The Los Angeles Dodgers transferred Alex Reyes to the 60-day injured list on Sunday in order to sign Austin Wynns. Reyes was previously placed on the 15-day IL when the Dodgers set their Opening Day roster as he remains on the mend from last year’s right shoulder surgery.
The Dodgers signing Wynns became necessary as they needed to replace Will Smith on the active roster. Smith was placed on the seven-day concussion IL.
Moving to the 60-day IL does not change Reyes’ timeline as he was already expected to miss multiple months of the season as he recovers and builds his arm back up.
Reyes signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract that includes performance bonuses and a team option for 2024. He was non-tendered by the St. Louis Cardinals at the start of the offseason after he missed all of 2022 due to undergoing surgery in May.
The right-hander has a long injury history, but the upside is there if Reyes can stay healthy.
In 2018, Reyes had a torn tendon in his latissimus dorsi muscle repaired and later underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019. He also missed time in 2020 due to right shoulder trouble.
The 28-year-old was the Cardinals’ closer, but he began to struggle during the second half of the 2021 season and was ultimately removed from the role. His last pitch at the Major League level was hit by Chris Taylor for a walk-off home run in the National League Wild Card Game that year.
Over parts of five seasons with the Cardinals, Reyes went 16-11 with 31 saves, a 2.86 ERA, 3.87 FIP and 1.35 WHIP over 101 games (seven starts).
Dodgers see potential with Alex Reyes
He is a low-risk, high-reward signing who Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes will end up being a good addition to the team.
“I think with both guys, it’s experience,” Roberts said of David Peralta and Reyes in Spring Training. “From what I’ve gathered, they’re both great teammates and great competitors.
“I think to get assimilated with what we do with the Dodgers, the culture, I think it will be easy. Certainly very additive given their track records. I’m excited.”
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