PITTSBURGH _ A mainstay in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen for the last four seasons, Pedro Baez was demoted to the minor leagues Wednesday as the team opened a spot on the roster for rookie starting pitcher Caleb Ferguson.
Baez is not expected to spend much longer than the required 10-day stint with triple-A Oklahoma City, manager Dave Roberts said. But Baez still expressed frustration with the decision in conversation with Roberts.
Baez took the news "not well," Roberts said before Ferguson made his big league debut at PNC Park. "He took it like a pro. But understandably very upset by it."
Baez, a 30-year-old middle reliever, has become a target for criticism from fans to a degree that ignores his relative competence (3.07 career earned-run average) and general irrelevance to the Dodgers' long-term goals (he did not pitch in the 2017 playoffs). A series of high-profile stumbles, exemplified by his 6.52 ERA in the postseason, solidified Baez's status as a lightning rod. Roberts was irritated in 2017 when Baez was booed at Dodger Stadium.
Baez had been having a typical season in 2018. He struck out 11.4 batters per nine innings and walked 5.4 batters. In 15 appearances since May 1, his ERA is 2.30, even while opposing hitters posted a .798 on-base-plus-slugging percentage against him.
The Dodgers chose to option Baez instead of Yimi Garcia, who had a 4.35 ERA through Tuesday. The team decided to hang onto to Daniel Hudson, who has a 5.40 ERA, rather than designate him for assignment. Because Baez still has minor league options, he lost his spot on the roster.
"I believe in the player," Roberts said. "He does everything I've asked of him. It's something that we have to do which is best for our ballclub here. Pedro's done everything I've asked of him."
