Anthony Banda designated for assignment as Dodgers reshuffle bullpen days before camp

Left-handed reliever Anthony Banda is suddenly on the roster bubble after the Los Angeles Dodgers designated him for assignment on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 (ET), a move made to open a 40-man roster spot for catcher Ben Rortvedt. The decision lands less than two weeks before most pitchers and catchers report across MLB, turning a quiet depth question into an immediate market test for a veteran bullpen arm.

For Banda, the timing is the headline: he had been a steady part of the Dodgers’ relief mix over the past two seasons, but roster math—and a surplus of left-handed options—left him exposed at the worst possible moment for job security.

Why Anthony Banda was DFA’d now

The catalyst was simple: the Dodgers claimed Ben Rortvedt, and someone had to come off the 40-man roster. Banda was the choice largely because he is out of minor-league options, which limits flexibility. A team can carry an out-of-options reliever in the majors or risk losing him on waivers if it tries to send him down.

That constraint matters more in February than it does in July. Spring training typically features heavy roster churn as clubs cycle through depth arms, and front offices prize flexibility to manage workloads and evaluate younger pitchers. Banda’s situation put him on the wrong side of that preference, even though his recent results with the Dodgers were generally solid.

How he performed with the Dodgers

Banda’s value has been his reliability in the middle innings and his ability to take the ball frequently. Over two seasons with Los Angeles, he compiled a strong overall line for a reliever used in varied situations, including tough matchups that don’t always show up in saves or holds.

The ending to 2025, however, was uneven. He struggled in limited World Series work, a small sample that still colors perception when teams are deciding who is “safe” to keep when the roster tightens. In a bullpen built to win now, the leash on any reliever can be short when there are similar arms behind him.

What “designated for assignment” means next

A DFA starts a short countdown. The Dodgers now have a limited window to resolve Banda’s status through one of three paths:

• Trade him to another club.

• Place him on waivers (where another team can claim him).

• Clear waivers and then keep him in the organization (only if he accepts an assignment, depending on service-time rights and contract terms).

Because left-handed relief is perennially in demand—and because Banda has a track record of useful innings—he’s a realistic waiver claim candidate for teams that want experienced bullpen depth without giving up prospects.

The money and roster math behind the move

Banda is set to earn about $1.625 million for the 2026 season, a manageable figure for most clubs but still meaningful for teams trying to optimize every roster slot. The Dodgers’ broader context is a deep pitching group and a 40-man crunch that tends to push “good” players out when “similarly good but more flexible” players are available.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the move and its practical implications:

Where Banda could land if claimed

The teams most likely to take a shot are clubs that either (1) lack a reliable second lefty, (2) want a veteran who can absorb innings early in the season, or (3) have a home park and division that make left-handed matchup work especially valuable.

A claim is also more plausible now than later because clubs can still build the pitcher into their spring plan from day one. The earlier a team grabs a reliever, the easier it is to integrate him into a role, tweak usage, and get him comfortable with pitch-calling and defensive alignments.

What to watch over the next week

The next few days will tell whether the league views Banda as a “must-claim” arm or a player who might slip through due to roster constraints elsewhere. The most important signals will be:

• Whether multiple teams place claims, which can reflect strong leaguewide interest.

• Whether the Dodgers find a quick trade partner, suggesting other clubs value him but prefer control over the waiver process.

• Whether additional Dodgers roster moves follow, indicating more churn tied to spring reporting dates.

Even if Banda changes teams, this is a familiar February story in modern baseball: capable relievers get squeezed by option rules and roster limits, then reappear as useful contributors somewhere else. Banda’s track record gives him a strong chance to do exactly that in 2026.

Sources consulted: Reuters, MLB.com, MLB Trade Rumors, RotoWire