Dodgers Reportedly Agree to Minor League Deal With Former Padres Pitcher Nabil Crismatt

He's staying in the NL West.

Former Padres RHP Nabil Crismatt is reportedly signing a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mike Mayer of Mets Mesmerized reported the news.

Source: The Dodgers have signed right-handed pitcher Nabil Crismatt to a minor league deal.

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) December 8, 2023

In baseball, there's no such thing as having too many pitchers. Whether it's through injury, poor performance, or other extenuating circumstances, every team's pitching depth gets tested at some point during the season. 

By adding Crismatt, the Dodgers add a proven arm to the system and it is an all-upside signing. 

Back in 2022, Nabil Crismatt pitched well out of the Padres' bullpen. In 67.1 innings, he amassed 65 strikeouts with a 2.94 ERA. 

Things went downhill from there as he had an 8.31 ERA in 2023. Part of that was due to a nagging hip injury he sustained last year. He could not seem to shake the injury and his command suffered for it. 

As mentioned above, this signing has nothing but potential. Signing him to a minor league deal means he does not take up a valuable 40-man roster spot and he does not factor into the major league payroll. He can spend as long as he wants in the minors fixing whatever went wrong for him in 2023.

We could still see him up with the Dodgers at some point next year. If he can return to form, he can be a valuable middle reliever for the team. In the unfortunate circumstance that someone goes down with an injury, then the team has someone proven in waiting. 

If absolutely none of that happens, then no harm no foul. It could ultimately be a signing similar to Dellin Betances last year.