The Dodgers made an enormous addition to their bullpen this weekend, agreeing to a cope with the winter’s prime free agent reliever, left-hander Tanner Scott. Previous to that settlement, the Dodgers had some discussions with right-hander Kirby Yates, reviews Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Occasions.
The curiosity is completely comprehensible, as Yates is coming off a wonderful season. He tossed 61 2/3 innings for the Rangers final yr, permitting only one.17 earned runs per 9. His 11.8% stroll charge was pretty excessive but additionally not irregular for him. He labored round these free passes by hanging out 35.9% of batters he confronted and likewise getting grounders on 45.5% of balls in play. He took over the nearer’s function in Texas, incomes 33 saves on the yr.
Regardless of that wonderful season, the righty’s market shall be restricted. He’s turning 38 years outdated in March, which is able to naturally put a cap on how lengthy groups are prepared to put money into him. He’s additionally had loads of harm points over time. He hardly pitched in any respect from 2020 to 2022, with Tommy John surgical procedure being the primary motive. He returned to the mound in 2023 and had first rate however not excellent outcomes, with a 3.28 ERA that yr. His 31.5% strikeout charge was fairly robust however a number of ticks beneath his 2024 degree, whereas the walks had been even larger, ending at 14.6%.
Atlanta may have saved him round for 2024 by way of a $5.75MM membership choice however opted for a $1.25MM buyout as a substitute. That led to Yates getting a one-year, $4.5MM deal from the Rangers, which labored out nice. His wonderful season will certainly get him a bump from that degree, however some hesitation from golf equipment continues to be justifiable.
The Dodgers have typically been prepared to put money into proficient pitchers, regardless of harm issues. That hasn’t all the time labored out, as they’ve generally been closely snakebit over time, although they only hoisted the World Sequence trophy final yr.
The membership presumably nonetheless has some curiosity in Yates however the Scott deal may additionally decrease their urgency. It’s not as if the bullpen was a evident weak point to start with. The membership’s aid corps had a mixed ERA of three.53 final yr, a mark bested by solely three different groups within the majors. They misplaced Blake Treinen and Joe Kelly to free company at season’s finish however re-signed Treinen final month and now have Scott within the fold as properly.
RosterResource at the moment tasks the membership to run a six-man rotation subsequent yr, which is actually a risk. In 2024, they prevented utilizing Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a five-day schedule with the intention to assist him make the transition from Japan, the place starters usually throw as soon as every week. In 2025, they are going to be folding in Roki Sasaki, who’s youthful than Yamamoto and has had extra accidents in his profession. They may even be getting guys like Shohei Ohtani, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin Might again from prolonged surgical procedure absences. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow haven’t been workhorses of their profession both. Clayton Kershaw will presumably re-sign with the membership and be again within the combine, although he’s had his personal share of harm issues these days. Briefly, having six starters and reducing everybody’s workload can be wise.
Operating a six-man rotation would usually restrict a membership to a seven-man bullpen, since golf equipment aren’t allowed to roster greater than 13 pitchers. Ohtani’s standing as a two-way participant means he can successfully be counted as a place participant, permitting the Dodgers to have each a six-man rotation and eight-man bullpen at occasions, although not at first of the season. Ohtani missed the 2024 season as a result of UCL surgical procedure after which additionally required arthroscopic surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder only a few months in the past. Final month, supervisor Dave Roberts stated it’s unlikely Ohtani shall be within the membership’s rotation to start out the yr, so they could be capped at 13 pitchers and a seven-man bullpen till Ohtani can get again on the mound.
Scott and Treinen shall be in two spots, with the Dodgers additionally having Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda and Ryan Brasier. That makes for seven arms that appear pretty locked in. Vesia is the one one that may be optioned and he simply posted a 1.76 ERA final yr. It’s nonetheless potential that the membership indicators Yates anyway then simply waits to see if everybody stays wholesome via the spring. If that involves go, they may then reduce somebody on the finish of camp. Nevertheless it’s additionally potential they may simply go on Yates and see how the season performs out with this group.
As talked about, the membership had a powerful bullpen final yr and has now added Scott to it. RosterResource additionally tasks subsequent yr’s payroll at $369MM and their aggressive stability tax quantity at $371MM, with each of these numbers near $40MM past final yr’s figures. Given how aggressive they’ve been, nobody can be shocked in the event that they saved including, however in addition they would possibly really feel like they’ve executed sufficient at this level.
If Yates must look elsewhere for his subsequent contract, he ought to have loads of choices. He’s been linked to the Cubs, Tigers, Rangers and Diamondbacks this offseason and presumably has curiosity from different golf equipment as properly. Groups just like the Blue Jays, Orioles, Crimson Sox and Atlanta had some curiosity in Scott and might be trying elsewhere for aid assist after he landed with the Dodgers. The aid market has been heating up extra broadly of late, with Scott, A.J. Minter, Jose Leclerc, Jeff Hoffman and Andrew Kittredge agreeing to offers in latest weeks.
In the beginning of the offseason, MLBTR predicted Yates for a powerful one-year cope with a $14MM assure. That was a mirrored image of his aforementioned wonderful season but additionally his yellow flags. The offseason has been variety to some relievers, with Scott, Minter and Clay Holmes surpassing projections, although the Mets plan to stretch out Holmes as a starter. Hoffman got here in beneath his prediction however that appears to have been a results of some issues about his shoulder in his bodily. Treinen obtained a two-year deal even supposing he’ll flip 37 this yr and has a prolonged harm historical past. All these elements ought to result in a wholesome deal for Yates, no matter which workforce he finally lands with.
