The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired left-handed pitcher Zach Penrod from the Boston Red Sox, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and FanSided’s Robert Murray. Penrod, 28, had recently been designated for assignment following Boston’s blockbuster trade that sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
For the Dodgers, this move adds a power-armed southpaw with intriguing upside and all three minor league option years remaining — a key detail for a franchise that frequently rotates relievers through its bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers Acquire Lefty Zach Penrod from Red Sox in Low-Risk, High-Upside Deal
Penrod’s journey to the majors has been anything but conventional. After signing with the Texas Rangers as an undrafted free agent in 2018, he missed significant time due to Tommy John surgery and was ultimately released in 2020 during the pandemic-shortened season. He spent the next three years pitching in the independent Pioneer League before Boston offered him a minor league deal in August 2023.
He made the most of the opportunity. In 2024, Penrod posted a 4.16 ERA with a 34.8% strikeout rate across three minor league levels, earning a September call-up where he pitched four innings with a 2.25 ERA. Elbow inflammation sidelined him for much of early 2025, but since returning, he’s shown flashes of potential — including a strong swinging-strike rate and mid-90s velocity.
While command remains a concern — he’s walked seven batters and hit another in just over seven innings this season — Penrod’s strikeout stuff and developmental timeline make him a classic Dodgers project. Given their reputation for maximizing under-the-radar pitching talent, L.A. could be an ideal landing spot.
For Boston, Penrod was a casualty of roster crunch after the Devers deal brought in two players requiring 40-man spots. Now, he heads to a contender looking to restock its bullpen for another postseason run.