The Los Angeles Dodgers, never ones to sit idle, made a strategic move on their off day Thursday, bolstering their pitching depth by acquiring right-hander Chayce McDermott from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Axel Perez.

McDermott, 27, brings a classic high-risk, high-reward profile to a Dodgers organization renowned for developing pitching talent. His minor league track record is electric, featuring strikeout rates over 30% at every level, highlighted by a 3.78 ERA in 100 innings for Triple-A Norfolk in 2024. Scouts have long been intrigued by his arsenal, particularly an excellent slider with great depth and sweep, a distinct curveball, and a serviceable changeup.

However, his brief major league stints have been a struggle. Over five games across 2024 and 2025, he has allowed 18 runs in just 12.2 innings. This season, after missing the first six weeks with a lat strain, he posted a 6.18 ERA in the minors and was designated for assignment by Baltimore last Saturday.

This acquisition marks the third major league pitcher the Dodgers have added since Opening Day, following trades for Jake Eder and a waiver claim for Grant Holman. McDermott will take Holman's spot on the 40-man roster. For a team constantly fine-tuning its roster for a deep postseason run, this is a low-cost gamble on untapped potential, betting that their player development system can help McDermott translate his swing-and-miss stuff into consistent big-league success.