Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article contained information about the Dodgers re-signing Enrique Hernandez. That story can be found here.
On the heels of extending Max Muncy this morning, the Dodgers did a couple other things ahead of Spring Training opening Friday.
When the Dodgers designated Anthony Banda for assignment last week, a trade felt inevitable. Fast forward to today, and that’s exactly what’s happened.
Twins are acquiring LHP Anthony Banda in a trade with Dodgers for international signing money. Jackson Kowar was designated for assignment.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr.bsky.social) February 12, 2026 at 10:12 AM
The Dodgers avoided arbitration with Banda last month by agreeing to a 1-year, $1.625 million deal in his second year of arbitration. The Twins will take on that financial commitment, as the Dodgers acquire some international bonus pool money (reportedly $500,000) to help recoup the $1 million they lose from their offseason spending spree on Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker.
Banda was a nice find for the Dodgers in 2024 when he pitched to a 3.08 ERA, 3.67 FIP and a 15.3 K-BB%. He was a part of the ’24 bullpen that helped fuel the Dodgers’ championship run — 1.13 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 13.1 K-BB%. However, he took a step back in 2025 both in the regular and postseason. He had a good 3.18 ERA, but his 4.52 FIP and 10.1 K-BB% were worse than the previous season. The regression also came with a much luckier .227 BABIP, so it could have been even worse for Banda.
With a glut of lefties in front of him on the depth chart — Jack Dreyer, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia — it was hard to see Banda being more than a mop-up guy in the current iteration of the Dodgers’ bullpen. He was also out of minor-league options, which is why he was DFA’d. He’s good enough to be on an MLB roster, and he finds his way to Minnesota.
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The Dodgers also signed former Top 10 draft pick Keston Hiura to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training (up to 33 NRIs, now).
Hiura, 29, was the No. 9 pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. A defensive home was the biggest question for him, but the bat was always mean to play. After a strong MLB debut in 2019 that saw him hit .303/.368/.570, he followed it up with a .707 OPS in the COVID-shortened 2020 season before not gaining any footing with the Brewers the next two seasons.
He didn’t play ball in 2023 and latched on with the Angels in 2024. He hit just .148/.148/.296 in 10 games. He had an 8-game stint with the Rockies in 2025 (.222/.333./278) before becoming a free agent. We’ll see if there’s any hope for his bat with the Dodgers — Muncy/Chris Taylor-style. Odds are, they won’t strike lightning for a third time.
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It’s almost time for Dodger Baseball.
