The Orioles traded right-hander Chayce McDermott to the Dodgers on Thursday for minor league pitcher Axel Perez, completing a swap that sends a former top prospect to Los Angeles while Baltimore recalls another reliever from Triple-A.
McDermott, 27, was designated for assignment by Baltimore last week after continued struggles with command, including a 6.75 ERA in five Triple-A Norfolk appearances this season and three spring training home runs allowed. The Dodgers announced the trade at 2:26 p.m., noting they had a 40-man roster spot available, so no additional moves were required. McDermott will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
In exchange, the Orioles receive Perez, a 20-year-old right-hander signed by Los Angeles as an international free agent in January 2024. Perez posted a 5.48 ERA in 10 games — nine starts — for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers in 2025.
McDermott was once regarded as one of Baltimore’s top pitching prospects, a couple of seasons removed from that status after being drafted by the Houston Astros in the fourth round of the 2021 draft out of Ball State. He logged 119 innings with a 3.10 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A, followed by 100 innings at 3.78 ERA the next year. His brief MLB debut in 2024 — one start, four innings, three runs allowed — suggested he might join the Orioles’ rotation, but that path never materialized.
The 2025 season marked a downturn: McDermott posted a 6.91 ERA in 11 Triple-A starts, allowing 43 hits — six home runs — and 36 walks in 43 innings, while hitting four batters and throwing seven wild pitches. After being moved to the bullpen, he rebounded with a 1.76 ERA and an 18-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his final 15 1/3 innings. However, his 2026 campaign has been inconsistent, with command issues persisting in what is his final minor league option year.
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This season, McDermott has increased his four-seam fastball velocity to a career-best 95.3 mph in Triple-A, a gain attributed to his transition to short relief. He has largely abandoned his changeup and curveball, now pairing the fastball with a new cutter at 90.1 mph and a slower slider in the low 80s.
The trade fits a pattern for the Dodgers, who frequently acquire fringe prospects in minor-league deals, betting on change-of-scenery revitalization. While Los Angeles often places such players on waivers quickly, McDermott’s remaining option status removes immediate pressure to do so.
On the same day, the Orioles recalled right-hander Cameron Foster from Triple-A Norfolk to bolster their bullpen depth. Foster, as well 27, has allowed seven earned runs in six innings at Norfolk but will make his MLB debut upon appearing in a game.
Why did the Orioles trade McDermott now?
The Orioles moved McDermott during his final minor league option year after persistent command issues, including a 6.75 ERA in Triple-A this spring and continued struggles with walks and home runs, making him expendable despite his former prospect status.
What does Axel Perez add to the Orioles’ system?
Perez is a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2024, with modest results in the Dominican Summer League in 2025, offering the Orioles a low-cost, high-upside arm to develop.
