Dodgers sign pitcher after Ben Casparius' timeline gets pushed back further

The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again patching together their pitching staff, and the latest move underscores just how far away right-hander Ben Casparius may still be from helping the big-league club.

The Dodgers announced Monday that they signed veteran reliever Jonathan Hernández to a major league contract, while optioning right-hander Chayce McDermott to Triple-A Oklahoma City. To clear room on the 40-man roster, the club transferred Casparius to the 60-day injured list, officially pushing back his return timeline even further.

Casparius has been sidelined since April 13 with shoulder inflammation, and while the 26-year-old had reportedly resumed throwing earlier this month at the organization’s Arizona complex, he has yet to begin a rehab assignment. The 60-day transfer means he cannot return before June 12 at the earliest, and even that now feels optimistic given the lack of progression.

Dodgers sign Jonathan Hernández as bullpen carousel continues to turn

For a Dodgers team navigating another brutal stretch of the schedule without an off day, the need for fresh bullpen arms has become increasingly urgent.

That urgency led Los Angeles to Hernández, a former Texas Rangers reliever whose career has been defined by electric stuff and inconsistent results. The 29-year-old spent the first part of the 2026 season with the Phillies organization on a minor league deal before triggering an opt-out clause and securing his release when Philadelphia declined to promote him. Now, he’ll get another shot in the majors with the defending champions.

Hernández once looked like a potential late-inning weapon in Texas thanks to a power sinker that routinely sits around 96 mph and generates plenty of ground balls. Tommy John surgery in 2021 interrupted that momentum, and he hasn’t fully rediscovered his earlier form since returning.

Still, there are reasons for the Dodgers to take the gamble. In 15 innings at Triple-A this year, Hernández struck out 22 batters while walking only five, and he generated ground balls at an impressive 57 percent clip. For a Dodgers bullpen that has been taxed heavily in recent weeks, that combination of velocity and swing-and-miss ability is worth exploring.

The risk, however, is minimal. Hernández is out of minor league options, meaning Los Angeles can move on quickly if the fit doesn’t work. But with the pitching staff stretched thin and Casparius now sidelined even longer than expected, the Dodgers simply need innings wherever they can find them.

And for Hernández, this could be his best opportunity yet to revive his major league career with a contender desperate for bullpen help.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow