Los Angeles Torch Dodgers and Andrew Friedman After Team Clears Decision on Pirates Outcast

Andrew Friedman and the Los Angeles Dodgers front office were under fire for not picking up Walker Buehler when it mattered most. However, in a move no one saw coming, they dipped back into a familiar well. On Monday, the club signed the 34-year-old lefty Andrew Heaney to a minor league deal.

This deal comes just days after the Pittsburgh Pirates cut Heaney loose. And the timing was no accident; it came right before the postseason eligibility deadline, giving LA a chance to stash some veteran insurance for October.

Jon Heyman first confirmed the news, saying, “Andrew Heaney agrees to Dodgers deal.” But is this news surprising to fans? Well, it is. Because Heaney’s 2025 season with the Pirates has been rocky, to say the least.

He finished 5-10 with a 5.39 ERA in 26 starts. He was eventually bumped to the bullpen before his release on August 29. These are hardly any inspiring numbers, but the Dodgers seem to believe that there is still some value left in the veteran, who has postseason experience under his belt. For now, as per reports, Heaney might report to Triple-A Oklahoma City, which is also his hometown. But don’t be surprised to see him in the big league roster if needs arise. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation looks stacked with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, and Emmet Sheehan, but more depth is always better, right? Who knows it better than LA, which has battled through player injuries throughout the year?

Adding Andrew Heaney also gives Roberts another lefty, who can bounce between starting and relief duties if needed. Critics are torching this move as Friedman is simply bringing him because he needs to. But for LA, this is more of a low risk and potentially high reward. Because even if Heaney doesn’t play a playoff game, a durable arm with swingman ability is what many would find invaluable in an October run. At 78-50, first place in the NL West and eyeing another deep postseason rush, the Dodgers need to ensure every possible gap is covered. But this is not sitting well with several fans.

Los Angeles Dodgers fans sound off on their returning player

One fan nicknamed David Stearns “Sleepy Stearns,” and given Heaney’s collapse, this label is honestly starting to stick. But well, Heaney did start his year strong and posted a 3.33 ERA through his first 14 appearances and carried a 2.50 ERA at the end of April. But since then it has been a nightmare, and so didn’t Stearns or Friedman actually see the stats? Over Heaney’s last 12 outings, he has been shelled for 43 runs and 13 homers. His ERA is at an ugly 9.21! Last month was brutal, and his 4-1 blowout lead to the Cardinals is proof. Hence, fans are confused about the decision.

Reminding everyone, a fan saying, “Back for 2nd stint.” And well, it is true—Andrew Heaney is no stranger to LA. He had a run with the Los Angeles Dodgers way back in 2022, a season where injuries slowed him down. But despite that, he made 14 starts in 16 appearances and finished with a 4-4 record and a good enough 3.10 ERA across 72.2 innings. His 110 strikeouts against 19 walks showed his swing-and-miss potential. He was even in the NDLS game, where he gave up one run over three innings in Game 3.

One frustrated Dodgers fan said, “The worst bullpen in baseball gets even worse.” And well, this frustration comes from a season of inconsistency. LA’s relievers are logging the most innings in the majors but are still sitting in the middle of the pack with a 4.16 ERA, tied for 18th. The recent return of Michael Kopech could help steady things, but concerns are still there. Now, Healey might not crack into the postseason picture, but he provides insurance where needed. With an open 40-man spot, he could be a good last-season option.

One fan couldn’t help but pitch the obvious: “Honestly, I would have preferred to bring back Walker Buehler. But let’s see what happens.” And well, this was the rumor for a while that Buehler was headed to LA. But yet again, the Dodgers missed out, and the Phillies snapped Buehler out of their watch. Now, sure, Buehler has had a rocky time in Boston, but his October record speaks for itself. He has a career 3.04 ERA in 94.2 postseason innings. He could be the late-inning weapon LA needs, but alas, they couldn’t clinch him.

Pun or not, one user said, “We’re getting World Series champion Andrew Heaney.” But it is true, because Heaney brings playoff pedigree after helping the Texas Rangers to their first-ever title in 2023. He was in five games that October, starting three and logging a 4.09 ERA across 11 innings with four strikeouts, four walks, and a 1.36 WHIP. Also in his resume, he has Game 4 of the World Series against Arizona, where he delivered five strong innings for the win. That alone should excite LA fans, maybe.

Sure, for now, LA Dodgers fans seem flabbergasted, but maybe Friedman has some thought behind it. What do you think?