The Los Angeles Dodgers are always looking to improve, and while that typically means they’d spend $100-plus million on a player, there are other ways to find talent. The Dodgers have attempted to do just that with a recent move. According to Tim Healey of Newsday, Los Angeles has signed former New York Yankees pitcher Stephen Ridings to a minor league deal. “Long Island’s Stephen Ridings – formerly of the Mets and Yankees – recently signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers,” Healey wrote.

Ridings appeared in five games for the Yankees out of the bullpen in 2021 at the big league level, posting an impressive 1.80 ERA in his short stint. During his minor league career, he’s only thrown in 158.0 innings after being selected with the No. 254 pick in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs. Ridings had decent numbers in his first minor league stint before playing independent ball last season, posting a 4.22 career ERA and 218 strikeouts.

Los Angeles has typically found success in signing players who aren’t elite and turning them into something. The Dodgers’ pitching staff seems full for now, but if anyone goes down and Ridings throws the baseball well in the minors, he could be an option they consider.