Ex-Padres reliever ditches Dodgers again as up-and-down season continues

The Dodgers added a pair of veteran ex-Padres on minor league deals this offseason: Nabil Crismatt, who was a ringer for San Diego's bullpen in 2022, and Dinelson Lamet, a starter-turned-reliever whose glory days unfortunately took place during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Both were invited to spring training but neither made the major league roster, as LA's bullpen appeared stacked going into the season.

But then relievers started to get hurt at an uncanny clip, and the Dodgers turned to their depth down in the minors to supplement. Both Crismatt and Lamet had their turns in the majors — Crismatt three times — before both were eventually DFA'ed with seemingly little chance of returning as the bullpen eventually righted itself.

Crismatt rejected his assignment and became a free agent on May 17, then signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on May 22, and Lamet wasn't far behind him on the way out the door. His original deal with the Dodgers contained a player opt-out for early June, which he exercised on June 4, making him a free agent once again.

Dinelson Lamet follows Nabil Crismatt, opts out of his minor league deal with Dodgers and elects free agency

Lamet only got 4 1/3 innings over three games in the majors with the Dodgers, but he locked up his first career save in his second game and only allowed one earned run in his last (in a game where the Dodgers were already trailing by three). He looked okay in the minors too, where he was mostly utilized as a starter. He pitched 37 1/3 innings and made one relief appearance for a 4.82 ERA.

He'll have this good appearances in the majors to back him up when he's trying to make his case for himself with another team, but it's unlikely that he'll be able to get much more than a minor-league deal elsewhere. Crismatt's already getting lit up in the Rangers organization; he's given up five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Still, happy trails to both pitchers. They'll always have their combined 11 1/3 innings with the Dodgers to look back on (at least semi-) fondly.