Yency Almonte

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent right-handed reliever Yency Almonte to a minor-league deal on Thursday, a source told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Almonte, who pitched for the Dodgers from 2022 to 2023, was sent to the Chicago Cubs in the trade that also included first baseman Michael Busch. He had a 3.45 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, one save, and a 20:8 K:BB in 15 2/3 relief innings in Chicago in 2024, but didn't pitch at all in the big leagues last year due to shoulder injuries. The 31-year-old veteran had a nice 1.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks in 19 1/3 relief innings in the minors in 2025 with High-A South Bend and Double-A Knoxville. Almonte, originally drafted in the 17th round in 2012 by the Los Angeles Angels, has a career 4.44 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, three saves, and a 22.5% strikeout rate in seven major-league seasons. He'll operate as relief depth for the Blue if he sticks around in 2026.