Dodgers send Chin-hui Tsao outright to Triple-A

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers cleared a little space on their 40-man roster on Wednesday, sending pitcher Chin-hui Tsao outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

This removes Tsao from the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, which now contains 37 players.

Tsao, 35, had a 5.40 ERA in two relief appearances with the Dodgers in 2016, with three walks in 1⅔ innings. The right-hander walked three straight batters in the 11th inning to suffer the loss on May 21 in San Diego, then two days later was placed on the disabled list with a strained right triceps.

He didn’t pitch again for the rest of the season.

Tsao was 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA in 17 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 14 strikeouts and five walks in 16⅓ innings.

Had he remained on the 40-man roster, Tsao with his four years, 75 days of major league service time would have been eligible for salary arbitration, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting his 2017 salary at $800,000.

Tsao has the right to refuse the assignment to the minors if he so chooses and become a free agent.