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Dodgers lose potential pitching depth to White Sox after waiver gamble backfires

ByAdam Weinrib|
Apr 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoendrys Gomez (94) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Apr 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoendrys Gomez (94) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

It's only early May, but the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers are firmly already in "Grab All the Pitching You Can" Mode after losing Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow from the rotation, as well as Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, and 12 more familiar relievers from their bullpen mix. That smash-and-grab attitude is bound to lead to a lot of burn and churn, and the more controllable relievers with minor-league options they're able to get their hands on, the better. That's why it stings extra when they attempt to clear an option-free player through waivers and can't make the math work, as was the case with Yoendrys Gómez on Saturday.

The Dodgers swept up Gómez after the Yankees let him loose at the end of April, and were the beneficiaries of several teams higher on the pecking order passing on the former top pitching prospect for whatever reason.

It was always unlikely he'd stick in LA the whole season; after all, the organization that knew him best in New York considered him to be at the bottom of their food chain as a long man after breaking camp at the end of spring training. Even after two ghastly outings against the Marlins - seven earned runs in 1 1/3 innings - it seemed likely the Dodgers would rather he clear waivers and head down to Oklahoma City rather than depart the organization.

Instead, the Chicago White Sox - a team that passed on Gómez during his last carousel - decided to take a shot (after his big-league reps had inarguably gotten worse). Chicago released former top pick Greg Jones and nabbed Gómez as a potential innings-eater on Saturday.

Dodgers' Yoendrys Gómez heads to White Sox after DFA

Riding high off a remarkable comeback win in the desert, the Dodgers don't really want to think about pitching depth at the moment. Still, without a frenzied rally and Shohei Ohtani's titanic tater, that would've been the story of Friday night's game. Roki Sasaki looked less than able to cover a significant amount of ground, and even previous bullpen stalwarts like Alex Vesia shook. With so few trusted arms available, the ones the Dodgers do have will really have to step it up from this point forward to avoid stumbling in the dangerous NL West.

Gómez had a chance to state his case in two low-stakes opportunities with the Dodgers and didn't earn a return engagement. Still, it's tough to say goodbye to any viable arms with pedigree in LA's current state.

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