The Los Angeles Dodgers, after they claimed catcher Ben Rortvedt, have made the surprise move to designate Anthony Banda for assignment.
Banda has been one of the more beloved Dodgers among fans and teammates for the energy and fun he brings.
However, with the addition of the catcher, the Dodgers needed to move on from one of their left-handed relievers, and Banda was the man who would need to make way.
Over the offseason, Banda was awarded $1.625 million in arbitration, though that cost will be passed on to whoever ends up signing him.
Banda will certainly get picked up by another team. At the age of 32, he proved to be a reliable arm for manager Dave Roberts, who used him in a variety of roles amid injuries and struggles from other pitchers.
In 2025, he posted a 0.9 WAR and a 3.18 ERA in 71 appearances. Banda was also effective in 2024, posting a 0.5 WAR and a 3.08 ERA.
The Texas native has been a part of both World Series titles that the Dodgers have won consecutively over the past two years.
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During the 2024 postseason, he was lights out, pitching in 10 games and posting a 1.13 ERA over eight innings.
In 2025, he struggled overall, allowing six runs in 5.2 innings, for a 9.53 ERA.
Who replaces Banda in the bullpen?
The Dodgers already have lefty Jack Dreyer, a young arm, who can step right into Banda’s role with upside to be even better. Additionally, they already have lefty Tanner Scott taking the set-up man spot in the bullpen card.
Alex Vesia and Justin Wrobleski are other left-handed options out of the bullpen who can handle any matchups that favor Banda, giving the Dodgers plenty of depth.
In terms of right-handers, Brock Stewart, Landon Knack, Will Klein, Kyle Hurt, and Edwin Diaz are options on the 40-man roster.
If by some miracle Banda does end up clearing waivers, the Dodgers could bring him back, but like Andy Ibanez and Ben Rortvedt, it will be tough for them to sneak him through the wire due to his recent success.
16 Responses
Puzzling move. With all the RH starters, opposing managers are likely to stack their lineup with lefties. We want to be able to bring in a parade of LH relievers if needed. Overall, Banda was solid and inexpensive.
reckon I would’ve waited Tanner Scott and kept Banda. Scott was very inconsistent, sometimes lost us games we might’ve won otherwise.
You can’t waive Scott after one year and still a ton of money owed him.
not like he’s been any good, though. once or twice, versus a bunch of complete fails. anyhow, that’s my opinion, it’s not up to me!
Eggsactly. Need to see what he does this year and see how things play out. He has a longer track record of success and to cut him with $$$ owed and see another team pick him up and be successful would be …..stoooooopid beyond belief
Duh, waive player who stunk last year but has proven track recored and multiyear $$$ contract that was injured and can get back to form but needs that chance. Glad you arent GM.
Wow. He and Vesia were the only ones in the pen last year that didn’t seem like they were gasoline on a fire. OK, maybe not an all star, but a solid reliever. And cheap by today’s prices at under 2M. Unless there’s some mystery injury we/I don’t know about, I bet he get snapped up quick.
Best of luck to him and thanks for his contributions to the D’s.
@mike
From MLBTR:
“Banda’s strikeout rate (in 2025) dropped to 22.8%. His walk rate shot up to 12.7%. He only induced grounders on 39.4% of balls in play. His ERA would have climbed more if not for a .227 batting average on balls in play and 83.1% strand rate, both very fortunate numbers. His 4.52 FIP and 4.39 SIERA suggested he deserved far worse. He then got lit up in the playoffs, allowing six earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.”
And the Dodgers have 4 better LHP options in the pen with more in AAA.
Strikeouts are overrated. Get people out, however you do it. Seems like I’ve heard a pitcher no less than Koufax saying the goal is to get batters to hit the ball how and where you want them to, not where they want to.
Get rid of stuart(joke) keep banda, forget Detroit as he is great, Rivers well worth a chance with other young talent, shouldn’t have let kopek go.WHAT YOU NEED IS MR. CONSISTENCY, KWAN.GET HIM WHILE YOU CAN. BAT/DEFENSE, Been with you since1959 Brooklyn my favorite Koufax, Snyder Hodges Wills Drysdale Hershey. Sutton, Hersh.and all the new
Not Bandaaaaaaa
Hershiser and so many more. Coach Robertson would be a nobody with anybody but Dodgers. Like him as a person, but he makes too many dumb mistakes that the team has to cover. Afraid to offend, he’s not there to make friends, but win. Absolutely can’t pull a pitcher before he embarreses himself. I know you have to give everybody a chance, but please. Talk in the dugout
@Gary
Dave Roberts is a lock for the Hall of Fame, deservedly.
Wtf is this coach Robertson who doesnt pull pitchers.The Doc? I have been around loooong time (Fan since 64) also and this ?guy evidently doesnt know BBall. Doc is every bit as good as Alston or Lasorda, maybe better. Look at all the relief pitcher innings we had to survive last year bc starters were banged up initially and bullpen was crap most of season. If Doc had a quicker hook we would have burnt what little pen we had by early Sept. His WS moves were masterful. I agree in earlier years he left Kershaw out too long at times to get blasted but his skill and luck have improved dramatically over the years. Kopek is brittle and gives up too many walks. Where and why we still talking Kwan as we have full house and may have to cut/trade somebody plus will need room for Kike and Evan (if he’s right) down the road. You just dont fill the shopping cart with everything that catches your eye. FO is doing a great job with our shopping cart the this year and we look in good shape for the future unless MLB voids our purchases and makes us use a small plastic hand basket.
I don’t think this was such a good move..
Just keep what your doing this team is so much fun watching