The Dodgers reclaimed lefty Garrett McDaniels after the Angels pulled up top prospect Christian Moore, adding depth to their pitching staff.
The Angels’ big move came on Friday when they promoted top infield prospect Christian Moore ahead of their series against the Orioles. Moore, 22, made his MLB debut by starting at second base and hitting ninth in the lineup. His promotion forced a roster crunch, leading to McDaniels being DFA’d. The former Tennessee slugger — who set a school record with 34 home runs last year — had been tearing up the minors with a .279 average, 5 homers, and a .796 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A.
According to a post from The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya on X, formerly known as Twitter, McDaniels was officially returned to the Dodgers on June 14 after clearing waivers.
“The Angels returned LHP Garrett McDaniels to the Dodgers. They’d selected him in the Rule 5 draft but he was DFA’d recently.”
Despite the struggles, McDaniels remains an intriguing long-term arm. The Dodgers pitching depth has been tested this year, and while McDaniels won’t slot in immediately, his return gives the team a controllable left-hander who can be refined in the minors. With veterans like Clayton Kershaw healthy again and prospects like Justin Wrobleski emerging, McDaniels can now work without pressure — or eventually become part of a trade package as the deadline nears.
The Angels’ aggressive push with Moore cost them a Rule 5 project. The Dodgers were more than happy to scoop him back up.
