After multiple seasons in which the bullpen was their Achilles’ heel, the Los Angeles Dodgers attempted to bolster the group of relievers by trading for Aroldis Chapman. The electric left-hander would’ve given Los Angeles a dynamic tandem of closers with Kenley Jansen still on the roster.
The duo, coupled with last season’s late improvement from Chris Hatcher, figured to answer some of the Dodgers’ troubles. However, the deal for Chapman came undone due to a report surfacing of his involvement in a domestic dispute.
The Dodgers went on to sign Joe Blanton and Louis Coleman to one-year contracts, though Coleman’s was a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. He pitched well and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster, beating out Luis Avilan, who struggled throughout camp.
With Adam Liberatore previously optioned to the Minors, the decision to go with Coleman resulted in J.P. Howell being the lone left-handed reliever on the roster.
While Avilan, Liberatore and Ian Thomas are the lefties with Major League experience currently on the Triple-A Oklahoma City roster, the Dodgers reportedly will add Sean Burnett to the mix, via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Source: #Dodgers to sign LHP Sean Burnett to minor-league contract. Will include May 1 opt-out.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 9, 2016
Triple-A Oklahoma City broadcaster and media relations director Alex Freedman later confirmed Burnett was with the affiliate:
Can confirm Sean Burnett has joined @okc_dodgers, but is not active yet. Currently throwing a bullpen.
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) April 9, 2016
Burnett was released by the Washington Nationals earlier this month as the club made their final decisions for their 25-man active roster. He signed a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training last November.
Burnett threw 8.2 scoreless innings over nine appearances this spring, totaling seven strikeouts to just one walk. He missed all of last season due to a second Tommy John surgery (2004 and 2014) of his career. The 33-year-old southpaw was limited by forearm irritation and a left elbow impingement in 2013.
He only managed to throw a combined 10.1 innings over 16 games across 2013 and 2014. Over eight seasons in the Majors, Burnett has a 3.53 ERA, 4.15 FIP, 1.34 WHIP and averaged 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Burnett joins Sam LeCure and Dale Thayer as recent additions to the Dodgers organization.
