At 46-30 and maintaining a grip on first place in the ever-contentious National League West, the Dodgers can hardly say they’re in a bad position. No team in baseball is running away with its division, and though this team is not on a 100-win pace, that doesn’t really matter–they won 100-plus games from 2021-23 and did not come up with a World Series title, but did win the Big One last year, when they won 98 games.
This year, the Dodgers are again on a pace for 98 wins. Not much to complain about there.
But it has become clear that L.A. has a hole in the roster, much as the Dodgers did last year. In 2024, it was a dearth of starting pitching brought on by a mind-numbing wave of injuries. This year, it’s pitching and injuries again, but it is the relief crew. Closer Tanner Scott has settled in after a rocky beginning, but across the bullpen, question marks remain.
The Dodgers need a the-more-the-merrier approach to the relief corps, and with that in mind, the team pulled off a trade on Friday, acquiring veteran lefty Zach Penrod, who had been DFA’d by the Red Sox.
Dodgers in Need of Bullpen Aid
Of course, the Dodgers will gladly welcome a bit of help from Boston after the team gifted the Giants slugger Rafael Devers in a blockbuster trade this week. The Dodgers bullpen has been overworked while also underperforming, a rather unwelcome combination.
L.A. leads MLB in bullpen innings, at 327.0, well ahead of the Marlins (304.2). But the Dogers are just 18th in the game in bullpen ERA (4.07) and 17th in bullpen WHIP (1.29).
Penrod is a depth piece, but not without promise. He is certainly an impressive story of perseverance, and a player who will be easy to root for should he reach Chavez Ravine.
Penrod has bounced through the minor leagues for the past eight years after signing as a 21-year-old free agent with the Rangers. But Texas cut him loose when he injured his elbow and required Tommy John surgery in 2019. He showed a good deal of determination, though, first recovering from the injury, then pitching in independent ball for two years.
Zach Penrod an Inspiring Story
He got a shot with the Red Sox in the summer of 2023, and worked his way through the system quickly, starting 2024 in Double-A Portland, spending a brief stint in Triple-A and finally making his debut in September last year.
Penrod was memorably emotional after his debut, against the Yankees in the Bronx.
“It feels incredible, obviously,” Penrod told reporters. “This is something I’ve been working toward for a long time and didn’t know if I would ever accomplish. They told me last night, called me around 10:30 (p.m.), and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to sleep for sure last night, but it’s incredibly exciting.
“I kind of teared up a little bit when I got off the phone, so it was a very cool moment.”
He allowed one earned run in seven appearances in Boston in 2024. He struggled with an elbow issue in spring training, and posted a 5.68 ERA in six Triple-A appearances in 2025.
Dodgers Pull off Trade for Red Sox LHP