The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney back to the fold on a minor league deal, a league source said, as the team tightens its pitching depth ahead of the postseason eligibility deadline. Heaney will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he lives, to help the organization stock up arms for a potential October run.
The 34-year-old veteran was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates last week and is set to rejoin the Dodgers for what will be his third stint in the club’s organization. His first stint came in a December 2014 move from the Miami Marlins, a deal that quickly flipped him to the Los Angeles Angels hours later.
Heaney’s second ride with the Dodgers in 2022 was his best in a Dodger uniform, posting a 3.10 ERA over 72 2/3 innings while recording 13.6 strikeouts per nine. That performance helped him land a multiyear contract with the Texas Rangers, and he was part of their pitching staff when they won the World Series in 2023.
This season, Heaney has struggled to recapture that form. In 120 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh, he owns a 5.39 ERA — among the higher marks for pitchers with at least 120 innings — and has been limited by a dip in swing-and-miss, posting just 6.3 strikeouts per nine. His fastball averaged 90.1 mph, the lowest velocity of his career.
Still, the move represents a low-risk flier for a club that currently enjoys a healthy rotation and bullpen but wants additional depth should late-season needs arise. For Heaney, it’s a chance to re-enter a familiar environment, reunite with a World Series-winning organization, and potentially rediscover the form that made him a valuable contributor in years past.
Key takeaways:
– Dodgers add veteran lefty depth by bringing Heaney back on a minor league deal, with a location-based assignment to OKC.
– Heaney has prior successful run with the Dodgers (2022) and a World Series championship pedigree from his time with the Rangers in 2023.
– This season’s numbers show decline, but the move is a prudent, low-risk depth addition for October.
– If Heaney can rebound even modestly, he could serve as a flexible option for long relief or spot starts as the Dodgers navigate the final stretch.
Summary: The Dodgers are quietly boosting pitching depth by bringing back Andrew Heaney on a minor league pact, leveraging his familiarity with the organization and the opportunity to rediscover his form in a familiar environment as they chase another postseason run.
Positive spin: If Heaney recaptures his 2022 efficiency, he could become a valuable veteran depth piece for the Dodgers in October, providing reliable length and left-handed versatility when it matters most.
Optional context and commentary:
– This move highlights how teams balance risk and upside late in the season, especially when the roster is healthy but additional options can insulate against the inevitable bumps and injuries of a postseason push.
– Watch for how the Dodgers use Heaney once he reports to OKC—whether he’s primarily a depth option in the minors, or if he earns a direct path to a bullpen/spot-start role in September or October.