Just as pitchers and catchers begin to trickle into Arizona, the Los Angeles Dodgers are making one more move to deepen an already loaded pitching staff. The defending champs have added veteran right-hander Jordan Weems on a minor-league deal, complete with a non-roster invite to spring training.
Now, let’s be clear - the Dodgers aren’t exactly hurting for arms. This is a team that boasts one of the deepest pitching pools in baseball, a blend of elite starters, power relievers, and high-upside prospects. But if there’s one thing this front office has shown time and again, it’s that they’ll never stop looking for ways to fortify the roster - especially on the mound.
Weems, 33, fits the mold of a classic journeyman reliever. He’s bounced around the big leagues over the past few seasons, most recently splitting time between the Braves and Astros organizations.
After opening 2025 in Triple-A with Atlanta, he was released in mid-May, then picked up by Houston in early June. He got a brief look at the major league level with the Astros, appearing in four games and giving up seven earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings.
That short stint didn’t do much to improve his overall numbers. Across 144 career MLB appearances, Weems holds a 5.51 ERA - not exactly eye-popping - but he’s also struck out 161 batters in 160 innings.
That strikeout-per-inning pace is something that still catches the attention of teams looking for bullpen depth, especially when paired with a live arm and the kind of experience that comes from pitching in multiple organizations. Before last season, Weems had stops with the A’s, Diamondbacks, and Nationals.
He’ll join a group of 16 other non-roster pitchers in Dodgers camp, including fellow veterans Wyatt Mills, Cole Irvin, and Ryder Ryan. It’s a crowded field, and Weems will have to outperform a long list of arms to earn one of the 13 coveted spots on the Opening Day staff.
Realistically, he’s a long shot to break camp with the big league club. The Dodgers are entering the season in a healthier spot than they were a year ago, especially on the pitching side, and competition for those final bullpen roles will be fierce. But even if Weems doesn’t crack the roster out of spring, he brings value as a depth piece in Triple-A - someone who can be called upon if injuries or performance issues crop up during the grind of a 162-game season.
For now, it’s a low-risk, potentially useful signing. The Dodgers are simply doing what great teams do - leaving no stone unturned and making sure the cupboard is stocked, just in case they need to reach for another arm down the line.