The Los Angeles Dodgers have added another arm to their organizational depth, acquiring left-handed pitcher Jake Eder from the Washington Nationals following his recent designation for assignment.

Originally selected by the Miami Marlins in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, he quickly built a reputation as one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in their system before his development was interrupted by Tommy John surgery while at the Double-A level.

Despite the injury setback, Eder remained a trade chip and was dealt to the Chicago White Sox at the 2023 trade deadline in a deal that sent infielder Jake Burger to Miami. However, his time in Chicago proved difficult, as he struggled to regain consistency upon returning to the mound.

After showing promise in the Marlins’ system prior to the trade, Eder’s performance dipped significantly with Chicago’s Double-A affiliate, where he was hit hard in limited action. Those struggles carried into the following season, where he continued to search for form across a larger sample of starts.

The White Sox eventually moved on, trading Eder to the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations. He reached the major leagues briefly during his time in Anaheim, logging limited innings out of the bullpen while showing flashes of swing-and-miss ability but also issues with command.

Eder was later included in a deal that sent him to the Nationals as part of a return for veteran relievers, but his stint in Washington’s system was short-lived. While he demonstrated some effectiveness in spring training, control remained a concern, ultimately leading to his removal from the 40-man roster.

From a scouting perspective, Eder features a fastball that typically sits in the low-to-mid 90s, complemented by a slider and changeup. His slider has shown promise as a potential out pitch, while the changeup has been less reliable, particularly against right-handed hitters.

For the Dodgers, the move represents a low-risk opportunity to add a pitcher with upside and minor league flexibility. Eder still has an option remaining, allowing the club to assign him to Triple-A Oklahoma City without needing to immediately clear space on the active roster.

In the short term, he is expected to provide rotation or bullpen depth at the Triple-A level, with the potential to serve as a multi-inning option if needed.

Given the Dodgers’ track record of developing pitchers, the organization could look to unlock more consistency from Eder while keeping him as a depth piece capable of contributing later in the season.

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