Homer Bailey SP

Bailey was cut loose by the Dodgers on Friday as a condition of waiving his no-trade right, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports.

As expected, Bailey was granted his release after coming over to Los Angeles in a seven-player deal earlier in the day. He will hit the open market and look for a new home following 15 years in Cincinnati's organization. The right-hander has only started 46 games the past four years due to various injuries, and when he's been able to throw, he's been one of the least-effective pitchers in the league.

The Reds traded Bailey, Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray to the Dodgers on Friday in exchange for Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp and Kyle Farmer, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports. Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Dodgers are expected to release Bailey after the trade becomes official.

Bailey is due $28 million in 2019 ($23 million in salary and another $5 million for a buyout on the final year of the deal) and will be cut loose and able to sign elsewhere following a few dreadful years with Cincinnati. His numbers this past year were especially bad as Bailey posted a 6.09 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 6.3 K/9. Once he hits the free-agent market, the 32-year-old will look to join a club where he can compete for a spot at the back-end of its rotation, though he will certainly have to show signs of improvement in order to earn starts once every five days.

Bailey is unlikely to pitch out of the bullpen despite being bumped from the rotation Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Bailey's 6.09 ERA saw him deservedly lose his job as a starter, but if the Reds don't plan on using him as a reliever then it appears they don't plan on using him at all. He reportedly remains an option to start if needed later in the month, but with expanded September rosters and several former starters in the bullpen, it's difficult to envision such a need arising.

Bailey has lost his rotation spot to Tyler Mahle, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Bailey's 6.09 ERA certainly doesn't make a good case for him returning to the rotation, and he hasn't posted an ERA below 5.50 since back in 2014 while battling multiple arm injuries. With the Reds nowhere near the playoff race, there's little reason to give innings to a struggling 32-year-old, so the 23-year-old Mahle will get the opportunities instead.

Bailey (1-14) took the loss Wednesday against the Pirates, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk across five innings. He struck out four.

Bailey was spotted a one-run lead in the first inning, but he allowed the Pirates to tie the game in the second inning before conceding the lead in the third. The veteran right-hander has now lost seven of his eight second-half starts -- including seven straight -- posting a 5.28 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 37 strikeouts across 44.1 innings over that stretch. He'll look to turn things around in his next scheduled start, which will come at home against the Dodgers.