The Dodgers have officially welcomed Enrique Hernandez back on a one-year, $6.5MM free agent deal. Los Angeles placed Gavin Stone on the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot. Stone underwent shoulder surgery last year and will miss the entire season, so that’s a procedural move. Hernandez is represented by Wasserman.
Hernandez, 33, returns to Los Angeles for a ninth season in Dodger blue. The veteran utility man got his start as a sixth-round pick by the Astros back in 2009 and debuted with the club in 2014, but was traded to the Marlins midseason before being flipped to L.A. prior to the 2015 season. Hernandez quickly became an instrumental part of the Dodgers’ roster. His versatility has allowed him to appear at every position on the diamond except for catcher in a Dodgers uniform, and his first six-season stint with the club saw him hit a respectable .240/.312/.425 (98 wRC+) from 2015 to 2020. That includes an excellent 122 wRC+ against southpaws, and Hernandez was a regular fixture in the club’s lineup against left-handed pitching throughout his first stint in California.
Hernandez’s first foray into free agency following the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship led him to sign with the Red Sox on a two-year, $14MM deal before he was extended for an additional year and $10MM. Hernandez actually had the best season of his career in Boston during the 2021 campaign, when he slashed .250/.337/.449 (109 wRC+) while splitting time between center field and second base for the Red Sox en route to a campaign worth 3.7 fWAR and 5.0 bWAR. Hernandez struggled badly for the club after that first brilliant year, however, and hit just .222/.286/.330 (68 wRC+) over his final year and a half in a Red Sox uniform.
That led to a trade back to the Dodgers, with whom he’s started to look once again like a more viable bench bat. His overall slash line of .240/.289/.389 (87 wRC+) since rejoining the Dodgers at the 2023 trade deadline is still below average, and since returning to Los Angeles he’s actually played as a more or less split-neutral hitter after for years hitting much better against southpaws. With that being said, he remains as versatile as ever in the field. He’s also had a history of being a quality postseason contributor, with a .278/.353/.522 career slash line in the playoffs. Those postseason heroics haven’t disappeared even as the rest of his game has taken a step backwards in recent years, and Hernandez slashed .294/.357/.451 in 14 postseason games for the Dodgers during their World Series championship run last year.
Hernandez’s combination of versatility, postseason track record, and status as a fan favorite and beloved clubhouse presence were enough to convince the Dodgers to bring him back into the fold for a ninth season in spite of an already very crowded mix of position players. As things stand, Hernandez appears to fit best as a right-handed complement to lefty-swinging infielders Hyeseong Kim and Max Muncy, though that same role also applies to veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, who is generally regarded as a superior defender to Hernandez on the dirt. Perhaps Hernandez could back up Tommy Edman in center field and serve as a right-handed complement to Michael Conforto in the outfield, though fellow utility veteran Chris Taylor and outfield youngster Andy Pages both figure to compete for a similar role this spring as well. However Hernandez ultimately ends up fitting into the club’s day-to-day plans, his return could leave Pages and James Outman on the outside looking for the Dodgers’ roster, set to at least start the 2025 season in Triple-A barring a surprise decision to part ways with Taylor, Rojas, or another more established player.
Hernandez first announced the deal on social media. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that it was a one-year contract, while Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic was first on the $6.5MM salary. Image courtesy of Imagn.
Was he really heading elsewhere?? Very doubtful. Good for him.
Roster almost decided now
Maybe Boston only to be traded back to LA
Nobody knows who the hell Enrique Hernandez is, it’s Kike baby, Kike! And don’t ever forget it. Ahahahahahaha!
his signature is being deferred
Nah not shocking, though, I’d love to know if he had other offers.
Our off-season is almost complete, we just need Kershaw.
I think Kershaw officially signs once they can move guys to the 60-Day IL to free up some spots on the 40 man roster
That is why Kiki waited until today. He will not be officially added until after the Dodgers place some players on the 60 Dal IL as soon as tomorrow.
Kershaw will be one of the players heading to the 60 so you’re probably right
Since he is presently on no roster, I’d say wrong.
