Dodgers claim Preston Guilmet off waivers from Rays

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Friday claimed right-handed pitcher Preston Guilmet off waivers from the Rays, adding another bullpen arm to the organization. He was optioned to the minors, though the club didn't yet specify exactly where.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated Chris Reed for assignment, completing the long fall for the 2011 first-round pick.

Guilmet has a 1.84 ERA in 23 games between two Triple-A teams this season, Buffalo and Durham, with 28 strikeouts and nine walks in 29⅓ innings. Guilmet, who turns 28 at July 27, has a 2.47 ERA and 33 saves in 112 games in three years in Triple-A, with a 27.1-percent strikeout rate and a 5.8-percent walk rate.

The right-hander has pitched in parts of three seasons in the majors, in 2013 with the Indians, 2014 with the Blue Jays and in 2015 with the Rays, allowing 15 runs on 21 hits in 21 innings, a 6.43 ERA with 18 strikeouts and seven walks.

Guilmet was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

He has averaged 89.98 mph on his four-seam fastball during his parts of three seasons in the majors, thrown 50.7 percent of the time per Brooks Baseball. Guilmet throws his split-fingered fastball 45.9 percent of the time, at an average speed of 83.8 mph.

Guilmet was drafted by the Indians in the ninth round in 2009 out of the University of Arizona, where current Dodgers special assistant of pro scouting and player development Jeff Pickler was an assistant coach.

The Dodgers are Guilmet's fifth organization in the last 15 months. He was traded by the Indians to the Orioles in April 2014, traded for cash to the Pirates last October, selected off waivers by the Blue Jays in December, then selected off waivers by Tampa Bay in May.

This is the third and final option year for Guilmet, who also used options in 2013 and 2014. He has 74 days of major league service time, including five days in his three major league stints with the Rays this season.

Guilmet last pitched on Monday for Durham.