“The Resurgence of Ryan Brasier: From Red Sox Release to Key Reliever for the Los Angeles Dodgers”

In early June, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a significant move by signing Ryan Brasier after his release from the Boston Red Sox. The veteran reliever quickly found his stride with his new team, becoming an essential component of their bullpen.

During his time with the Red Sox, Brasier struggled, posting a 7.29 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 20 games and 21 innings pitched. His performance led to his departure from the team, as he allowed a high rate of contact and gave up 10.29 hits per nine innings.

However, the Dodgers saw potential in Brasier and signed him to a minor league deal on June 4. The organization’s player development team, including Minor League pitching director Rob Hill and pitching analytics coordinator Brent Minta, analyzed Brasier’s overall makeup and suggested incorporating a cut-fastball into his repertoire to address his struggles against left-handed batters.

The addition of the cut-fastball proved to be transformative for Brasier. Following the change in organizations, he went on an impressive run, posting a remarkable 0.70 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and.136 batting average allowed in 38.2 innings pitched.

With the Dodgers, Brasier excelled at limiting left-handed hitters, holding them to a mere.123/.167/.211 slash line and allowing only one home run in 17 innings pitched.

Brasier’s turnaround solidified his role as a dependable member of the Dodgers’ bullpen, particularly as a setup man. He finished the season with 59.2 innings pitched, a 3.02 ERA, 3.14 FIP, and 1.02 WHIP, striking out 23.5% of hitters while walking 8%.

One of Brasier’s standout moments with the Dodgers occurred on September 16 in a game against the Seattle Mariners. Manager Dave Roberts called upon him with two runners on and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Brasier rose to the occasion, striking out both Julio Rodríguez and Teoscar Hernández to end the threat. The Dodgers went on to win the game 6-2 in extra innings.

Looking ahead to 2024, Brasier is now a free agent and has become one of the most intriguing relief options on the market. While the Dodgers have expressed interest in bringing him back, there is reportedly strong demand for his services from other teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Angels.

Given the Dodgers’ ability to unlock Brasier’s potential and his valuable contributions to the team, a return to Los Angeles seems logical. However, considering the significant contracts awarded to relievers, Brasier’s payday could be similar to that of Chris Martin, who signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract with the Red Sox last season. Regardless, re-signing Brasier would provide the Dodgers with another reliable and high-impact option at the back end of their bullpen.