Dodgers release southpaw eyeing comeback

Left-hander Drew Pomeranz has been released by the Dodgers, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He had opted out of a previous deal with the Dodgers in April before re-signing. Whether he triggered an opt-out this time or not is unknown, but the result is that he’ll head back to the open market.

Pomeranz, 35, has been looking to mount a comeback this year after years in the injury wilderness. He signed a minor league deals with the Angels in the offseason but was released from that pact and, as mentioned, signed two separate minor league deals with the Dodgers.

Per his transactions tracker, Pomeranz was placed on the minor league injured list on April 21, but he recently returned to the mound. He tossed a scoreless inning on May 15, striking out two of the three batters he faced. On May 18, he tossed two innings, striking out five of the seven batters he faced while allowing one hit. Dodgers Daily provided video of that outing on X.

Based on those recent results, it would appear Pomeranz is in good form. Overall, he’s tossed nine innings this year with six earned runs allowed, but four of those were in his first appearance. In the eight innings since then, he has a 2.25 earned run average, 48.3% strikeout rate and 3.4% walk rate.

The southpaw had a good run as one of the best relievers in baseball. The Brewers acquired him at the 2019 deadline and moved him to the bullpen with great results, which prompted the Padres to sign him to a four-year deal. He continued to pitch very well in the first two years with San Diego. From the time Milwaukee traded for him through the end of 2021, Pomeranz threw 70 2/3 innings with a 1.91 ERA, 37.8% strikeout rate, 10.2% walk rate and 46.2% ground ball rate.

But he finished that 2021 campaign on the IL due to flexor tendon surgery and hasn’t been back in the majors since, missing out on the final two years of his deal with the Padres. His attempts to get back on the mound frequently resulted in setbacks and he required a “cleanup surgery” on his elbow in May of last year.

This year, he’s at least been on the mound and throwing more than he has in a while. He tossed eight innings for the Angels in the spring and has thrown nine more for Triple-A Oklahoma in the past two months. Since he circled back to the Dodgers on another minor league deal after opting out last month, perhaps the two sides will reunite yet again in the coming days. But the Dodgers also have a fairly crowded bullpen, which could perhaps lead Pomeranz to consider other clubs with a more open path back to the big leagues.