Dodgers' Postseason Savior Joins Padres

Brent Honeywell Jr., a relief pitcher known for his postseason heroics with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, has signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. Honeywell's unique role in the 2024 playoffs involved pitching crucial extra innings to conserve the Dodgers' main bullpen arms. During the 2024 World Series, Honeywell pitched in Game 4, and in the NL Championship Series, he threw a career-high 4.2 innings in Game 5 against the New York Mets. His contributions were vital to the Dodgers' eventual championship victory. Claimed off waivers by the Dodgers in July 2024, Honeywell posted a 2.62 ERA over 34.1 innings in 18 regular-season appearances. This new opportunity with the Padres, one of their major rivals, could see him return to the major league level. The 31-year-old has prior experience with San Diego, having played 36 games in 2023 with a 4.05 ERA in 46.2 innings. After his time with the Dodgers, Honeywell remained unsigned for the entire previous season but had a brief stint with the San Francisco Giants on a minor league deal earlier this year before his release. This signing represents a potential reclamation project for Padres' President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller, who has a history of developing under-the-radar talent into stars. Honeywell's minor league deal offers him a key chance to prove himself and potentially reignite his career.