Kershaw declined his option back in November and is not “presently on the roster”
This being my point. He can’t go on the 60-day if he isn’t on the roster.
*when* he signs, he will go directly to the 60 day IL was the point i was making
Okay but I don’t see the point of signing him just to put him on the IL.
After two surgeries over the offseason odds are pretty good Kershaw won’t be available for spring training or ready to open the season
Right which is why they will probably hold off on signing him until he’s closer to being ready.
Unless he wants to use the Dodgers facilities
I imagine their facilities are nice. Maybe a bidet. And maybe a man handing you towels after you wash your hands.
Dodgers didn’t need to add him to the roster until he is healthy, why would they pay a 110% tax on his contract when he’s injured?
They can just wait until he’s ready to start throwing and then at him to the 40, put him on the 15day IL and let him rehab in the minors.
Or they could sign him to a split contract and stash him in the minors until he’s ready, they will pay him accordingly, THE money isn’t the issue, the wasted roster spot is a gold bar though at this point of the off-season.
I agree, roster spots are the most precious commodity. No matter how much money a team is able to spend on players, they still have only the 26 and 40 slots to fill.
Please, that man’s there to wipe and powder bottoms, as well.
I’m not thrilled about the Dodgers re-signing Kershaw, but it feels like they’re doing it out of loyalty rather than necessity. And that’s the problem. As long as he wants to pitch, they’ll keep bringing him back, and come October, stubborn Roberts will give him a postseason start out of respect—because he “owes” him. We’ve seen how that’s played out before. He’s not the Kershaw of old; he’s just old. And that could end up costing us.
It is out of loyalty. Andrew Friedman blatantly said there will always be a roster spot for Kersh until he decides to retire
This loyalty to your star players is one reason other stars want to play in LA
Don’t kid yourself. Other players want to play in LA right now because they want what they perceive to be an easy path to a WS win.
It ok if you don’t read or watch a lot of player interviews, but if that’s the case it might not be best to dismiss the information from the people people that do.
And ring. And playoff bonus money…
@King
From playoff chokers and short season heroes to an easy path to a World Series win in the course of one season You haters are fickle.
Oh kingkin! Try being positive.
I would argue that outside players may not like the daily expectations associated with this team.
Or a team with such high expectations would improve their level of play.
You’re “not thrilled about him” because you’re not much of a true Dodgers fan. Kersh is THE greatest pitcher they’ve had since Sandy Koufax last suited up.
He will be phenomenal now that his foot and shoulder issue are resolved. He’s going to shock a lot of people.
Kershaw is a liability in October, he always has been.
I’ve bled Dodger blue longer and deeper than you ever will. This isn’t about questioning what he’s done—his legacy is undeniable. But it’s time for him to retire. Period. By your logic, we should keep running him out there at 50 just because he wants to pitch. Come on, be serious.
They got by last October with Yamamoto, Flaherty and Buehler. Ya think they might be able to scuffle through this next time with Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Sasaski, and what’s his name? Oh yeah Snell. Kershaw doesn’t need to make the October staff.
I have to agree-best since Koufax, and that’s saying something.
Orel Hershiser on line 1. Please pick up.
@Lindor’s
Love Hershiser but it isn’t even close. Kersh wins the head to head comparison.
@biv
You got me thinking how to compare and I went with WAR over their best five season block with the Dodgers. Off the top of my head, I came up with a bunch of aces and their best five year consecutive run. I may have missed a few but this is pretty cool to see in the end:
Koufax 40.8
Kershaw 36.3
Drysdale 30.9
Hershiser 28.7
Sutton 22.6
Valenzuela 21.7
Brown 20.4
Some great memories from all of them.
@chris
Adding to the above:
Pedro/Sox 41.1
Randy Johnson/Arz 46.4 run interrupted by an injury marred 1.6 which made it not fit the criteria.
Maddux/Braves 39.8
I remember Johnny Podres and Claude Osteen.
@64
Osteen 16.1
Podres 21.5
Thanks for doing this, brother.
amjr: Newsflash – It’s not for you or any fan to decide when it’s time for a player to retire. It’s up to the player and his team.
