The Los Angeles Dodgers can’t get enough arms. They have acquired left-handed reliever Zach Penrod from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations. Penrod was a casualty of the Rafael Devers trade, as the left-hander was designated for assignment. To make room on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles transferred Roki Sasaki to the 60-day injured list.
The Dodgers acquired LHP Zach Penrod from the Red Sox for cash considerations. In order to make room on the roster, the Dodgers transferred RHP Roki Sasaki to the 60-day injured list.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 20, 2025
Dodgers Acquire Reliever Zach Penrod in Trade with Red Sox
Another Diamond In the Rough?
It is no secret that Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman likes bargain bullpen pieces, and Penrod may have potential. The left-handed Penrod has a 2.25 ERA in just seven big league appearances. He was originally signed by the Texas Rangers as an undrafted free agent back in 2018. He never caught on and spent some time toiling in the Independent Pioneer League before catching the Red Sox’s eye.
Oh the Elbow
The 28-year-old was fighting for one of the last bullpen spots in spring training with Boston. However, an elbow injury cost him a chance at the roster. Control is an issue for Penrod, but one wonders if a compromised elbow had something to do with the lack of command. On the comeback trail in the minors, the left-hander has seven walks and thrown three wild pitches in limited time. However, Penrod has also struck out 25% of the batters he has faced. He has an impressive repertoire of pitches, including a 95 mph fastball, which has the ability to miss bats. As an added bonus, he also has three years of minor league options remaining.
The Dodgers already have 12 pitchers on the IL and use a lot of arms through the course of a season, so it would be no surprise if Zach Penrod is on a taxi squad soon.
One Final Note
Roki Sasaki will be eligible to be activated from the IL in July. However, nobody knows if and when that will happen. But one thing is for sure, the Dodgers can never have enough pitching.
Main Photo Credit: © Eric Canha-Imagn Images
