DODGERS’ ONE-INNING DISASTER: Connor Brogdon Jumps to Guardians in $900K Reclamation Gamble.vc

CLEVELAND, OH — The most forgettable arm in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ recent injury chaos—a symbol of the team’s reliance on a historic number of pitchers—has found a new home. The Cleveland Guardians have signed former Dodgers right-handed reliever Connor Brogdon to a one-year, $900,000 contract, gambling that their renowned “Pitching Factory” can fix the man who vanished onto the Injured List (IL) after a single, catastrophic inning.

The move marks the latest chapter in the Dodgers’ worst-case pitching scenario, after the club was forced to use an absolutely egregious 40 different pitchers in 2024 and nearly matched that total in 2025 due to unprecedented staff injuries.

The $900,000 Gamble

Brogdon’s brief, nightmarish tenure with the Dodgers in 2024 perfectly encapsulated the club’s desperate scramble for bullpen arms:

• The Disaster Debut: Brogdon, acquired via trade from the Phillies in April 2024, made just one appearance for the Dodgers. In that single inning of work, he surrendered two home runs before being pulled. His final Dodgers ERA stood at an astronomical 18.00.
• The Vanish Act: Immediately following that outing, Brogdon was sidelined with plantar fasciitis in his foot, landing him on the 60-day IL and ending his season with the team. He was subsequently non-tendered.

After a disappointing 2025 season with the Los Angeles Angels (where he posted a 5.55 ERA over 47 innings), the Guardians swooped in, viewing the 6-foot-6 right-hander as an ideal reclamation project.

Why Cleveland Believes They Can Fix Him

The Guardians are known for their ability to maximize the potential of pitchers, often utilizing advanced analytics and mechanical adjustments to transform struggling arms into key contributors.

• Elite Extension: Despite his struggles, Brogdon still ranks in the 92nd percentile for pitcher extension (7.0 feet). This high extension rate is a metric the Guardians prioritize, as it makes the fastball appear faster to hitters.
• Controllable Upside: For just $900,000, the Guardians secure a pitcher who has proven he can succeed at the MLB level (he was a key bullpen arm for the Phillies’ 2022 NL Championship team). Furthermore, the deal gives Cleveland control over Brogdon through the 2027 season.

If the Guardians’ pitching lab can unlock the potential that faded after his short, ill-fated Dodgers stint, the $900,000 gamble will pay off immensely, proving that one team’s disaster can truly become another team’s treasure.