LA Lets Brogdon Go: Right-hander Hits Free…

Dodgers relief pitcher Connor Brogdon cleared waivers this week and on Thursday was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City, removing him from the 40-man roster. As someone with over three years of major league service time, Brogdon exercised his right to refuse the assignment, and is now a free agent.

It was a rough season for the right-hander, who pitched in four games between the Phillies and Dodgers, and allowed nine runs in three innings, including four home runs and walked twice as many (six) as he struck out (three). And he didn’t pitch in the majors after the second week of April, suffering plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Brogdon was designated for assignment by the Phillies on April 2, then traded to the Dodgers four days later for minor league left-hander Benony Robles, part of a season-long roster churn in trying to add to available pitching depth. Los Angeles used a franchise-record 40 pitchers during the 2024 season, and Brogdon was No. 18, in only the Dodgers’ 14th game of the season.

Tasked with pitching the ninth inning on April 9 in Minnesota with a five-run lead, Brogdon allowed solo home runs to his first two batters faced, before getting the final three outs. Brogdon on April 13 was placed on the injured list, where he remained for the rest of the season.

Brogdon, who was moved to the 60-day injured list on May 19, began a rehab assignment in Triple-A on May 5 but that was shut down after only two games. The right-hander started another rehab assignment on August 17, and after one Arizona Complex League game he finished out the regular season with Oklahoma City.

In all while on rehab, Brogdon pitched 14 games, putting up a 3.21 ERA with 21 strikeouts and five walks in 14 innings.

Brogdon, who turns 30 in January, would have been eligible for salary arbitration this winter as someone with three years, 139 days of service time. Now he’s a free agent.

The Dodgers now have 37 players on the 40-man roster, including 23 pitchers which is still somewhat lopsided, but from a functional standpoint less so considering five of those pitchers — Brusdar Graterol, Emmet Sheehan, Kyle Hurt, River Ryan, Gavin Stone — will end up on the 60-day injured list to start the 2025 season after surgeries.

If the Dodgers do any more trimming on the fringes, November 22 is the deadline to tender contracts to players on the 40-man roster.