Good thing, too, because you never would have given permission for Bartolo Colon, Julio Franco, or Jamie Moyer to keep playing.
With the exception of a very short year last year he’s still been great when on the mound. Worth almost 3 WAR in 2023 with an AS appearance. I also don’t think he’s the type to keep going if he feels he can’t compete. My guess is this is the last or second to last year for him anyways. But he’s still been very good very recently
I think you’ll be fine.
amjr: “I’m not thrilled about the Dodgers re-signing Kershaw.”
What’s it to you if it’s what both parties want? How are you harmed by it?
It was my own f*king comment. Buzz off!
amjr: But you haven’t why it bothers you or how it harms you.
@amjr The real problem is casual fans who think clutch actually exists.
If it did, why don’t ostensible ‘clutch’ players turn it on all the time?
If they could, someone like Brandon Nimmo, who hits 17% better in so-called high leverage situations than at all other times would have been the best CFer in baseball after Trout since Nimmo came up in 2016—a good-fielding CFer with a 148 OPS+.
If he could stay reasonably healthy he’d currently have a shot at the Hall of Fame as a 148 OPS+ CFer—but he doesn’t, because clutch in baseball doesn’t exist.
It’s interesting you deny the concept of clutch in baseball in a thread about Kike Hernandez, one of the most clutch players in LA playoff history.
Dodger fans know Kike will be whatever during the season and a hero in October.
@Rubenc49. Facts. Kike is the Robert Horry of baseball. Just is !
@rubenc49 It’s interesting that you can’t distinguish clutch from randomness, particularly in the small sample size that is the postseason, and particularly in a case where Hernandez’s second worst month in the regular season is the month of baseball’s stretch drive: September.
You know what’s REALLY interesting? Hernandez is never worse in the postseason than he is in the World Series. He plays his worst postseason game, by far, during the World Series—with a pitiful .600 OPS
Funny how, if clutch exists, your example of Mr. Clutch completely collapses in the World Series.
Think, THEN comment.
@dodgersvictory – Love the Big Shot Rob mention. I will always give an upvote for a Robert Horry mention. If not my all time favorite nickname in sports, definitely Top 3!
amig? Ya gotta know your history brah. Kershaw pitching on a days rest against the Cards. History cuz.
Don’t rule out the possibility that he can become one of those crafty lefties who pitches well a few more years.
taran7: Rich Hill has checked in.
Kershaw isn’t going to start in the postseason unless injuries or we’re up 3-0 and he wants to give extra rest to a starter.
Not that it matters because he would probably be yanked after 3 innings anyway regardless of how he’s pitching.
The Tigers did it for Miggy…. and he was getting paid a great deal. It’s the way it is in this age of baseball finance over performance
We? Our?
Game 5 Top of the fifth? They? Your? Chokers!
Posters who complain about fans using we and our are the worst.
I think fans who use we and our are the worst. Your family is we and our. These azzholez you watch on television don’t know who you are. You sound like an idiot when you overvalue yourself as a fan.
you’re right Damn, but overact much?
Our? Kid thinks the team knows about him.
“We” huh?
#Deferred
#Derpderred
Serious question. What does LA think their are going to do when all that deferred money kicks in? If you think they will just spend more you’re mistaken. These contracts are going to really hurt the franchise in about 4-5 years. It will be even funnier if they don’t win the WS they think they will be. Ouch
obv you have no idea what the deferred financial planning means
He thinks the Dodgers didn’t plan ahead. You know, because the Dodgers aren’t an incredibly well run organization owned by a financial firm or anything.
I don’t see what the advantage of deferments are to anyone if they still count against the cap and the players usually don’t get any of the interest. Seems like they’re just waiting to get it down the road as a safety net in case they managed to blow untold millions. Perhaps someone can explain.
@dsett
In Ohtani’s case he gets $2mill per season with $68 million going into deferred escrow. MLB calculates the present value of his yearly salary for luxury tax purposes at $46 million. I’ll be damned if I know the formula, but the above numbers are the situation yearly. Similar calculations are made for all the deferred contracts. A portion of all of the deferred money is counted against the Dodgers payroll for luxury tax purposes.
