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LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Chin-hui Tsao, who was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Nov. 9, has refused the assignment and instead is a free agent.
Tsao, with over three years of major league service time — he has accumulated four years, 75 days — and as someone who has been outrighted to the minors before, had the right to refuse any outright assignment, and he exercised that right.
The 35-year-old right-hander pitched in two games for the Dodgers in 2016, allowing one run in 1⅔ innings, posting a 5.40 ERA. Tsao had a 3.31 ERA and six saves in 17 appearances for Oklahoma City in 2016, with 14 strikeouts and five walks in 16⅓ innings.
Tsao did not pitch after May 21, suffering a right triceps strain that wiped out the remainder of his season.
Tsao has signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers in each of the last two seasons.