Another day, another influential player will likely join in Dodgers.
After adding the Japanese shooting star Rocky Sasaki On Friday, then agreeing to a four-year contract with the top free agent Tanner Scott On Sunday, the Dodgers were closing Tuesday morning on a deal for right-handed reliever Kirby Yates, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly.
No contract has been finalized. But it seemed as if the Dodgers were about to add their latest notable addition this offseason, with two-time All-Star Yates emerging as the latest big name in their free-spending sights.
Yates, a 38-year-old veteran who resurfaces in 2024 with the Texas Rangers, has been on the Dodgers’ radar for a while.
The team was negotiating with his camp even before Scott signed a $72 million deal over the weekend. And while the addition of Scott helped bolster the bullpen, which had been heavily taxed during the Dodgers’ tenure Run the World Series Last season, the team felt the need for more reinforcements.
Yates should be in position to help, having posted a 1.17 ERA in 61 games last year, good enough to earn his second All-Star selection while making 33 saves. This performance continued a positive trend for the 10-year veteran following Tommy John surgery in 2021. After a limited return to the mound in 2022, Yates had a 3.28 ERA in 61 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2023 before going to the Texans in a $4.5 million deal. Dollars last off-season.
While the Dodgers upgraded their starting rotation this winter with the addition of Sasaki and a two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake SnellThey also viewed the playing field as an area of need.
Daniel Hudson He retired at the end of last season. Joe Kelly becomes a free agent. Brusdar Graterol underwent offseason shoulder surgery Expected to be marginalized For the first half of next season. Other returning contributors, such as Alex Vescia, Evan Phillips and Anthony Banda, missed time late last season with injuries.
Blake Treinen, who re-signed A.J Two-year contract worth $22 millionand Michael Cupicha key acquisition at last July’s trade deadline, has emerged as the Dodgers’ top relief option entering the season. But Trenin is 36 years old and only two years removed from a major shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Kopech could be in danger of missing the start of next season, according to USA Today, though that is considered just a possible precaution as he deals with a sore arm, said a person familiar with the situation who is not authorized to speak publicly. .
Thus, the Dodgers wasted little time in the wake of signing Sasaki to shore up the other half of the pitching staff. They have acquired Scott, a left-handed specialist considered the best free agent in this market, and are moving toward a deal for Yates, who will provide more veteran production to a team that continues to amass talent.
