Dodgers' roster fodder gets claimed by Orioles in what could be end to carousel

Dodgers fans had to feel bad for Michael Siani in the offseason, when he was sent on multiple cross-country rides on the DFA train.

He started the offseason being DFA'ed by the Cardinals, only to be picked up by the Braves and DFA'ed a month later. The Dodgers picked him up, then dumped him. The Yankees picked him up, then dumped him. The Dodgers picked him up again, and he at least managed to stick around for spring training and to start his season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

But they dumped him yet again last Tuesday when they traded for Alek Thomas. He was claimed on waivers by the Orioles on Monday, his fifth organization between the start of the offseason and now. Surely that's some kind of record.

Maybe the Orioles will find a way to give Siani what the poor guy sort of deserves at this point: some major league playing time. The O's are in far worse shape than the Dodgers right now — 21-26, fourth place in the AL East — so it seems far more likely they'll be able to find some use for him.

Dodgers lose outfielder Michael Siani for the second time to Orioles waiver claim

Siani was asked about his odyssey after his return to the Dodgers, and he was a good sport about it. "This game is a business," he said. "Sometimes you learn that the hard way. Sometimes you learn that the easy way. I think it's important to understand that."

He wasn't hitting especially well in Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .225 with a .658 average in 29 games. This has always sort of been the case with Siani, who has never hit well in the minors or majors. His real calling card is his glove. He was in the 96th percentile in fielding run value with the Cardinals in 2024, which led to Dodgers fans pegging him immediately as LA's Justin Dean replacement.

Thomas is functionally a very similar player, but he has far more upside as the former No. 2 prospect in baseball. The Diamondbacks were never able to unlock his bat, but there's more reason to believe there's something there.

In Siani, the Orioles might have an end-of-the-bench, late-inning-defensive-assurance guy. It's a niche role, but one the Dodgers have directly benefitted from in the past. Hopefully, Siani will get his shot on the opposite coast.

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