for a guy named Will Klein, recalled Ryan Loutos, and DFA'ed Chris Stratton in their mad dash effort to cover for all of their pitching injuries.

Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets broadcaster Alex Freedman reported another addition on Sunday in former Tigers reliever Kyle Funkhouser, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021 and was pitching in the Mexican League when the Dodgers signed him.

Funkhouser does have a history with the Dodgers; he ended signing with the Tigers after a fourth-round selection in the 2016 draft, but the Dodgers had drafted him in 2015 with the 35th overall pick. He turned down a $1.75 million signing bonus and went back to pitch his senior year at the University of Louisville instead, where he clearly didn't increase his stock.

That existing interest in him is intriguing, and maybe it means the Dodgers have a little extra incentive to try to fix him.

Dodgers sign former Tigers reliever Kyle Funkhouser to a minor league deal after brief stint in Mexico

The Tigers released Funkhouser in particularly brutal fashion at the end of 2022, after he spent the entire season on the IL and underwent a shoulder surgery. He spent 2023 in the Rangers' minor league system, but only pitched four innings as he dealt with more injuries, and didn't pitch professionally for all of 2024.

He remained out of a job until April of this year, when he signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League and pitched 26 innings for a 4.50 ERA.

He already made his first appearance with the Comets on Sunday, pitching 2 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs including a homer, which isn't exactly a promising start. At this rate, however, it'd be unsurprising if we see Funkhouser in the majors this month as the bullpen carousel continues.

Michael Kopech and Edgardo Henriquez's rehab assignments in Triple-A could indicate that reinforcements are coming soon, but it's hardly enough to fill the gaping hole that seven other relievers' injuries have left in the roster.