Six Teams Interested In Ryan Brasier

 

The market for free agent reliever Ryan Brasier is buzzing with activity, drawing attention from a total of six teams, as per reports by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Cardinals and Dodgers are actively engaged, as stated by Goold, while Heyman highlights the Angels, Cubs, Orioles, and Rangers as additional contenders vying for Brasier.

Brasier’s journey through Major League Baseball has seen its share of peaks and valleys. He kickstarted his career with the Angels in 2013, followed by a resurgence with the Dodgers in the previous season. Notably, his performance took a sharp turn after a lackluster display with the Red Sox in 2021 and the initial months of 2022, leading to his release from the team. However, upon joining the Dodgers on a minor league contract in June, his trajectory altered significantly.

Despite a 6.16 ERA during his tenure with the Red Sox, supplementary statistical measures, particularly in 2022, suggested Brasier performed better than the numbers reflected. Upon donning the Dodger Blue, he exhibited a remarkable transformation, delivering an outstanding 0.70 ERA over 38 2/3 innings from the bullpen. His strikeouts soared to a 26.6% rate, while his walks dwindled to 7%, accompanied by a notable 51.1% ground ball rate—a substantial improvement from his stint in Boston. However, it’s crucial to note that his success coincided with a remarkably low .183 BABIP while with the Dodgers compared to a significantly higher .344 BABIP during his time in Boston.

An intriguing development in Brasier’s game was his adoption of a cutter, a new addition to his repertoire. This shift bore immediate fruit as the effectiveness of this pitch was evident, allowing him to limit hitters to a mere .152 average. Additionally, the introduction of this new pitch seemed to positively impact his overall performance.

Brasier’s career trajectory has been characterized by ups and downs. Following his brief stint with the Angels in 2013, he made a return to the majors in 2018 after spending intervening years in Triple-A with the Athletics and playing in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp. His resurgence occurred unexpectedly when he signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox in 2018, becoming a crucial asset in their bullpen during their victorious World Series campaign. However, his subsequent tenure with the Red Sox was marked by inconsistency, culminating in a 4.55 ERA over 209 2/3 innings.

Now, at 36 years old, Brasier presents an intriguing option for teams seeking bullpen reinforcement, especially considering his impressive performance with the Dodgers. However, his age and inconsistent track record might limit the length of his potential contract, possibly leading to a one-year deal. Nevertheless, the significant interest in his services suggests that teams might consider offering him a contract that includes an option for the 2025 season, contingent upon his late-season form and how convinced teams are about his potential contributions.