Dodgers toss recently released Royals reliever a life raft with emergency signing

After Bobby Miller's first career appearance as a reliever made him look like he wouldn't even be able to transition into a bullpen role effectively (in two innings against the Mets on Saturday, he gave up three hits and one run, hit a batter and walked another), the Dodgers quickly decided they'd seen enough, and were quick to scramble to pick up a new arm.

Veteran reliever Chris Stratton was DFA'ed by the Royals on May 18 and released on May 22, leaving the Dodgers to sign him as a free agent on Sunday. Miller was sent down as the corresponding move, and JP Feyereisen was DFA'ed to make room on the 40-man roster.

Stratton pitched 17 innings for the Royals this season for a 7.94 ERA and gave up at least two runs in six out of 12 games he appeared in. The final straw for Kansas City was a two-inning appearance on May 16, when he gave up three runs to the Cardinals in what would eventually turn into a 10-3 rout.

He has yet to make his Dodgers debut, but was present with the team in New York as they wrapped up their series against the Mets. It's kind of hard to tell how a guy with a nearly 8.00 ERA will be able to help the team, but the Dodgers, who have five relievers on the IL right now, are in no position to be picky.

Dodgers sign veteran reliever Chris Stratton after release by Royals

Stratton has never been a lights-out guy — he has a career 4.63 ERA — which makes this move feel all the more desperate. But beggars can't be choosers, and if Miller isn't even going to work out as a long reliever, then they may as well take on a cheap arm Mark Prior and the Dodgers pitching staff can attempt to turn into something halfway serviceable.

Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, and Brusdar Graterol are all on the IL, and three of them are on the 60-day. Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow also being out of business has meant that the rest of the bullpen has been taxed heavily basically since the second week of the season.

We shouldn't expect the Dodgers to magically fix Stratton, or for him to stick around very long as soon as one of the more high-leverage arms return, but at least his presence will give some of the other Dodgers' relievers a break.