Sal, I knew the numbers, I just don’t really get the benefits. And yeah, that formula to only have 46 count doesn’t make sense either.
aside from the potential tax benefits to both the player and the organization, the deferrals enable the team to spend more money on present day talent. In the Ohtani example, it theoretically gives LAD 24 mill more per season to spend on players.
It’s just present value. The union and MLB have slightly different estimates because they assume slightly different interest rates.
It’s valuable to the player because of income taxes. Ohtani will be long gone from relatively high tax high service California (and likely from the U.S.) when the $680 deferred is paid. It’s a common, and currently legal, dodge for extreme high earners in CA.
Maybe but I have invited Ohtani to move in with my family after his playing days are over.
Don’t forget to install a doggy door.
You’ll be damned? It’s the same as weighted slugging
The formula is the present day value divided by the actual contract value over the X integer of the value of the dollar and the y integer of the luxury tax number
It’s the present day value of the contract. The contracts present day value is 467 mill. The deferrals are what make that 700 mill dollar deal. For instance, Juan Soto has no deferrals, in fact he took a large signing bonus. His contract, and his AAV for CBT purposes, are for the present day value of the deal as well.
@dsett
The league assumes that inflation will continue and at the time the deferrals are paid that 68 million will have an actual value of 46 million. Since the value is 24 million lower than the book value, the Dodgers are saving 24 million in payroll. Since the Dodgers are over the highest threshold of the luxury tax and have to pay 110% in luxury tax the deferral saves them 26.4 million in taxes that would go to the welfare teams. That is why there is so much whining about the deferrals, they want their MLB EBT.
You obviously don’t and are waiting for an anwser. So STFU dude, you are clueless. Deferred cost still is not a healthy and feasible option for any company especially at the rate dodgers are deferring. Yes it’s helps the team in the present time but it doesn’t mean they all of a sudden figured out how to outspend others otherwise every team would do this. I can promise you the sentence “the dodgers decision to defer over $1 billion worth of owed money was a genius move” will never be said.
lol. You think Magic Johnson thinks all his decisions through???
So how much, do you think of Otani‘s interpreters hush money is deferred?
defer my mute
What does Magic Johnson have to do with this? Do you think Magic has any involvement with the day to day baseball operations? You don’t seem to grasp the fact that LA is already putting money aside each season for the deferments and making money off it.
@thebirds “I can promise you the sentence “the dodgers decision to defer over $1 billion worth of owed money was a genius move” will never be said.”
And you’ll most likely be wrong. The CBA & CBT present day value calculations assume a 5% return over the duration of the contract, in Ohtani’s case, 8.5 to 10 years before paying out. Dodgers can easily get a 8.5-10 year CD on $46 million from practically any bank or investment firm because the bank or investment firm can either lend it out at 7% (like a mortgage or loan) or invest (like stocks, Bonds, etc.) and make more than that in return.
Guggenheim being a large and smart investment firm could invest and EASILY get 8-12% return by simply investing into S&P500 (SPDR) or Nasdaq-100 (NQ=F) passive Index funds over 8-12 years, netting the $68M plus an additional $17-75M in profits to be used for team purposes or profits to the group. When you manage $350 billion in assets, you know how to make money.
If you don’t understand it, that doesn’t mean that it cannot be done. That also applies to the other teams in the MLB.
Tell us that you don’t know how deferred payments work?!♂️
Do you really think they aren’t already setting money aside for the future? That when 2030 rolls around, they’ll be standing around clueless, wondering what to do next? No chance. They’re winning now, and they’ll keep winning. Get used to it. They’re the gold standard in sports.
Until the investment they put the money in tanks.
as usual you dont know what you are talking about mets. those investments are restricted to low risk interest bearing accounts
They aren’t the Mets. This is not the paying Bonilla for life scenario. Wishful thinking on your part.
They aren’t allowed to do that. If the total in escrow dips below what is needed, they have to add more. It’s all spelled out in the CBA. Ohtani et al would never sign that kind of contract if it wasn’t.
