Dodgers Land 27-Year-Old Orioles Pitcher in Trade

What does it mean to be a dynasty?

Well, in the case of the Los Angeles Dodgers, it means no matter how much weaponry you have in your arsenal, you can always have more.

And that’s what the Dodgers did on Thursday, following a sweep of the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium, making a move for another right-handed pitcher they believe could turn out to be a weapon in the future.

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The Dodgers acquired Chayce McDermott from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Axel Perez.

A depth move for both sides, McDermott was a highly touted prospect for the Houston Astros and then the Orioles, but has struggled to find any traction in the big leagues.

McDermott made his debut for the Orioles in 2024 and was hammered in his only start, eventually finding himself back in Triple-A.

On the Norfolk Tides, McDermott made five appearances but continued to find little to no success, picking up a win in his only decision but having a 6.75 ERA to go along with it.

For the Orioles, they get a young, 20-year-old international draft player from the Dominican Republic in Perez. He pitched 10 games for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers in 2025 and had a 5.48 ERA.

Although the move won’t shift the balance of baseball, it’s one the savvy Dodgers have been known to make before a relative unknown becomes a cog in their championship machine later down the line.

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 7:22 PM.