LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers activated outfielder Mookie Betts, reinstated left-handed pitcher David Price, designated right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut for assignment and optioned infielder Eddy Alvarez to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Betts, 29, returns from the injured list after missing 15 games with a right rib fracture. The 2018 American League MVP is hitting .273 (67-for-245) with 17 homers, 40 RBI and 53 runs scored in 60 games for the Dodgers this season. The five-time All-Star has been with the Dodgers parts of three seasons, and he is slashing .273/.362/.517 with 56 homers and 137 RBI in 237 career games for the Boys in Blue. In his Major League career, he is a .295 hitter with 195 homers and 607 RBI. He was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2011 First Year Player Draft out of Overton High School (TN).
Price, 36, missed three games on the medical emergency list. The southpaw has fired six straight scoreless appearances and he is 0-0 with a 3.20 ERA (7 ER/19.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts in 19 games for the Dodgers this season. He is in his 14th Major League season and is a combined 155-82 with a 3.33 ERA (786 ER/2123.0 IP) and 2,063 strikeouts. The 2012 Cy Young Award winner was originally drafted by the Tampa Rays with the first overall pick in the 2007 First Year Player Draft out Vanderbilt University.
Gibaut, 28, was claimed off waivers on Thursday but did not see time on the active roster. He has appeared in one game this season with the Guardians, tossing a scoreless inning on June 27 against the Twins. In parts of four seasons with Tampa Bay (2019), Texas (2020-2021), Minnesota (2021) and Cleveland (2022), he is a combined 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA (20 ER/34.2 IP) and 34 strikeouts. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Columbus, going 2-0 with a 3.20 ERA (7 ER/19.2 IP) and three for five in save opportunities. In his minor league career, he is 20-13 with a 3.17 ERA and 38 saves with 349 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 11th round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Tulane.
Alvarez, 32, appeared in 14 games for the Dodgers, hitting .160 with a run scored and three RBI. In parts of three Major League seasons with the Miami Marlins (2020-21) and Los Angeles (2022), he has batted a combined .183 (23-for-126) with five doubles, one triple, one homer and 11 RBI. He was originally signed by the Chicago White Sox as a minor league free agent on June 10, 2014.