Not only are they setting aside money for the future, but they make trades with the future in mind. Two examples are the Busch and Lux trades. The Dodgers also draft and develop players as well as anyone, even though they draft near the bottom of every round.
That’s one of the Dodgers’ greatest strengths as an organization: building for the present and the future simultaneously.
No they aren’t. They can invest in almost anything.
When over a billion is owed out to players that may not be playing on the team? Yeah they might be sitting on their hands by then. They certainly won’t be an appealing team to buy if the ownership planned to sell and that how owner make their real money. Appreciation.
That money will come out of the account that has already been funded by the Dodgers. By the time Ohtani is done playing, the Dodgers will be done paying for him. The account will supply the money plus its appreciation. Nothing additional from the team.
metsin4
“No they aren’t. They can invest in almost anything.”
Sure, the Dodgers can and they’ve invested in their farm system for over a decade. Seager, Bellinger, Smith, Urias, Kershaw, May, Gonsolin, Lux, Verdugo, etc. either made big contributions or eventually let go, or traded to get other players (Verdugo and 3 others for Betts for example.) A number of good players (Pages, Outman, Feduccia, Ryan, Weonkeski, Knack, etc) waiting in the wings, depth pieces, or potential trade bait like Cartaya was this year.
Currently Dodgers have 6 of top 100 prospects including Sasaki, and added
more developmental depth with prospects trade returns or minor league signings. Also, Dodgers have been very good at finding cast off players who they’ve help turn into solid major leaguers – Justin Turner, Muncy, Kike, Rojas, Taylor, etc. or rejuvenated – Teoscar, Heyward, JD Martinez, any number of relief pitchers, etc.
Choose to believe what you want but Dodgers doing a comprehensive job in all phases of MLB club management and player development.
@the birds
Deferred contracts under the current CBA allow teams & players to sign a contract with deferred value set at Present or Current Value X 5% interest X #years before paying out. For Example, Ohtani & Dodgers are deferring $68M to be paid 10 years from each contract year. That makes his Present Day value $46M which counts against the CBT tax. The Dodgers must place that into an escrow account by July 1 of the following years of the contract year, so technically they have 8.5 years minimum to grow the escrow money. To calculate, Take the $46M, multiply X 1.05, do this 8 times and you get the $68M in year 8. If the Dodgers start doing that right at the beginning and get 5% (CD, Dividend stock), at 10 years you get ~$75M, so Dodgers pay $68M, keep $7M.
But Guggenheim are smart investment folks, if they invest in stocks, can get a typical return of 8-12% MINIMUM over 8-10 years. That means the $46M can be grown to $85M to $143M depending on 8-10 years, 8-12% return. Still pay out $68M, keep between $17-$75M per deferral year paying for the Dodgers which can be used for anything Dodgers want. A deferred contract invested smartly pays for itself and then some!
Here’s the fun part that makes this smart. The contract to the CBA is accounted for by the present value counted in the year the player plays. So Ohtani’s contract ticks down every year at $46M against the CBT. Once his contract is over at 10 years, contract ends, he’s off the books, no more CBT hit, and he’s now paid by the escrow account earnings for the agreed upon amount of $68M. That $68M DOES NOT COUNT as Dodgers payroll 10 years from now nor for any CBT taxes. Any extra money from the escrow acct goes back to the Dodgers. Win-win.
The Dodgers have been doing this already with Betts, Freeman, Smith, etc. so their escrow accounts have been growing each year of their contracts.
There is always some risk if the team runs into cash flow problems like the DBacks did in early 2000’s and Padres in 2023-2024. But if the team is managed well, revenues and cash flow stable or growing, then any team willing to take the risks can benefit. Players benefit from taking payments later in life where they could be in a lower tax state or situation. Any questions?
Everyone is overlooking the fact that the deferred money will hurt them in the future when it east into their luxury tax threshold. When half if not more of your cap is paid to payers who are retired you will feel it.
The only way to beat it is they will have to defer future contracts to offset those amounts.
Another person who does not understand how the deferred money works. It has NO bearing on future luxury tax. Zero.
They will also load up the farm system now so those players can contribute in 2030 and beyond. They won’t have to have the payroll they have now. Believe you me, they have a plan in motion now.
