The Dodgers are picking up their $5MM club option for the services of shortstop Miguel Rojas in 2025, as reported by KPRC2’s Ari Alexander. The option came with a $1MM buyout, meaning that L.A. is committing a net $4MM to bring Rojas back into the fold.
The move hardly comes as a surprise given Rojas’s strong performance this year. The 35-year-old veteran delivered one of the strongest offensive seasons of his career in 2024, slashing .283/.387/.410 with a wRC+ of 111 in 337 trips to the plate this year. Rojas began the season in a bench role behind middle infield duo Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux, but a hand fracture suffered by Betts in June provided the opportunity for Rojas to step back into the daily lineup. Rojas was subsequently hampered by forearm and groin issues throughout the season and into the playoffs but nonetheless managed to hit a respectable .286/.343/.392 while providing strong defense at shortstop in his final 62 games of the regular season.
By picking up Rojas’s option, the Dodgers maintain the flexibility to utilize him as their primary shortstop headed into 2025. With that being said, that role appears to be far from guaranteed to the veteran even after a strong season this year. After all, Rojas will play all of next year at 36 years old and the injury woes that plagued him in 2024 don’t appear to be going away; Rojas has already acknowledged that he’ll need to undergo surgery this winter due to a partially torn adductor muscle in his groin and a sports hernia. It’s not yet clear if Rojas will have enough time to rehab and get ready for the season in time for Opening Day next March, but even if he does it would hardly be a surprise if the Dodgers decided to push Rojas into a part-time role as they look for ways to improve this winter.
Perhaps the most straight forward way to do that would be acquiring a shortstop. Willy Adames is the top shortstop available in free agency this winter, and Ha-Seong Kim could be another potential upgrade over Rojas at the position depending on how his recovery from shoulder surgery goes. Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette stands out as a plausible trade candidate, though his down 2024 season makes him somewhat unlikely to move this winter. Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner has shortstop experience and saw his name floated in trade rumors late in the year, but his recent flexor tendon surgery may put an end to that possibility.
Adding a shortstop isn’t the only way the Dodgers could upgrade at the position over Rojas, however. The club dealt for versatile switch-hitter Tommy Edman at this summer’s trade deadline, and Edman offers quality defense all over the diamond, including at shortstop. Edman figures to handle center field for the Dodgers in 2025 as things currently stand, but it’s possible that the Dodgers could go out and acquire a center fielder like Chas McCormick, Cedric Mullins, or even Luis Robert Jr. this winter on the trade market who would then push Edman back onto the infield.
If Rojas were to be moved back into a bench role by the club’s moves this winter, it would leave them with valuable infield depth capable of covering not only shortstop but also second and third base effectively while helping to balance out a heavily left-handed infield. Of course, it’s also possible the club simply sticks with Rojas at shortstop, relying on Edman to serve as depth at the position with Andy Pages and James Outman among the internal options who could step into center field on days Edman shifts over to shortstop. Such a plan could allow the club to be more aggressive in filling their vacancy in left field and bolstering a pitching staff that was once again wracked with injuries this year.
Yeah MiggyRo!
Yeah, no brainer here, especially considering his leadership in the clubhouse. Solid year and solid voice.
Now they don’t need Willy Adames! Shortstop locked up! Actually decent player but mainly a backup and Dodgers not afraid to spend IF they want Adames.
Corner OF/Dh makes more sense. They have enough internal options at SS. Rojas’ defense is very valuable there. I think whoever signs Adames is going to regret that sooner rather than later.
Dodgers have somebody at DH for the next few years.
Well Ohtani is going to pitch some do the DH spot will be open part time.
No it won’t be open part time. He’ll be the DH every day as long as he’s healthy, regardless if he’s pitching or not. He wasn’t out of the lineup in Anaheim on days that he pitched, and he won’t be in LA either.
Great pick up
35? I feel like he just recently appeared out of nowhere.
He saved Kershaw’s no-hitter in 2014 with a snag and a throw from 3B. He’s been around for some time.
I just remember Hanley ruining what should have been a perfect game.
Exactly.
Played with Marlins for years. Originally a Dodger.
At that salary he even has a little trade value if the Dodgers land a clear upgrade.
He was a decent player with the Marlins, but he found it even more with the Dodgers.
You just won the World Series. The immediate goal is to bring back as many guys as possible. Good move bringing back MiggyRo
QO on Buehler, resign Treinen, then the housework is done and you start to look outside the organization.
Teo and Edman as well would really be something..
Edman is already locked up for next year so half that work is already done. Teo is next up.
Awesome. Forgot about that. Thanks Miles.
No QO for Buehler, he will be lucky to get 15 million. Needs to prove he is good long term.
Edman is already on the team next year
We need to bring back teo 3/75.
And trienen…..
If Buehler goes out on the open market he likely gets a contract, including performance bonuses, with a higher-ceiling than the QO amount, and an option for another season. This is why I believe he’s a good QO candidate. Not a lock, and maybe a little over market at $21M, but certainly not outrageous on an inherently team-friendly one year contract. The Dodgers can also use the QO leverage to sign him for multiple years, if they want to go that route.
No qo to buehler. Just tell him we will give two years with an opt out. If you pitch next year like you did in the post season we will extend that offer. Buehler won’t pitch much longer. 4 years max. Imo
Him winning the World Series over Jazz must have been so satisfying for him.
Watching the WS while he is out injured really mitigates the satisfaction you’re referring to.
Excellent resigning. Really a solid player and a major positive in the clubhouse. If he wants it, he will be a good manager someday.
Even without the offensive numbers. The resigning is absolutely worth it for his strong leadership skills and defensive knowledge. If anyone remembers, he worked with Betts every single day to help him prepare to be a SS until he was injured. And if you watched any of the Dodgers clinching moments, it was MiggyRo that spoke first in the locker room. Easy decision and I’m happy to see the Dodgers make it happen.
He had his option picked up. Not a resigning.
Rojas is a fine player to have, but I’m surprised they are planning to play Edman in CF instead of SS. It seems like they would go with one of their young OFers in center and play Edman at short.
That combo occurred often this season, with Pages playing quite a bit of CF. Expect this to continue if they don’t sign a free agent SS or CF.
Or try out Rushing in LF and Pages in CF. Or Pages in LF and Edman at CF. If it’s not working you add at trade deadline.
Great leadership skills and defensive back up in the infield. I would platoon him with Muncy at third base since he sucks against lefties
Trade Muncy & prospects to St. Louis for Nolan Arenado. Arenado and Edman are extremely familiar with working with each other.
How’d the investigation into the thrown baseball that almost killed Dave Roberts turn out? My understanding was MLB and Ken Rosenthal were really hard at work on that.
Today’s frowny winner. 🙁
@BlueSkies_LA
I am honored. I have a lot more where that came from. Grimaces too.