The Dodgers’ wealth of talent led them to a tough roster decision.

The Cubs are hoping it means they gain a strong bullpen contributor as a result.

The team is acquiring right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier and cash from Los Angeles in a trade, a source confirmed to Marquee Sports Network. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who cited league sources. The team officially announced the move Tuesday night and will send back either cash or a player to be named later to Los Angeles. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny was designated for assignment.

Brasier was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last week when the team added All-Star reliever Kirby Yates.

He was a key bullpen piece for the Dodgers over the past season-and-a-half. In 68 appearances across 2023 and 2024 with Los Angeles, the 37-year-old posted a 1.89 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP with 1 save across 66.2 innings.

In 2024, Brasier had a 3.54 ERA in 29 appearances. The Dodgers added All-Star lefty reliever Tanner Scott and Yates in recent weeks, adding to their abundance of bullpen arms. That meant a solid contributor like Brasier was deemed expendable.

The righty has a lifetime 3.85 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 297 games with 10 saves and 63 holds for the Angels, Red Sox and Dodgers.

Brasier began his career in 2013 with the Angels, appearing in 7 games then. He underwent Tommy John surgery, missing the entire 2014 season, then pitched in the minors in 2015 and 2016. The next season, he pitched in Japan with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp where he was a teammate with current Cub Seiya Suzuki.

He returned Stateside in 2018 and pitched with the Red Sox for the next 6 seasons before being designated for assignment in May 2023.

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With the Cubs, Brasier figures to mix into leverage situations for the Cubs and gives them more depth and cover in the bullpen. The team acquired All-Star closer Ryan Pressly last week in a trade with Houston and has added lefty Caleb Thielbar via free agency and righty Eli Morgan via trade with Cleveland. The team also acquired righty Cody Poteet in the Cody Bellinger trade from New York this offseason.

Brasier, Pressly and Porter Hodge should be the leaders to pitch leverage innings for the Cubs as Spring Training opens on Sunday. Of course, plenty can happen between now and mid-March, when the team opens the season in Japan against the Dodgers. Righties Tyson Miller and Nate Pearson were leverage arms for manager Craig Counsell down the stretch in 2024 and figure to be in the conversation, too.

Zastryzny, 32, was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee in November. He made his big-league debut in 2016 with the Cubs, appearing in 8 games as the team won the World Series. He had a lifetime 4.30 ERA in 54 major league games across parts of six seasons.