Dodgers News: LA signs former Red Sox and Brewers pitchers, 40-man roster space cleared

Every year, the Dodgers make a slew of minor-league deals with pitchers you've probably never heard of. At one point, that was Evan Phillips; it was Anthony Banda, Brent Honeywell Jr., and so on. They don't always work out in the way that those three have, but the Dodgers have a special place in their heart for trying to spin discarded pitchers into something workable.

Over the weekend, they made two such signings; former Red Sox and Diamondbacks reliever Joe Jacques, and minor league reliever Justin Jarvis, who has spent time in the Brewers and Mets' systems, but has yet to see his MLB debut. Both were drafted in 2018; Jarvis in the fifth round by the Brewers, and Jacques in the 33rd round by the Pirates.

Jacques only pitched three total major league innings this past season - 1 2/3 in Boston and 1 1/3 in Arizona - and gave up three earned runs. Jarvis has been tossed up and down through the levels of the minors since he was drafted, and split time between Double- and Triple-A with the Mets this year, pitching 87 innings for a 4.55 ERA.

Again, the Dodgers like to make these kinds of signings, many of which don't pan out. However, Jacques has received an invitation to spring training along with his deal, so he could be a name to watch out for in February.

Dodgers sign relievers Joe Jacques, Justin Jarvis; Connor Brogdon elects free agency

In more little transaction news, reliever Connor Brogdon was outrighted from the 40-man roster and sent to Triple-A on Nov. 14, and he elected free agency the next day. Brogdon was a pickup from the Phillies back in April in exchange for minor league pitcher Benony Robles. Brogdon pitched a single inning for LA the day after the trade, during which time he gave up two runs on two homers, and he was placed on the 15-day IL just a few days later with plantar fasciitis.

He started rehabbing in early May but was placed on the 60-day IL instead of making a return to the club. He finished out the season in Triple-A rehabbing, but was never reinstated to the roster before the season ended.

Brogdon leaving clears up a space on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, leaving them at 37. It's likely that at least one of those spaces will be used to protect a prospect who's vulnerable to the Rule 5 Draft this year, but the Dodgers also have some wiggle room to accommodate any major league free agent signings without having to make some tough decisions.