Dodgers Sign RHP Ryder Ryan to Minor-League Deal with $800K Incentive

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed right‑hander Ryder Ryan to a minor‑league contract that includes an $800,000 salary if he reaches the big league roster, a report first credited to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic and circulated across baseball outlets. The deal reportedly comes with a non‑roster invitation to spring training and is widely expected to slot Ryan as experienced Triple‑A depth, likely opening the season in Oklahoma City.

The signing is a familiar Dodgers maneuver: low‑cost insurance that beefs up depth ahead of a long season while preserving roster flexibility. Analysts and beat writers noted the move will not immediately alter the Dodgers’ crowded major‑league bullpen picture, but it adds a veteran arm capable of handling heavy workloads at Triple‑A and being available should injuries or innings limits force promotions. The Dodgers’ organizational depth chart already lists several arms vying for bullpen opportunities, and analysts named names such as Will Klein, Edgardo Henriquez, Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, Paul Gervase, Ronan Kopp, and 40‑man roster member Bobby Miller among others.

Ryder Ryan’s professional arc has been that of a journeyman reliever. He came up through the Mets organization before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 2020, spent time with the Rangers through 2022, signed with Seattle for the 2023 season and made his major‑league debut that August. Reports indicate he worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in that 2023 appearance before returning to the minors. He resurfaced in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024 and spent all of 2025 at Triple‑A Indianapolis in the Pirates system.

Stat lines in coverage vary slightly among sources. MLB Trade Rumors and Truebluela list Ryan’s combined 2023–24 big league workload at 21 2/3 innings with a 5.40 ERA, 19 strikeouts and 10 walks. Dodgersnation reports a Pirates‑only 2024 line of 15 games, 20.2 innings, 5.66 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Triple‑A totals for 2025 are likewise reported in a narrow band: multiple outlets list a roughly 4.73 ERA across about 72 innings with 61 strikeouts and 38 walks, while one outlet has a 4.79 ERA in 71.1 innings and a 1.35 WHIP. MLB Trade Rumors also compiles Ryan’s Triple‑A career through 2025 at a 4.42 ERA with a 23.1% strikeout rate and a 10.4% walk rate in 272 2/3 innings.

Scouting data from MLB Trade Rumors describes Ryan as a slider‑heavy reliever in 2025. His four‑seam and sinker sat around 93 mph and accounted for roughly 44% of his pitches, his slider averaged about 85 mph and was used nearly half the time, and an occasional changeup registered about 88.8 mph.

The human element adds a feel‑good dimension to the signing: Ryder is the older brother of Dodgers right‑hander River Ryan, and the move reunites the siblings in one organization. River previously reflected on family support after his own major‑league debut: "It was truly a blessing to have all them make it out. Their support has been unbelievable throughout my entire career, starting when I was little. I’m extremely happy they were able to make it here."

For Dodgers fans, the immediate takeaway is depth and flexibility. Ryder Ryan’s contract is structured as a low‑risk, potentially high‑reward option if he proves effective in Triple‑A or the Dodgers incur bullpen attrition. Watch for his performance in spring training and early Oklahoma City outings to determine whether the $800,000 incentive becomes a realistic possibility and whether the Ryan brothers will form a tandem that helps sustain the Dodgers through a 162‑game grind.