Los Angeles Dodgers Reportedly Sign Jair Jurrjens to Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly added a former All-Star starting pitcher on a minor league deal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly signed starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens to a minor league deal. Hudson Belinsky of Baseball America reported the news on Twitter.

Through injuries have now slowed his career, Jurrjens has had a good deal of success at the big league level. Jurrjens made his debut with the Detroit Tigers back in 2007 at the age of 21. He was dealt to the Atlanta Braves as part of a trade for Edgar Renteria the following offseason.

From 2008-11, Jurrjens went 47-32 with a 3.34 ERA (121 ERA+) and a 1.29 WHIP for the Braves. He finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2008 and was an All-Star in 2011.

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Injuries and Decline

Early on in his career, it looked as though Jurrjens would be an All-Star for years to come. He even earned a mention in the movie Trouble with the Curve, when it is said that he has just thrown a (fictional) no-hitter. Since 2012, however, Jurrjens has appeared in only 15 MLB games with the Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies. He has posted a 7.20 ERA over that stretch and last pitched in the majors in 2014.

Jurrjens has spent quite a bit of time in the minors during recent years as well. He briefly returned to the Tigers organization and spent time with the Cincinnati Reds organization, but didn’t make it to the big leagues with either club.

Jurrjens spent 2015 pitching for the Rockies’ Triple-A club, the Albuquerque Isotopes, going 2-5 with a 6.88 ERA over 17 games (14 starts.) According to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, Jurrjens pitched in the Chinese Professional Baseball League during last season.

Jurrjens also pitched for Team Netherlands during the 2017 World Baseball Classic and looked quite sharp. Over three games (two stars), he posted a 2.38 ERA.

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Per The Orange County Register, the Dodgers’ pitching staff now seems to be set. As of right now, it appears likely that Jurrjens will simply serve as a nice depth piece and give the club an extra option in the rotation or bullpen if need be.

Jurrjens is still only 31 years old. Although the odds may be long, perhaps there is a chance that the Dodgers could catch lightning in a bottle with him.