Justin Bruihl and Eddys Leonard were designated for assignment in order to make room on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 40-man roster for Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn.
The two pitchers were acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Nick Nastrini, Trayce Thompson and Jordan Leasure. The trade was the Dodgers’ third in the past four days.
Bruil had been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday as the corresponding move to the Dodgers recalling Tyson Miller.
Bruihl went 1-0 with a 4.07 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 20 games with the Dodgers this season. He previously pitched for the team in parts of the 2021 and 2022 seasons as well.
Over 15 appearances for Oklahoma City this year, Bruihl was 5-2 with one save and a 2.04 ERA.
The Dodgers signed the him as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Bruihl had used all five Minor League options permitted in a single season, which meant he would’ve needed to go on waivers if the Dodgers recalled him and later looked to remove the left-hander from their active roster.
Leonard also began his professional career with the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2017. Leonard reached Double-A for the first time this season, and hit .254/.327/.411 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 44 RBI over 92 games for the Drillers.
L.A. added Leonard to their 40-man roster after the 2021 season to protect against potentially losing him in the Rule 5 Draft. Jacob Amaya, Jorbit Vivas, Michael Grove and James Outman were also added at the time.
Only Grove, Outman and Vivas remain part of the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Can Dodgers keep Justin Bruihl or Eddys Leonard?
The Dodgers now have a week to potentially trade Bruihl or Leonard as they go through waivers. If either were to clear waivers, they could remain with the Dodgers and be sent outright to the Minors, or released.
Bruihl figures to be the most likely to get claimed by another team given his MLB experience, but Leonard could be attractive as well as a former prospect on the rise.
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