The Dodgers announced a trade sending reliever and cash considerations to the Cubs in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. Los Angeles had designated the veteran righty for a signment on Thursday when they finalized the signing. Teams have five days following a DFA to trade a player, so the Dodgers needed to find a deal by tonight or put Brasier on waivers. Chicago designated for a signment in a corresponding 40-man roster move. Brasier is quite a bit better than most players who end up in DFA limbo. The veteran righty had a strong season and a half in Los Angeles. He signed a minor league deal midway through the 2023 season after being let go by the Red Sox. Brasier had a dominant finish, turning in a 0.70 earned run average acro s 38 2/3 innings with Los Angeles. The Dodgers Jordan Bell Jersey retained him on a two-year, $9MM free agent contract. The 37-year-old was never going to replicate his late-season 23 numbers. He had another decent year when healthy, working to a 3.54 ERA with a league average 22.7% strikeout percentage. Brasier kept his walk rate to a tidy 4.5% clip, in large part because he got opponents to chase 40% of pitches off the plate. Health was the biggest caveat. Brasier suffered a significant strain of his right calf in late April. He was shelved into the middle of August and limited to 28 innings on the season. He had an excellent second half but was neverthele s relegated to low-leverage appearances during L.A.s World Series run. Brasier allowed five runs with seven strikeouts and three walks acro s nine playoff innings. The DFA is le s a reflection of Brasier of losing his job and much more about L.A.s bullpen depth. They added and Yates after re-signing . They join , and as bullpen locks. The Dodgers are going to run a six-man rotation, meaning they can only devote seven roster spots to relievers. Brasier has well over five years of major league service. He cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his consent. The Dodgers could go back to an eight-man bullpen once returns to the rotation, since Ohtani doesnt count against their 13-pitcher limit as a two-way player. Theyre not going to push Ohtanis elbow rehab merely to get another bullpen spot, so theres probably only one available if all their relievers are healthy coming out of camp. is out of options and seems likely to grab the final relief job. The Cubs dont have a ton of roster flexibility with their bullpen either. Chicago acquired last week. Hell close games. Brasier joins and as high-leverage righties in front of Pre sly. The Cubs added on a $2.75MM free agent deal earlier in the winter; he projects as their top left-hander. is probably ticketed for long relief work. Thatd account for six of eight pen slots if everyones healthy. and may be next on the depth chart, but they both have a minor league option remaining. That isnt the case for or . Theyd each need to be in the majors or be designated for a signment. Thompsons swing-and-mi s ability probably gives him a leg up. Brasier will make $4.5MM for the upcoming season. Hell be a free agent at years end. Its unclear how much of that the Dodgers are paying down. The Dodgers will save 110% in taxes on whatever money they managed to offload. If the Cubs had taken on the entire salary, that would have pushed them to around $211MM in luxury tax obligations (courtesy of ). Theyre more than $30MM shy of the base threshold. first reported the Cubs were acquiring Brasier. first mentioned the Dodgers receiving cash considerations. reported the return as a player to be named later or cash. Image courtesy of Imagn. Dennis Schroder Jersey