On Tuesday, the Dodgers added former top Phillies prospect Griff McGarry in a small-time trade that sent international bonus pool money and either cash considerations or a player to be named later to Philadelphia. It was an interesting one given McGarry's status at the time — which is to say, not in DFA limbo — and top prospect pedigree.
On Thursday, they followed it up with another small deal for another formerly hyped pitcher. Chayce McDermott was the Orioles' No. 4 prospect just last season, but was DFA'ed on Saturday after struggling out of the gate in Triple-A. LA is sending pitcher Axel Perez back in the exchange.
The Dodgers have acquired RHP Chayce McDermott from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for RHP Axel Perez.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 16, 2026
McDermott was the Orioles' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2023, after posting a 3.10 ERA across 68 1/3 innings in Double-A and 50 2/3 in Triple-A. He initially landed in Baltimore as part of a 2022 three-team trade deadline deal that shuffled Trey Mancini to the Astros, Jose Siri to the Rays, and McDermott and Seth Johnson to the Orioles.
He's never lived up to expectations in small stints in the majors, but he was highly touted not long ago at all. There's a lot here for the Dodgers to work with.
Dodgers make a trade for former top-five Orioles pitching prospect Chayce McDermott
Perez is a Dodgers international free agent signing from 2024, but he didn't make his professional debut until 2025. His early returns in the Dominican Summer League weren't totally promising — 5.48 ERA in 23 innings — and he has yet to make his season debut this year.
McDermott got his MLB debut in 2024, pitching a four-inning, three-run start in July before being sent back to Triple-A. Baltimore gave him one more chance as a major league starter in May 2025, but he gave up four runs in three innings before being moved to the bullpen. He put up another bad inning in long relief and was sent back down again. Two more absolutely disastrous relief appearances in September (one combined inning, eight earned runs) sent his ERA on the season skyrocketing to 15.58.
As a top prospect, he received high marks for his fastball and slider, both of which the Dodgers will undoubtedly be looking to recover. If they can — and the odds are better for the Dodgers than most — McDermott could turn into an effective bullpen weapon down the line.
