The Dodgers made a roster move on Tuesday, designating left-handed reliever Anthony Banda for assignment. The move clears a spot for catcher Ben Rortvedt, who the Dodgers claimed earlier in the day.
At first glance, it’s a surprising decision. Banda has been a steady presence in the Dodgers' bullpen over the past two seasons and even made multiple postseason appearances during that span.
Just last month, the team tendered him a contract for 2026, agreeing to a $1.625 million salary. That kind of commitment usually signals a team’s intent to keep a player around.
But dig a little deeper, and the decision starts to make more sense.
Banda’s 2024 season was solid on the surface: 49 2/3 innings, a 3.08 ERA, a strikeout rate just shy of 24%, and a decent 44.4% ground ball rate. But in 2025, while his ERA only ticked up slightly to 3.18, the underlying numbers told a different story.
His strikeout rate dipped to 22.8%, which isn’t catastrophic, but his walk rate spiked to 12.7%-a red flag for any reliever. He also wasn’t getting as many ground balls, with that rate falling to 39.4%. Those trends suggest he was losing some of the command and effectiveness that made him reliable in years past.
Even that 3.18 ERA may have been a bit of a mirage. Banda benefited from a .227 batting average on balls in play and an 83.1% strand rate-both numbers that suggest he was on the lucky side of variance.
Advanced metrics like FIP (4.52) and SIERA (4.39) painted a much less flattering picture. And when October rolled around, the wheels came off: six earned runs in 5 2/3 playoff innings.
The Dodgers also have a deep stable of left-handed arms. Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia, both of whom missed time during the playoffs-Scott due to injury, Vesia due to a family matter-are expected back in 2026. Add in emerging arms like Jack Dreyer and Justin Wrobleski, and the bullpen’s lefty depth chart is looking crowded.
Another factor working against Banda: he’s out of minor league options. That means he can’t be sent to Triple-A without first clearing waivers. In a bullpen as competitive as the Dodgers’, that’s a tough spot to be in.
Still, the Dodgers’ decision to tender Banda a contract suggests they might be hoping to sneak him through waivers and keep him in the organization as non-roster depth. It’s a strategy they’ve tried before this offseason.
Both Ben Rortvedt and Andy Ibáñez were signed to modest deals-just over $1 million each-only to be placed on waivers later. The plan didn’t work then: Rortvedt was claimed by the Reds in November (though the Dodgers reclaimed him today), and Ibáñez was claimed by the Athletics earlier this morning.
Whether Banda clears waivers remains to be seen. Despite his shaky 2025, he’s a lefty with big-league experience and a manageable salary.
That’s the kind of profile that can attract interest, especially from teams with bullpen holes or those in the middle of a rebuild. If a team claims him, they’d also have the option to retain him via arbitration for 2027.
The DFA process can stretch out over a week. Waivers take 48 hours, but the Dodgers could hold onto Banda for a few more days to gauge trade interest.
A modest return-cash considerations or a low-level prospect-wouldn’t be out of the question. If they do plan to place him on waivers, they may want to act quickly.
With the 60-day injured list opening next week, teams will have more roster flexibility, which could lead to a flurry of waiver claims.
For now, Banda waits in DFA limbo, and the Dodgers continue to fine-tune a roster that’s built to contend.