Dodgers acquire Dylan Baker from Brewers

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Tuesday acquired pitcher Dylan Baker from the Brewers for a player to be named later or cash considerations, continuing a busy offseason for the right-hander.

Baker, who turns 26 in April, was claimed off waivers by Milwaukee from the Indians on Nov. 27. He was drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round in 2012. The Brewers designated Baker for assignment on Dec. 21 when they signed Yovani Gallardo and Jhoulys Chacin.

The right-hander had a 2.84 ERA in 13 relief appearances for Double-A Akron in 2017, with 10 strikeouts and one walk in 12⅔ innings. He also missed two months on the disabled list, a pattern for Baker, who pitched a total of 74 minor league innings in the last four seasons.

Baker chronicled his injury history in an interview last March with Let’s Go Tribe:

Dylan Baker: Yeah, it started with my broken fibula in 2014 at the start of the season. I missed about 75 percent of the season that year. In ‘15, I only pitched the first game of the season and then I had Tommy John surgery in May. Then in January of 2016, I had a fasciotomy on my right forearm kind of where they took out my pulmeris tendon for my UCL replacement and then in August of 2016 I had another fasciotomy on my lower part of my forearm towards my elbow and I also I had some tissue in there. I had a bone spur shaved down. I had some tissue in there pressing on my median nerve that was compressed and I was having a lot of burning sensations, throbbing and my ulna was shaved down a bit to make some room in there. It’s working out a lot better now.

A scouting report by Skyler Kanfer at Baseball Prospectus in May clocked Baker’s fastball between 95-99 mph and was impressed by his slider:

It appeared to be heading towards the strike zone, but had tremendous late break, ending up a foot outside the plate and below the zone. The movement and velocity on the pitch make it a plus or even plus-plus pitch that has the makings of an excellent secondary weapon.

Baker has yet to pitch about Double-A, though he did accrue 31 days of major league service time in September when the Indians recalled him to place him on the 60-day disabled list to create 40-man roster space.

He has one option year remaining, having used options in 2016 and 2017.

The Dodgers’ 40-man roster is now full.