Los Angeles Dodgers Sign Former San Francisco Giants Veteran Reliever to Bolster Bullpen Ahead of Crucial New York Road Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially signed former San Francisco Giants veteran reliever John Brebbia, adding a familiar and experienced arm to their bullpen as they continue their East Coast road trip in New York. The move, which comes at a pivotal point in the early stages of the 2025 MLB season, reflects the Dodgers’ proactive approach to patching up a bullpen that has been inconsistent and injury-riddled through the first two months of the campaign.

Brebbia, 33, joins the Dodgers after a brief free agency stint following his release from the Chicago White Sox earlier this season. The right-hander is no stranger to the National League West or high-leverage situations. He spent three seasons with the Giants from 2021 to 2023, posting solid numbers and emerging as a reliable bullpen piece, particularly during San Francisco’s 107-win season in 2021. He now brings that experience across the divide to their heated rivals, an eyebrow-raising but pragmatic move that underscores the business-first nature of modern Major League Baseball.

The Dodgers’ bullpen, once a hallmark of their roster depth, has been anything but consistent in 2025. Injuries to key arms like Brusdar Graterol and Ryan Brasier have forced the front office to get creative. While young arms such as Kyle Hurt and Landon Knack have stepped up in stretches, the lack of veteran leadership in the late innings has been evident, especially in close games. Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman acknowledged that bringing in Brebbia was a move made not only out of necessity but also out of belief in his competitive edge and clubhouse presence.

“John is a guy we’ve admired from afar for a long time,” Friedman said in a team release. “He brings a lot of experience and knows how to handle pressure situations. He’s been a part of winning teams, and we believe he can help stabilize things for us right away.”

Brebbia’s journey to Chavez Ravine is a testament to perseverance. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020 while still with the St. Louis Cardinals, he was non-tendered and signed a modest deal with the Giants. He slowly rebuilt his arm strength and eventually re-established himself as a dependable option, finishing the 2022 season with a 3.18 ERA over 68 innings. Despite some inconsistency in 2023, he maintained a respectable strikeout-to-walk ratio and was still generating swing-and-miss stuff, even if the velocity ticked down slightly.

His time with the White Sox earlier this year was brief and bumpy—marked by a few blowup outings—but Dodgers scouts reportedly saw enough in his mechanics and pitch shape to take a flier. Now, with his fastball-slider combo still intact and a clean bill of health, Brebbia becomes one of the few relievers on the Dodgers roster with playoff experience and NL West familiarity.

For Brebbia, the transition to Los Angeles isn’t just a career move—it’s a chance at redemption and perhaps another postseason run. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in New York ahead of the Dodgers’ series against the Mets, he was reflective but upbeat.

“I’ve been around this league long enough to know that things change fast,” Brebbia said. “One week you’re out of a job, and the next you’re in the middle of a pennant race with one of the best teams in baseball. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I’m here to help any way I can.”

Brebbia was spotted throwing a bullpen session at Citi Field early Monday, and manager Dave Roberts confirmed that he will be activated ahead of Tuesday’s game. While it’s unclear exactly how Roberts plans to deploy him, the expectation is that Brebbia will initially work in middle relief and possibly serve as a bridge in the sixth or seventh innings, especially in games where the Dodgers are trying to preserve a lead without leaning too heavily on their remaining back-end options.

“He’s not going to be thrown into the fire right away,” Roberts said. “We want to give him a chance to get comfortable, get to know the staff and the catchers, and ease him in. But knowing John, he’ll be ready when we need him.”

The Dodgers’ series in New York is an important stretch not only for the standings but also for the team’s chemistry and rhythm. After dropping two of three in Cincinnati, Los Angeles needs to regain momentum against a Mets team that has shown flashes of promise but remains beatable. The infusion of a veteran like Brebbia could serve as both a morale boost and a tangible asset in the bullpen chess game that often defines close contests.

What makes this move especially compelling is Brebbia’s history with the Giants. A well-liked figure in the San Francisco clubhouse, his departure from the team was seen as more of a casualty of roster churn than performance. Now, donning Dodger blue, he becomes the latest in a long line of players to cross enemy lines between two of baseball’s most storied rivals. While Dodgers fans are unlikely to hold his Giants past against him if he performs well, the optics of the transaction are another reminder of how fluid allegiances can be in the business of baseball.

The Giants, for their part, have struggled with bullpen depth in 2025 and might regret not reuniting with Brebbia earlier in the season. San Francisco has blown multiple late-inning leads this year, and fans on social media have already expressed their frustration at watching one of their former players sign with a division rival. Whether or not Brebbia ends up being a game-changer remains to be seen, but it’s the kind of low-risk, high-reward signing the Dodgers have mastered under Friedman’s tenure.

From a broader standpoint, the signing reinforces a trend across Major League Baseball: the increasing value placed on proven bullpen arms, even those with some recent blemishes. In an era where starting pitchers rarely go beyond six innings, and where matchups dictate strategy more than ever, having a stable of experienced relievers is paramount. Brebbia may not be the marquee name that fans clamor for, but in the grind of a 162-game season, it’s often the unheralded veterans who provide the most critical value.

As the Dodgers continue their quest for another National League West title—and ultimately another deep postseason run—every marginal gain matters. The signing of John Brebbia might not make headlines on a national level, but for a team that has already shown resilience through injuries and inconsistency, it could be one of those under-the-radar moves that pays dividends in September and October.

Brebbia’s arrival in New York also carries a human element. After months of uncertainty about his career and future, he now finds himself back in a winning environment with a legitimate chance to contribute. His track record shows that he thrives when the stakes are high, and if his early work with the Dodgers is any indication, he may become a key figure in the months to come.

For now, the Dodgers are just happy to have another piece in place as they navigate the highs and lows of a long season. For Brebbia, it’s an opportunity to once again prove his worth at the highest level. And for fans, it’s another reminder that even amid the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles baseball, it’s often the quietly effective moves that end up making all the difference.