After an offseason of additions, the Los Angeles Dodgers subtracted a player on Tuesday, dealing right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier to the Chicago Cubs.
Los Angeles will receive either cash or a player to be named. The Dodgers also sent money to the Cubs, according to ESPN, presumably to pay part of Brasier’s salary.
The move comes in the wake of the Dodgers acquiring right-handed relievers Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott, both of whom logged more than 20 saves last season. Yates’ arrival prompted Los Angeles to designate Brasier for assignment on Thursday.
The Cubs also brought in a new closer during the offseason, trading for Ryan Pressly.
Brasier, 37, won his second World Series ring last fall, helping the Dodgers claim the title six years after he was on a championship team with the Boston Red Sox.
He won Los Angeles’ playoff opener in the National League Division Series, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres, and he finished the postseason 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in eight outings.
Brasier went 1-0 with a 3.54 ERA in 29 regular-season appearances in 2024, the first season of a two-year, $9 million contract he signed last February.
In 297 games (five starts) over eight seasons for the Los Angeles Angels (2013), Boston (2018-23) and the Dodgers (2023-24), Brasier owns a 10-8 record with 10 saves and a 3.85 ERA.
The Cubs cleared a spot for Brasier on their 40-man roster by designating Rob Zastryzny for assignment. The 32-year-old left-hander was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee in November.
Zastryzny went 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in nine games (three starts) for the Brewers last year. He owns a career record of 4-0 with a 4.30 ERA in 54 games (five starts) with the Cubs (2016-18), the New York Mets (2022), the Angels (2022), the Pittsburgh Pirates (2023) and Milwaukee (2024).
