Dodgers Rumors: Ryan Brasier Agrees to New Contract After Ferguson Traded to Yankees

The Los Angeles Dodgers wasted little time fortifying their bullpen after reportedly dealing Caleb Ferguson to the New York Yankees.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers agreed to a two-year deal with Ryan Brasier worth $9 million guaranteed and up to $13 million. MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported earlier in the day Los Angeles is shipping Ferguson to the Bronx for left-hander Matt Gage.

Brasier had such a brutal start to the 2023 season the Boston Red Sox designated him for assignment last May. He had allowed 17 earned runs in 21 innings and had a 1.571 WHIP to that point.

The Dodgers signed the 36-year-old to a minor-league contract, and he debuted for them in a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels on June 21.

Brasier was lights out in the second half. He struck out 38 batters and allowed three earned runs on 18 hits across 38.2 innings.

The right-hander also made one appearance in the postseason, logging 2.1 innings in Los Angeles' NLDS Game 3 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks to knock the team out. He surrendered a solo home run to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the top of the sixth.

Given how well he performed after joining the team, re-signing Brasier makes plenty of sense. The departure of Ferguson also created a void in the bullpen.

However, Brasier simply isn't a like-for-like match to Ferguson. Los Angeles is putting a lot of pressure on Alex Vesia as its left-handed specialist.

Gage has thrown a total of 19.2 innings in MLB, and Ryan Yarbrough is more of a long relief/spot starter option considering how he has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen.

Either the Dodgers are supremely confident in Gage's abilities, or they intend to return to the reliever market at some point between now and Opening Day.