The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Minor League pitcher Jeff Belge to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for J.P. Feyereisen, who faces a prolonged recovery from right shoulder surgery.
Feyereisen joins the Dodgers after being designated for assignment on Tuesday despite being one of the most effective relievers in baseball this past season. However, he dealt with shoulder discomfort and underwent surgery last week to repair his right rotator cuff and labrum.
Feyereisen is not expected to resume throwing until four months removed from the operation, and he will need even more time to complete the rehab process. Feyereisen likely won’t return to the mound until late 2023, but given the nature of shoulder surgeries, it wouldn’t be surprising if he doesn’t pitch until 2024.
The move is a low-risk, high-upside play for the future bullpen as Feyereisen is under team control through 2026 via salary arbitration.
The 29-year-old went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 24.1 innings in 22 games this past season. Feyereisen’s breakout was fueled by cutting his walk rate from 13.5% and 14.1% in his first two seasons to 5.8% this year while also increasing his strikeout rate to 29.1% from 22.6%.
Feyereisen relies on a fastball (44.5% usage), slider (29.1%) and changeup (26.5%), which are all quality pitches with a whiff rate above 32% on each one.
The right-hander has been in the Majors for parts of three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (2020-2021) and Rays (2021-2022), posting a combined 8-4 record with a 2.31 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.00 WHIP and 85 strikeouts in 83 career games.
Feyereisen was originally selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 16th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Belge appeared in 29 games for High-A Great Lakes, going 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 2022. The 25-year-old has been with the Dodgers organization for three seasons, posting a 7-5 record with a 3.92 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 78 games.
He was picked in the 18th round of the 2019 Draft out of St. John’s University.
Dodgers signing Noah Syndergaard
The Dodgers filled one of their biggest needs on Wednesday by reportedly agreeing to sign Noah Syndergaard to a one-year contract.
Syndergaard went a combined 10-10 with a 3.94 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for the Angels and Philadelphia Phillies this past season. The former New York Mets All-Star has battled injuries and struggled to pitch well since a breakout campaign in 2016.
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