It’s not a Ponzi scheme.
Nope. The salaries count now against the lux tax, not when it is paid out.
MLB calculated $46 million of the $70 million counted against the luxury tax for 2024.
wtop.com/mlb/2023/12/ohtanis-dodgers-contract-has-…
Do you know what a CBA is?!?!? This happens next year you know? The dodgers could and most likely will be bending themselves over when they restructure caps and luxury taxes.
@theRaven
Wrong. Here’s the fun part that makes this smart. The contract to the CBA is accounted for by the present value counted in the year the player plays. So Ohtani’s contract ticks down every year at $46M against the CBT. Once his contract is over at 10 years, contract ends, he’s off the books, no more CBT hit, and he’s now paid by the escrow account earnings for the agreed upon amount of $68M. That $68M DOES NOT COUNT as Dodgers payroll nor for any CBT taxes. Any extra money from the escrow acct goes back to the Dodgers. Win-win.
The birds: you just do not get it do you? The team is paying the money into an escrow type account EVERY YEAR!
Yes. “Paying money” is key. You think this if free? What do you think they’re writing off player contracts now? lol.
Guggenheim Investments can be assured of one thing… They will not call Merrill Lynch nor H&R Block when the “$680M Bobby Bo Cardiac Arrest” day comes. It’s what they do.
Yes like there has never been a huge financial institution to fold or ask for bailouts.
Well I’m happy you have something to live for. The day the Dodgers go belly up. Your usual positive take.
They are the ones in over a billion dollars in debt. I’m sure nothing can go wrong with that plan.
Of course with your head up your a** you’re not aware they make more money than needed to service what debt they have. First in attendance, home and road, first in tv revenue, first in sponsorship revenue. But we love having you around commenting on everything Blue since the Dodgers are also apparently first in living in your head. Not enough happening in Queens for you?
@metsIn4
When running a Major League Baseball team, the last organization to worry about is the Dodgers. They know what they’re doing at every level of the organization. Worry about your Mets; you know, the franchise with the owner who considers the Dodgers to be his MLB role model.
Yeah, the ownership group of the dodgers, a financial planning and investment company with over 300 billion dollars in assets has no clue how to plan ahead…
Got it
thebirds
Would’ve been quicker to just type “I don’t understand deferrals at all, and they’re going to ruin the Dodgers.”…
@dsett75
Jeez, do we have to discuss that again?
Deferred contracts under the current CBA allow teams & players to sign a contract with deferred value set at Present or Current Value X 5% interest X #years before paying out. For Example, Ohtani & Dodgers are deferring $68M to be paid 10 years from each contract year. That makes his Present Day value $46M which counts against the CBT tax. The Dodgers must place that into an escrow account by July 1 of the following years of the contract year, so technically they have 8.5 years minimum to grow the escrow money. To calculate, Take the $46M, multiply X 1.05, do this 8 times and you get the $68M in year 8. If the Dodgers start doing that right at the beginning and get 5% (CD, Dividend stock), at 10 years you get ~$75M, so Dodgers pay $68M, keep $7M.
But Guggenheim are smart investment folks, if they invest in stocks, can get a typical return of 8-12% MINIMUM over 8-10 years. That means the $46M can be grown to $85M to $143M depending on 8-10 years, 8-12% return. Still pay out $68M, keep between $17-$75M per deferral year paying for the Dodgers which can be used for anything Dodgers want. A deferred contract invested smartly pays for itself and then some!
Here’s the fun part that makes this smart. The contract to the CBA is accounted for by the present value counted in the year the player plays. So Ohtani’s contract ticks down every year at $46M against the CBT. Once his contract is over at 10 years, contract ends, he’s off the books, no more CBT hit, and he’s now paid by the escrow account earnings for the agreed upon amount of $68M. That $68M DOES NOT COUNT as Dodgers payroll nor for any CBT taxes. Any extra money from the escrow acct goes back to the Dodgers. Win-win.
The Dodgers have been doing this already with Betts, Freeman, Smith, etc. so their escrow accounts have been growing each year of their contracts.
