Dodgers sign former rival pitcher to minor-league contract

With so many free agents still available as spring training kicks off around MLB, there was bound to be a flurry of late signings across the league. On Feb. 13, the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to participate.

The Dodgers and reliever Luis García have agreed to a minor league deal with an invite to big league spring training, per Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. García's baseball career began when the Dodgers signed him as an international free agent in 2004, but he was traded five years later before he ever pitched in the majors. The 38-year-old, 12-season MLB veteran spent half his career with the Phillies but has also appeared for the local rival Angels and Padres.

García is a career 4.14 ERA pitcher over his dozen seasons of experience. Most recently, García suited up for the Red Sox, and his brief stint in Boston did not go over well. The righty signed a one-year deal with the Angels before the 2024 season and posted a 3.71 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 43.2 innings before the Red Sox traded for him at the July 30 deadline.

García struggled after the trade to Boston and clocked a 8.22 ERA in 15.1 innings, during which he allowed four home runs, the same number he allowed with the Angels in the first half. In late August, as the Red Sox fought (unsuccessfully) for a Wild Card spot, García was placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation.

Dodgers and former Padres, Angels reliever Luis García agree to a minor league deal with spring training invite

The righty will return to the West Coast in an attempt to reinvigorate his career in the hotly competitive Dodgers bullpen. LA has already reinforced its pitching staff with Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, but it learned last season that bullpen depth is critical to success down the stretch. The Dodgers' bullpen helped carry it to the World Series after Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and a few other potential starters fell injured.

Hopefully, García can right the ship and serve as a reliable depth option for the Dodgers. They signed plenty of starters this winter so they would never find themselves in the same position as last postseason, but there is no such thing as having too many pitchers.