The Los Angeles Dodgers needed to part ways with a relief pitcher this offseason to make room for Edwin Diaz, and Anthony Banda drew the short straw.
So the now-Minnesota Twins reliver opened up about the trade and offered a message to Dodgers fans ahead of their opening day next week.
Banda spent the past two seasons with the Dodgers, helping them win consecutive World Series titles. The journeyman left-hander was 8-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 119 appearances over 114 2/3 innings with the Dodgers — by far the most major-league innings he logged for the eight teams over nine MLB seasons.
But Banda was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Feb. 6 then was traded to Minnesota for international bonus-pool money Feb 12.
Anthony Banda Was ‘Shocked’ By Being DFA’d by the Dodgers
Banda has bounced around throughout his career before landing in LA before the 2024 season, so being traded wasn’t shocking. Yet, his departure from the organization, and being DFA’d, was.
“When I got the phone call [that he’d been designated] it was more shock. I couldn’t get any words out I was so shocked,” Banda told “Foul Territory” recently. “I could tell that [Dodgers general manager Brandon] Gomes was not happy in the sense of being on that end of the phone call.”
The Banda move made room on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster for Ben Rortvedt’s return as their third-string catcher behind Will Smith and Dalton Rushing.
Despite a solid regular season, Banda was the odd man out after struggling in the postseason (9.53 ERA in 5 2/3 innings), especially after Diaz was signed to be the closer. The Diaz move put left-handers Justin Wrobleski, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Jack Dreyer as southpaw set-up options for manager Dave Roberts.
“I wasn’t shocked in the sense of maybe a potential trade at some point,” Banda said. “I’m not oblivious. There’s a lot of lefties, and they’re really talented and stuff, and the whole DFA process was a shocker to me.”
Anthony Banda ‘Loved’ His Time in the Dodgers Organization
The roster move may have left Banda surprised, but he understands the business side of baseball. He said he harbors no ill will toward the Dodgers organization.
Banda said. “You can’t take that very personally, because at the end of the day those are great people over there,” Banda said of the Dodgers organization. “They’re amazing. They take care of families. They care. You can’t take the business aspect of them making moves … because they were doing it well before I got there.
“I love that organization, everybody involved in it. They’ve done right by me, loved me, everything about it was great.”
Banda will take his experience to Minnesota, where he will likely be the primary set-up reliever for All-Star closer and fellow lefty Taylor Rogers. But Banda express gratitude for those memories and experiences gained in Dodger Blue.
“I was just extremely grateful that 1. They’ve given me the opportunity to have those special moments that we had,” Banda said, “and 2. You’re not owed anything in this game, so it’s like take what you can get and keep moving forward.”
Former Dodgers Pitcher Sends Heartfelt Message After Offseason Trade