There is always some risk if the team runs into cash flow problems like the DBacks did in early 2000’s and Padres in 2023-2024. But if the team is managed well, revenues and cash flow stable or growing, then any team willing to take the risks can benefit. Players benefit from taking payments later in life where they could be in a lower tax state or situation. Any questions?
They are either going to do nothing. The deferrals have the principal funded annual needed to accrue to future owed value annually as the deferrals occur.
Or to dumb it down, they re being paid now in todays value and are accumulating interest.
For the sake of Hernandez, hopefully it is deferred. He should avoid as much of California’s 13 percent state tax as he can… That state certainly does not spend money very efficiently.
Cali has an extremely progressive tax structure. Only those making over $750k pay 12%. The median taxpayer pays about 6%. The Cali economy is, per capita, by far the most productive in the world outside of the petro states.
That state sure makes money though, right?
Why do you care when players are paid?
Does this mean the end of a Taylor?
Hopefully.
We just have so many options and Taylor needs to go somewhere where he can contribute meaningfully….
Like Tijuana?
Dodgers not letting Taylor go til he hits his 10 years of service time later in the season….
What’s your theory?
Just reading blogs about how this FO keeps players nearing 10 years of service before letting em go. Last guy was Nick Ahmed….
Oh, I thought you were saying they’d wait until he already acquired his 10 and 5 rights before moving him.
BlueSkies
This idea was discussed in depth on a recent podcast, as summarized here in a tweet about it:
x.com/dodger_daily/status/1885730671273906586
Hopefully!
They don’t really need to dump Taylor. And he’ll be difficult to move. There probably is a way to keep everyone. Injuries happen and even if you have to temporarily option Pages he should get plenty of time with the Dodgers. The bench versatility depth also helps. No matter which position player gets hurt (except for catcher of course), they can bring up Pages if he’s at AAA.
This comments section is deep in Dodgers Derangement Syndrome lol.
There are 6 comments so far, which seems pretty shallow.
*about to be, there you go, fixed it for you, sweetie.
You love yourself. We’ve established that already. Insecurity…
Deus, I am not you’re sweetie.
He will sign when players can go on the 60 day DL to open a roster spot.
only pitchers are going on the 60-day. that has no bearing on Kiké getting on the active roster.
He = Kershaw
kike is meh in the reg season
but he’s reggie jackson in the playoffs
As long as he stays bench, he’ll be better utilized
How are they going to carry Rojas, Taylor, and Kike? There is some redundancy here? That said, good to see him return.
seems like Pages gets a ticket to AAA
I see Taylor getting the Brazier treatment
Hope you are right, but I think CT knows where some bodies are buried.
unfortunately, CT3s salary is a deal breaker on any trade. Unless Dodgers throw him a real prospect (s), no team will touch Taylor until he’s released.
For a team with unfathomable resources, cutting ties with CT should not be a problem if he does not deserve a roster spot based on performance.
on the surface Pschguy, you make sense. This also seems like a plausible explanation of why they won’t release him. x.com/dodger_daily/status/1885730671273906586
That’s so speculative. IMO LA as a destination spot is more predicated on the $$ and opportunity to win in good climate.
hey, I don’t disagree with you. If it were me, I’d release him and eat the money. Kiki seems more valuable than CT3. we’ll see soon enough.
Did you look at Taylor’s 2nd half numbers? Impressive that he got over the Uecker line considering how long he struggled. With Taylor’s contract the Dodgers would have to eat a good chunk of it to move him. And all that would do is make a spot for a guy that is not as good or as versatile defensively. Pages is cheaper, so they’d get some luxury tax savings. We’ll see, a lot still to shake out in the spring.
By opening day someone will be injured. Bank on it. If not, Pages starts in AAA. Or Taylor gets released or traded.
I keep expecting a trade with the Cardinals.
Dodgers get Arenado + $5 mil for 3 years from the Cardinals.
Cardinals get/take Taylor plus a prospect in the number 10 – 20 range.
Muncy moves to 2nd base and competes with Hyeseong Kim.
The Dodgers do not need a declining Arenado. Muncy at 3B, Kim at 2B. There’s no reason to make a trade that wouldn’t improve the ballclub.
