Amid a pitching staff ravaged by injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a series of roster moves Sunday aimed at bolstering their bullpen depth. The club signed veteran right-hander Chris Stratton to a major league deal, as first reported by The New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
To make room, right-hander Bobby Miller was optioned to the minors, and J.P. Feyereisen was designated for assignment.
Stratton, 34, brings significant MLB experience to a Dodgers bullpen stretched thin with 14 pitchers on the injured list.
A 2012 first-round pick by the Giants, Stratton has logged innings with six organizations, including Anaheim, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Texas, and most recently Kansas City.
While his 4.63 ERA and 3.96 FIP over the past six seasons suggest average production, he showed flashes of value as a reliable middle reliever—most notably with the Pirates, Cardinals, and 2023 champion Rangers.
Los Angeles Dodgers Sign Veteran Reliever Chris Stratton, Option Bobby Miller, DFA J.P. Feyereisen Amid Injury Crisis
Despite a rough stint with the Royals this season (7.94 ERA over 17 innings), underlying metrics offer hope. Stratton’s .443 BABIP and 58.5% strand rate indicate poor luck, while his strikeout, walk, and groundball rates have improved over last year. His 4.13 FIP and 4.02 SIERA suggest better days may lie ahead.
To accommodate Stratton, the Dodgers demoted Bobby Miller, who pitched two innings Saturday against the Mets, allowing one run and a walk. Meanwhile, Feyereisen’s struggles (11.25 ERA, 3.000 WHIP in 2024) led to his second departure from the Dodgers. Originally acquired from Tampa Bay in 2023, Feyereisen never gained traction following injury setbacks.
With pitching depth needed more than ever, the Dodgers are betting on Stratton to rediscover his form and stabilize a bullpen in flux.