The Dodgers are once again doing what they do best-scouring the globe for pitching depth with upside-and their latest addition fits that mold. Left-hander Cole Irvin is heading to Los Angeles on a minor league deal, with an expected invite to big league spring training. It’s a low-risk move with potential value, the kind of pickup that’s become a staple of the Dodgers’ roster-building playbook.
Irvin, who just turned 32 on January 31, is looking to reignite his MLB career after spending the 2025 season overseas with the Doosan Bears in the KBO. His numbers in Korea-4.48 ERA-weren’t eye-popping, but they were serviceable enough to keep him on the radar for a return stateside. Now, he’ll get a shot to prove he still has something left in the tank.
Originally drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round back in 2016 out of Oregon, Irvin’s journey has been anything but linear. He made his big league debut in 2019 with Philadelphia, but struggled to a 6.75 ERA over 19 appearances across two seasons.
His real opportunity came in Oakland, where he carved out a role as a reliable innings-eater. From 2021 to 2022, Irvin made 62 starts for the A’s and posted a respectable 4.11 ERA-his best stretch in the majors.
In 2023, he moved to Baltimore and continued to be a steady, if unspectacular, presence on the mound with a 4.42 ERA in 24 outings. But 2024 was a different story. He started the year with the Orioles, posting a 4.86 ERA over 25 appearances, before a brief and rough stint with the Twins (12.27 ERA in just four games) sent him looking for opportunities elsewhere.
That led him to Korea, and now, back to the U.S. with the Dodgers.
At 6-foot-4, Irvin is a big-bodied lefty who’s never been a strikeout artist-his career K/9 sits at just 6.6. That means he’s at his best when he’s commanding the zone, working efficiently, and forcing weak contact. He’s not going to overpower hitters, but in the right role, with the right support behind him, he can still contribute.
For the Dodgers, this is about depth. Irvin gives them a veteran arm who’s been through the grind, has experience both starting and relieving, and can step in if injuries hit the rotation. With a team that’s eyeing another deep postseason run, these kinds of signings can quietly pay off when the dog days of summer roll around.
He’s not a lock to make the roster, but Irvin’s got a shot to earn his way back. And with the Dodgers, opportunity tends to find players who are ready to seize it.