Dodgers ink Beachy to a one-year deal
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers see the signing of rehabbing free agent Brandon Beachy as depth for the second half of 2015 and a viable rotation piece for 2016, when Zack Greinke and Brett Anderson could be free agents.
Beachy, still recovering from a second Tommy John elbow reconstruction, signed a deal Saturday for one year at $2.75 million and a club option for 2016 that ranges from $3 million to $6 million depending how much he pitches this year.
The Dodgers made room for Beachy on the 40-man roster by placing Chris Withrow on the 60-day disabled list. Withrow is recovering from Tommy John surgery, as well as surgery to repair a herniated disk, and isn't expected back until late in the season.
Dodgers executive Pat Corrales watched Beachy, 28, work out in January. Beachy said deciding on the Dodgers was easy, mostly because the surgeon of his second Tommy John, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, is also the Dodgers' team doctor.
"It's the best place to be," Beachy said. "I have a lot of faith in Dr. ElAttrache and the training room's view for bringing me along meshes well with that. I'm just going to listen to my arm, get healthy to compete and contribute for a while."
Beachy had his second Tommy John surgery 11 months ago. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said the club views the operation as a 14-month ordeal, with a more conservative approach taken for a repeat operation. Zaidi said it is hoped Beachy, who's currently throwing off flat ground, will be competing again around the All-Star break.
"By the time he's ramping up, our starting pitching depth might look different than it does now," Zaidi said. "He was a really valued target for us. I think his ceiling, based on what he's done before, is that of a mid-rotation starter or better."
The right-hander, who missed the entire 2014 season, was non-tendered by the Braves and has pitched only five big league games over the past two seasons and 18 over the past three. But when Beachy has been healthy, he has been effective. In 46 career starts, he is 14-11 with a 3.23 ERA and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Beachy had a 2.00 ERA through 13 outings in 2012 before undergoing his first Tommy John procedure that June, performed by Dr. James Andrews. Beachy said the second rehab has been "harder mentally" than the first, but has "no doubt in my mind" he will regain his past form.
He said he doesn't think the first procedure "had anything to do with the failure," but is taking a "more conservative route" this time because "If it's my last bullet, I want to cross the T's and dot the I's so I can look back and not second-guess anything."