Days after acquiring catcher Chuckie Robinson from the Angels, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced plans to assign him to the team in an effort to fix their severely wounded bullpen. The move makes room on the 40-man roster for José Ureña, a veteran right-hander who formally joins the team in the hopes of providing some relief to a pitching staff that has been severely damaged.
Robinson barely had time to settle into the Dodgers organization before being cut loose. His addition made sense on paper; the team DFA’d longtime backup catcher Austin Barnes and promoted top prospect Dalton Rushing to back up All-Star Will Smith. With only Hunter Feduccia and Chris Okey remaining at Triple-A, Robinson appeared to be a smart depth addition. However, the Dodgers’ pitching turmoil has taken priority, and Robinson is now headed back to the waiver wire.
Bullpen Struggling, Jose Ureña To Bolster
The decision to add Ureña reflects just how dire the Dodgers’ bullpen situation has become. The team is currently managing injuries to a staggering 15 pitchers, including key relievers Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, and Luis García. Phillips recently received the crushing news that he will need Tommy John surgery, ending his season. Graterol and Kopech have yet to pitch in 2025 due to offseason injuries, while Yates and García remain sidelined.
The Dodgers signed RHP José Ureña and optioned RHP Will Klein. The Dodgers designated catcher Chuckie Robinson for assignment.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 4, 2025
The right-hander joined the Blue Jays earlier this season and had a short but successful stay. Although he had a strong 3.65 ERA across 12.1 innings, his underlying numbers, which included a high home run rate and a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio, made Toronto ready to move on. A recent highlight of Ureña’s career was his successful 2024 campaign with the Rangers, where he was a dependable swingman and tossed 109 innings with a 3.80 ERA.
Dodgers Looking to Adjust with Struggling Pitcher
In a bullpen that has fallen short of expectations, Ureña is just another chance for the Dodgers. Tanner Scott, a recently signed reliever, has struggled to establish himself despite recording 10 saves, and the bullpen has a 4.73 ERA on the season. As manager Dave Roberts looks for stability, Ureña may see play soon because Yates is on the injured list, and there is no set schedule for the recovery of other injured arms.
The Dodgers’ offense is still at a postseason level, but their bullpen problems and even the starting rotation have resulted in a rotating cast of relievers. It remains to be seen if Ureña can contribute significant innings or only operate as a stopgap measure, but for now, his arrival represents yet another phase in the Dodgers’ difficult fight to retain their pitching staff.