Dodgers' game of ping pong with veteran reliever continues with latest DFA

Since signing with the Dodgers as a free agent just over two weeks ago, Chris Stratton has been a Dodger, then not a Dodger, and then a Dodger again. He was initially signed to a major league deal after being released from the Royals just a few days before, and then was DFA'ed by LA after two appearances, when he pitched three innings and gave up two runs, including a first-pitch homer to Aaron Judge.

Stratton seemed to think he could do better, though, so after clearing waivers he elected free agency instead of accepting an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

He spent a single day as a free agency before signing another major league deal with the Dodgers. He came in for an inning on Friday during the Dodgers' series opener against the Cardinals, gave up St. Louis' fifth run — a homer to Willson Contreras — en route to a shutout loss for LA, and then he was DFA'ed again the following day.

Will the cycle continue? Will Stratton elect free agency again only to come crawling back to the only team with a bullpen injured enough to want him? Maybe another team will end up being moved when they see him come down the waiver wire this time, but it feels far more likely that he just accepts the assignment to OKC this time around.

Chris Stratton DFA'ed by Dodgers again after initial DFA, one-day free agency, and second major league signing

If Stratton initially left for money reasons, then hubris might be the guy's fatal flaw. There was no way he was going to make more than league minimum playing for anybody when he left Kansas City with a 7.94 ERA and had a 5.55 ERA last season, and the Royals still owe him money.

If the concern was playing time, that's also slightly ludicrous. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the Dodgers are performing a tightrope act with their bullpen right now. They're not calling up the best of the best to cover for all of their injuries, but the guys that do get promoted have incredibly short leashes. Stratton didn't perform, so why should he feel entitled to stay in the bullpen?

Really, the best chance Stratton has to see more major league playing time is to accept that outright assignment to OKC, deal with being part of the carousel, and actually get better if he really wants to stay.