The Dodgers have acquired 29-year-old veteran right-handed reliever Erik Goeddel, who was recently designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners.

To make room on the Dodgers 40-man roster they, in turn, designated left-hander Henry Owens for assignment.

News of the move was first reported by Southern California News Group’s J.P. Hoornstra, although at the time he did not know what the corresponding roster move was. He did, however, indicate that his sources informed him that Goeddel is out of options and, as such, was en route to Washington DC to join the Dodgers, who (weather permitting) begin a three-game weekend series with the Nationals.

As Hoornstra notes, because Goeddel is out of options, a roster move is also necessary to create room for him on the Dodgers 25-man roster. This means that if the Dodgers wish to keep five right-handers and one switch-pitcher (how many teams can say that?), then one of Pedro Baez, JT Chargois, Josh Fields, Daniel Hudson, Kenley Jansen, or Pat Venditte needs to either go on the disabled list, be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, or also be designated for assignment.

It’s no secret that Chargois and Baez have struggled considerably over the last few weeks and one (or both) of them leaving the team would undoubtedly be the first choices among Dodger fans. That being said, Baez seems to be made of Teflon in the eyes of the Dodgers brass whenever his name comes up as needing to go.

It goes without saying that All-Star closer Kenley Jansen and his five-year / $80 million contract through 2021 isn’t going anywhere. It would also be somewhat of a travesty if Venditte is the one to go, as he has pitched well from both sides of the rubber, albeit over only 2.2 innings pitched since his May 11 call-up.

As for Goeddel, he was selected in the 24th round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the New York Mets out of UCLA. He made his major league debut with the Mets on September 1, 2014, posting a very respectable 2.70 ERA in six relief appearance during the final month of the 2014 season.

Erik Goeddel
(Photo credit – Duane Burleson)

The 6′-3″ / 191-pound San Mateo, California native remained in New York through the 2017 season, compiling a combined 3-4 record and 3.96 ERA. He was granted free agency following the 2017 season and was signed by the Texas Rangers on December 19, 2017 and released on March 19, 2018 without having appeared in a major league game with them.

The Mariners signed Goeddel the following day, with whom he made five relief appearances this season, posting a 2-0 record and excellent 1.23 ERA, which most certainly raises the burning question as to why Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto let him go.

Ironically, just yesterday (May 17), the Dodgers coincidentally signed Goeddel’s 25-year-old younger brother Tyler to a minor league contract and assigned him to their Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers.

Wouldn’t it be something if…