The Los Angeles Dodgers remain busy, even on an off day. They have acquired right-handed pitching prospect Chayce McDermott in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, getting right-handed pitcher Axel Perez in exchange, the team announced on Thursday. McDermott, who was designated for assignment earlier this week, will be sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City. There was a 40-man roster spot available, so Los Angeles will not be forced to make another move.
Dodgers Acquire Pitcher Chayce McDermott in Trade with Orioles
Pitching Potential
The 25-year-old was once a top Orioles prospect, but he has struggled to maintain consistent control. McDermott made his major league debut in 2024 with an ERA of 3.10. He had all the earmarks of a big league pitcher. But then, his ERA began to climb, stalling his progress after a major league debut. McDermott’s ERA ballooned to 6.91 in 2025 at Triple-A Norfolk. He gave up 36 walks in 43 innings and a lot of hard contact along the way. The good news is that the right-hander has enough velocity to induce swing and miss with a fastball that travels 95 miles an hour. If the Dodgers can find a way to get the walks down, the starter-turned-reliever seems to have potential, despite his latest struggles. Let the reclamation begin.
The Dodgers have acquired RHP Chayce McDermott from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for RHP Axel Perez.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 16, 2026
Return on Investment in Bird Land
For their part, the Orioles receive a 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic who has only been in professional ball for three seasons. Perez pitched in the Dominican Summer League last year with mixed results. He posted a 5.48 ERA and struck out 30% of batters he faced. However, he also has a high walk rate. Scouts say that Perez is a long way from major league-ready.
Collecting Arms
The Dodgers are known for their pitching depth in both their starting rotation and bullpen, and this appears to be trading from strength. Time will tell if it pays dividends in the future.
Main Photo Credit: © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
