Dodgers swap minor league pitchers with Mariners trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers are always on the hunt for their next move in their never-ending bid to improve the roster. The reigning World Series champion is the most feared team in MLB for a reason, and on Sunday, they made a trade with the Seattle Mariners that seems rather curious but perhaps sets them up for another eventful offseason.

As announced by the official Mariners account on X (formerly Twitter), the Dodgers have traded left-handed pitcher Robinson Ortiz to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tyler Gough. On the sixth of November, LA had selected Ortiz’s contract from the minors, adding him to the 40-man roster, so this move certainly raises a few eyebrows.

Ortiz, the 25-year-old lefty, had been showing promise as a reliever in the minors, progressing all the way to Triple-A in 2025. He struck out over 10 batters per nine innings last year across three minor-league levels, but he had some command issues — walking over five per nine. But he did end the season with a 2.73 ERA, and he could have conceivably made an impact for the MLB team in 2026.

Nevertheless, the Dodgers have at least now freed up a spot on the 40-man roster. They at least got something in return for Ortiz, who could have been snatched up for nothing in the Rule 5 Draft had he not been added to the 40-man. However, the pitcher they acquired in Gough missed the entire 2025 season with an elbow injury.

Are Dodgers headed for busier offseason?