The Dodgers have signed right-hander Nabil Crismatt and outfielder Travis Swaggerty to minor league deals, per each player’s respective transaction tracker at MLB.com. Each has been assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma for now but could be in big league camp as non-roster invitees.
Crismatt, who turns 29 on Monday, has thrown a combined 170 innings over the past four MLB seasons. Most of that has some with the Padres but he also made appearances with the Cardinals and Diamondbacks, with a 3.76 earned run average in that time. His 21.5% strikeout rate is right around typical league averages but his 7.4% walk rate and 50.5% ground ball rate are both strong.
It’s a solid track record but he’s coming off a challenging season. He made six appearances for the Padres early in the year and wasn’t in great form, sporting an ERA of 10.80 when he was placed on the injured list with a hip strain. He was activated off the IL in June and made one more appearance before being designated for assignment. He elected free agency and landed with the Diamondbacks, making one appearance for that club before getting designated for assignment again. Between the two organizations, he had a 6.86 ERA in 59 Triple-A innings for the year.
Despite the frustrating 2023, Crismatt has shown an ability to get outs at the major league level before and will give the Dodgers some non-roster depth in their bullpen. If he is able to crack the roster at any point, he is out of options.
Swaggerty, now 26, was once a highly-touted youngster. The Pirates selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 draft but has had his trajectory altered by injuries. A dislocated shoulder required surgery in 2021, then he battled vertigo and migraines in 2023. Due to those challenges and the minors being canceled by the pandemic in 2020, he’s been limited to 146 total games played over the past four years, only five of those at the major league level.
The 141 minor league games he played in that stretch led to a batting line of .242/.342/.397. He drew walks in 12.6% of his plate appearances but also struck out in 25% of them. He has a decent floor since his speed and defensive abilities are considered assets, but his offense might still be a work in progress due to so much missed development time. For the Dodgers, there’s no harm in taking a non-roster flier on a former first-round pick.
The club is currently slated to have an outfield mix consisting of James Outman, Manuel Margot, Jason Heyward and Chris Taylor, with Miguel Vargas and Andy Pages also on the roster. If Swaggerty is in good form in 2024 and gets his contract selected, he still has one option remaining.
SD did this guy dirty.
Where are the Zaidi only shops in the bargain bin comments now? Every team does this!
Except the dodgers do this ONTOP of premium purchases. Also, Dodgers have a knack for brining guys back to form.
Crismats young with a lot of upside so hopefully better coaching, rehabbing and less pressure in the LAD minors helps him get back to form
Brining guys? That is innovative!
In his photo, Crismatt seems to have Ross Geller teeth.
They both are being paid $1 a year for the next million years
I really wish there was a mute button in the app
gotta mute on desktop
Even if there wasn’t, log in in a browser and mute. Sadly I find myself using the mute option often. Just so many unserious people here.
Welcome to Los Karens
Rocker49, stop trying to make Los Karens happen! It’s not going to happen!
That is so fetch!
Do you know what a Karen is? How does that relate to a baseball team?
Merry Crismatt and a happy new Swaggerty to the Dodger minor league teams!
Actually…I totally agree with you! Great player but $700 million???
If he is at least a top 10 WAR hitter over the next ten years, it won’t be a bust with the entre in Asian markets. Pitching is all gravy.
As usual, the Dodgers made a couple wise signings with these guys.
dodgers love those former 1st round picks
It’s already paying off dividends we got to trade for Tyler. So what’s your issue? Seems like you’re still salty that we signed him. Every Dodger fan I know loves it. So whaaaa
I’m at a complete loss for words. The Dodgers have a golden opportunity with Ohtani on the team and they’re completely wasting it by signing these guys instead of Yamamoto. These are the types of moves the loser Angels make. No other teams make minor league signings. None. Andrew Friedman looking like Andrew Poorman!
@FletcherFan
Which team doesn’t make minor league signings?
Only the Angels. Look at the comments on the Jake Marisnick post. That’s why they are a Loser Franchise!
Depth. Beats the heck out of having a player injured and being forced to bring up an A-ball player with three weeks of experience.
Like the book. Fried Dad, Poor Dad. Where one dad is poor and one is deep-fried. The fried dad is vastly superior, because he’s more filling and quicker to get to customers.
I didn’t read the book.
How is this the worst contract of all time? He’s yet to play a single game in a Dodger uniform
@TroutIs2-4WARLevelNow I could argue that Ohtani’s contract is the greatest contract of all time.
He’s only costing the Dodgers $2M per year, even at the highest CBT penalty, it amounts to $4.2M per year. The $68M per year due 10 years from now could easily be paid by any advertising revenue the Dodgers get from Ohtani’s name.
Just so you know, Ohtani was making about $50M in advertisement, the Angels were making anywhere from $20M-$40M. A more recognizable name like the Dodgers should easily make more than the Angels.
Even if Ohtani becomes just a 2-4WAR DH and relief pitcher in the future, he will be worth his contract and more.
TroutIs2-4;
You act/cry, like this is your money, it’s not so what the H, E, double hockey sticks is your problem? You’re not going to have to pay him and if it bothers you that much don’t go to the games, don’t watch & don’t listen to them! The real issue here is you like seeing your negative posts here!
Crismat has some nasty stuff. He toyed with the dodgers a few years back.
You must be a Giant or Blue Jay fan.
I usually order nabil crismatt with a side of fries.
BlueSkies
I am deferring my upvote on your comment for at least ten years without interest
🙂
Oh good. That Trout person is back.
You must be slow guy.
After 20 years, the Dodgers will have brought in more than 700 million in revenue alone just off Ohtani.
That’s called profit. Plus he can’t hurt them on the field.
Sold more jerseys than Messi lmao. Will work out just fine
@TroutIs2-4WARLevelNow the 20M-40M the Angels were making were not from ticket sales. Mostly merch and advertising, licensing, etc. The Dodgers will easily make more than this in Japan alone
The LA Times ran an interesting analysis the Ohtani contract today. The team could add $50M in annual revenue from advertising and marketing alone. The total revenue boost is estimated to be $1B or more (possibly a lot more). Tickets are also dynamically priced so they get a bump there too.
Crismatt was good in 2022. I remember he did well against the Dodgers and not liking when they brought him in. Rails came off in 2023 though. File him under relievers are frustratingly volatile!! No downside. Guessing he has opt outs.
I think there’s plenty of upside. He signed with the rich kids and is also in AAA, so it relieves pressure of having to instantly perform.
And the rich get richer.
Or whatever people say when a large market team signs anybody.
LA’s “ outfield mix “ looks a lot less daunting without Betts. Just saying.
GP
“LA’s “ outfield mix “ looks a lot less daunting without Betts. Just saying.”
Infield sure looks better, though
It’s almost like tradeoffs are a thing that exists. And a thing that is beyond the intellectual capabilities of too many people
The Dodgers are really using that money they’re saving with Ohtani to go get the best of the best, the Nabillionaire himself.
Let’s put the best right fielder in the bigs at second base. Ok .
GP
“Let’s put the best right fielder in the bigs at second base. Ok .”
Why not?
He’s almost certainly more valuable there
Plus, there were many more OF options than IF options available
Plus, it seems to be Mookie’s wish to play 2B