The Los Angeles Dodgers reshaped their bullpen on Tuesday, recalling Wyatt Mills from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designating Jonathan Hernández for assignment. It was a clean swap on paper, but it changed the right-handed mix immediately.
Jonathan Hernández is the name that carries the heavier short-term consequence. Once a player is designated for assignment, the club has seven days to trade him, place him on outright or unconditional release waivers, or let another team claim him, which means his next stop will be decided quickly rather than eventually.
The move came after Hernández gave up one run on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief on Monday in West Sacramento. That outing was part of an uneven stretch for the right-hander, who had posted an 8.15 ERA in 17.2 innings with the Dodgers this season after signing a major league contract in May. He made 12 appearances for the club.
Mills returns for a second stint with the Dodgers, even though his first run with the club was rough. He had an 8.10 ERA in four games earlier this season. In Triple-A Oklahoma City, though, he put together a much stronger line, going 4-4 with a 2.64 ERA in 26 games and striking out 45 in 30.2 innings for the Comets. He also has major league experience with the Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals, and owns a 0-1 record with a 6.35 ERA in 42 MLB games.
That contrast explains the logic behind Tuesday's move. Hernández had given the Dodgers immediate innings but not dependable results, while Mills offered a fresher arm with better recent numbers in the minors and enough big-league history to be used again if needed. The Dodgers can still decide to keep Hernández in the system, but the seven-day clock now puts the burden on another team to step in first. If nobody does, the club can move on.
