Former Dodgers Pitcher Lost in Rule-5 Draft Has Been Designated for Assignment
Former Dodgers RHP Gus Varland has been designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers. Varland was selected by the Brewers in the Rule 5 Draft this year, meaning he had to spend the entire year on their active roster or else the Dodgers would have the option to get him back.
After the six-week experiment, the Brewers have officially given up, and designated him for assignment.
Varland was pitching very well for the Brewers through his first seven outings, sporting a 2.25 ERA. Then, however, it all fell apart in his eighth and final outing.
Varland entered the team's May 15 loss to the Cardinals with his team trailing 8-1. He ended up allowing six hits, walking three batters and was charged with nine earned runs. He allowed two home runs in the inning, one that the Cardinals ended in a grand slam off a position player — but Varland was charged with three earned runs for all the runners on base.
The Dodgers will now have a chance to get Varland back, someone who got as high as Double-A with the Dodgers organization. If he clears waivers, here are their options, per the MLB's official rulebook:
"Should the player clear waivers, he must be offered back to his previous team for $50,000 and can be outrighted to the Minors only if his original club does not wish to reacquire him."
With Double-A Tulsa in 2022, Varland had a 6.11 ERA in 70.2 innings. Varland is still just 26 years old, though, so he should land on his feet somewhere. We'll see if the Dodgers decide to bring him back.
