The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again turning to a familiar face to help steady their pitching staff down the stretch. On Monday, the team signed veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney to a Minor League deal, completed just before the deadline for postseason eligibility. Heaney will spend time at the Dodgers’ Arizona complex before reporting to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The move reunites the Dodgers with a pitcher who played an important role in Los Angeles back in 2022, when he posted a 3.10 ERA in 16 appearances. Heaney went on to win a World Series with the Texas Rangers the following year, even earning the victory in Game 4 of the Fall Classic.
“I’m not sure what the organization’s plan is,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. “But it’s certainly good to have him back in the organization.”
A Dodgers Bullpen in Need of Reinforcements
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Los Angeles’ rotation has finally stabilized with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, and Shohei Ohtani all healthy, while Roki Sasaki is expected back in September. That leaves little need for Heaney as a starter, but his addition could serve as an insurance policy for a bullpen that has been stretched thin all season.
Dodgers relievers have thrown more innings than any bullpen in baseball (564) while carrying a 4.16 ERA, ranking just 18th in MLB. The group has improved of late, especially with the return of Michael Kopech, but consistency has been elusive.
Heaney, who struggled with the Pirates before being released last week, is seen more as a potential multi-inning relief option than a rotation piece. He opened the season strong in Pittsburgh, posting a 3.33 ERA through his first 14 starts, but unraveled in the summer with a 9.21 ERA since June 19. Overall, the 34-year-old logged a 5.39 ERA in 26 appearances.
Key Reinforcements Return
Monday also brought welcome news elsewhere on the roster. The Dodgers reinstated utility man Hyeseong Kim and right-hander Michael Kopech from the injured list as rosters expanded to 28 players.
Kim was hitting .304 with a .744 OPS before landing on the IL in late July with shoulder bursitis. His speed—12 steals in 12 attempts—gives the Dodgers a valuable weapon on the bases and more versatility in the field.
“You can kind of play the game of chess a little better,” Roberts said. “You can play the matchup game a little better. It just gives us more options, and also gives guys a chance to contribute in different ways each night.”
Kopech, who began the season on the IL, briefly returned in June with seven scoreless innings before undergoing meniscus surgery. The 28-year-old reliever will be eased back into action but could slot into late-inning roles if healthy.
“In these moments, I feel like you’re either made or broken as an athlete,” Kopech said. “So when the pressure builds, if we can maintain ourselves under that pressure and perform our capabilities, I think that that’s what makes us great.”
Looking Ahead
For now, Heaney is a depth play. The Dodgers hope their frontline starters stay healthy, their bullpen continues to settle, and Heaney never needs to factor into the postseason mix. Still, with the club holding just a two-game lead over San Diego in the NL West, Los Angeles knows October success requires options—and Heaney’s presence provides exactly that.