When the Los Angeles Dodgers announced their initial group of non-roster invitees to 2022 Spring Training, it included a blend of top prospects, organizational depth and veterans who joined during the offseason on respective Minor League contracts.
Among them was Eddy Alvarez, Robbie Erlin, Sam Gaviglio, Tony Wolters and Stefen Romero. Of those five, Erlin has the most Major League experience in spending parts of seven seasons up at the Major League level.
Erlin’s latest stint in the Majors came with the Atlanta Braves during the 2020 season.
Although not matching Erlin’s same number of years, the Dodgers have added another veteran pitcher as a non-roster invite by signing Reyes Moronta. Should he make the Dodgers roster, Moronta will earn $1.5 million, according to Juan Toribio of MLB.com:
Right-hander Reyes Moronta will be at #Dodgers camp as a non-roster invitee, per source. Has battled injuries last few seasons with Giants, but is healthy after pitching in LIDOM this winter. Could be another bullpen option for LA if he stays healthy.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 13, 2022
If Moronta makes the #Dodgers’ major league roster, he’ll make $1.5 million, as @Alden_Gonzalez mentioned.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 13, 2022
Moronta missed all of the 2020 season while recovering from labrum surgery in his right shoulder. He was part of the San Francisco Giants bullpen come Opening Day of the 2021 campaign, but only managed to appear in four games before going on the 10-day injured list due to a right elbow flexor strain.
He resumed throwing near the end of April but began to experience right forearm stiffness roughly one week later. Moronta was diagnosed with a mild sprained ligament that wound up sidelining him into August.
He didn’t appear in any games for the Giants upon being activated off the 60-day IL and was sent outright to the Minors after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers. Moronta went 8-9 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 136 games over parts of four seasons with the Giants.
While there were injury concerns with the 29-year-old last year, he appeared in 10 games for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League.
The Dodgers were connected to the right-hander leading up to the trade deadline during the 2019 season, which was Farhan Zaidi’s first as the Giants’ president of baseball operations.
Dodgers lose Joe Kelly
Prior to reports of the Dodgers signing Moronta to a Minor League deal, they lost Joe Kelly to the Chicago White Sox on a two-year contract.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said early in the offseason the team had interest in retaining the 33-year-old after declining their option for 2022. Kelly recently made it clear he hoped to re-sign as well.
Even without Kelly being back in the fold, the Dodgers bullpen is plenty deep with an outlook of Phil Bickford, Justin Bruihl, Garrett Cleavinger, Caleb Ferguson, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Tommy Kahnle, Evan Phillips, David Price, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia.
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