Dodgers Claim Interesting Pitcher Off Waivers

Los Angeles already made one pitching move Wednesday morning, acquiring left-hander Jake Eder in a cash trade. 

By the afternoon they'd made another, claiming right-hander Grant Holman off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

The D-backs had designated Holman on Opening Day to clear roster space, and the Dodgers were right there to pick him up. 

To open the 40-man roster spot, Gavin Stone was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list. 

Who Is Grant Holman and What Does He Bring to Los Angeles?

Holman is 25 years old, 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, a UC Berkeley product and former sixth-round pick who has already made 40 major league appearances across two seasons with the Athletics. 

His career ERA sits at 4.66 across 38 and two-thirds innings, but the underlying profile is more interesting than that ERA suggests. His fastball sits 94-95 miles per hour, and he leans primarily on a splitter with downward arm-side movement as his best secondary offering, mixing in a slider against right-handed hitters. 

Dodgers have claimed RHP Grant Holman from the Diamondbacks, and Gavin Stone was transferred to the 60-day IL, per @FabianArdaya pic.twitter.com/FmPUISeq8O

— SleeperDodgers (@SleeperDodgers) April 1, 2026

In the minors, he's been significantly more effective, with a 0.70 ERA across 38.2 Triple-A innings and a 27.3 percent strikeout rate that his big league numbers haven't yet matched. 

The main concern at the MLB level has been hard contact and a lack of swings and misses, particularly in 2025 when he posted a 5.09 ERA in 23 innings before missing the final three and a half months with rotator cuff tendinitis. 

He's healthy now and has two minor league option years remaining, which gives the Dodgers flexibility to send him to Triple-A Oklahoma City while they figure out exactly what they have. 

The Gavin Stone Situation and Why the Dodgers Needed Holman

Stone missed the entire 2025 season following labrum and rotator cuff surgery in October 2024, experienced shoulder inflammation at the start of spring camp this year, and has just recently restarted his throwing program from scratch. 

Dave Roberts said Monday that Stone is essentially back at the beginning of a spring training ramp-up. He won't be eligible to return until May 24 at the earliest. 

The #Dbacks have claimed an interesting arm in Grant Holman:

- Solid mid-90s fastball velocity with elite extension

- Fun mid-80s splitter shape, minimal results

- Mid-80s slider flashed some above-average potential

Credit to @TJStats for the graphic: pic.twitter.com/yiGXnEY4tn

— Diamondbacks Prospects 🐍 (@dbacksprospectz) February 15, 2026

With Blake Snell, Brusdar Graterol, Brock Stewart, Landon Knack, and Bobby Miller also unavailable to open the year, the Dodgers' depth inventory has been genuinely depleted. 

Holman is the kind of reclamation candidate the organization has consistently turned into functional contributors. Whether he makes it back to the big league roster this year depends entirely on how Stone's recovery progresses and whether anyone else goes down.  

Photo Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images