Muncy can’t play 2B in the non-shift era. There’s a reason he hasn’t played even one game there since 2022, the last season the shift was allowed. I think the Dodgers are happy to have him at 3B at a reasonable salary–so no Arenado.
Muncy is one of my favorite players in my 58 years as a Dodger fan. He is a solid ballplayer who was never concerned about breaking the bank in free agency. He appreciates what he has and does everything to help the team win.
Arenado is about 3 years late. Muncy too slow for 2B now. Dont think they signed Kim as a tryout. I believe it’s his job to lose. He’s a better defender than Lux, has speed, and is an on=base kind of hitter that the Dodgers need at the bottom of the lineup to set the table.
Something went terribly wrong if Kim losses the job to Lux.
My point was that if the Dodgers gave Lux every opportunity to take 2B for his own I would expect the same treatment for Kim and not some lefty/lefty platoon with Muncy.
I think Lux will outhit Kim by a mile this year. Hope I’m wrong. Kim brings you a better glove and speed but is that worth more than a weaker bat? We’ll see.
@Psychguy The redundancy is versatility and that is a good thing.
5 mil deferred till 2040
Octobers best! WELCOME BACK KIKE!
More sus celebrations!! Let’s gooooooo!!
If they had to dump Brasier before, who will they dump now
YES. FINALLY. LOVE KIKE
Done and DONE!
I figured the Dodgers were waiting until ST to begin for when they would sign Hernandez. They can utilize the 60 day IL to get him on the roster. He’s probably known for weeks that this would happen this way. It’ll be interesting to see if Chris Taylor makes the Opening Day roster. His bat has disappeared. Hernandez can still deliver a big hit occasionally. Taylor has nothing at the plate anymore…
Dodgers active roster is full up with pitchers and Dodgers have only pitchers headed to the 60-day IL at the moment. That in no way helps Kiké get on the active roster. The 40-man yes, but not the active roster. There will have to be a move later.
At this time, they only need to put him on the 40. Injuries tend to take care of these things. They have time before getting down to 26.
that’s true stymee
Of course. The Dodgers own MLB now. They Vought the whole league yesterday.
Zzzzzzzz!
More like Veeeeeeee!
20 mil a year over 5 years with 94 mil deferred
Dodgers are insanely overrated. Two of their “best” players, Ohtani and Teo, strikeout like it’s their job so will kill a lot of rallies. Ohtani will also have a down year compared to 2024 so other hitters will need to step up for them to even make the playoffs.
Yuki as always you are never right. All of your lame predictions last fall were wrong. Do you even watch any baseball games? You have no clue what you are talking about. Ever.
Opinions are always welcome.
Informed opinions are welcome.
“Insanely” overrated? I wouldn’t even agree with “overrated” but “insanely”? They literally won it all last year. You have a ridiculous take.
I think he’ll be on the IL again from pitching and the talk of him giving that up will begin. Him pitching will definitely affect his SB’s.
The fact that last year was most likely his career year in SBs will affect his 2025 total.
The jealousy is REAL! Ha-ha!
Yup, the defending world champion Dodgers that just added Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Kirby Yates, and Tanner Scott are insanely overrated.
Shame on them for making winning a priority.
Princess
So Ohtani will have a “down year” compared to the career-best year he had at the plate, during which time he’ll also be pitching every sixth(-ish) day?
Yeah, the Dodgers are sCrEwEd….
@PrincessYuki
Sure, Ohtani struck out 189, 161, 143, 162 times from 2021-2024, about .295, .240, .239, and .222 respectively, vs BA of .257, .273, .304, .310 so Ohtani’s strikeout/plate appearance rate has dropped over last 4 years plus his first year with Dodgers is lowest in his career. At the same time his batting average ROSE considerably, he’s been MVP 3 times, 2nd once, hitting OPS of .965, .875, 1.066, and 1.036, last two seasons LEADING THE LEAGUE in OPS, same with slugging percentage. Even if Ohtani drops back to his last 4 year average of 45HR, 105RBI’s, 160 hits, he would still be top 5 if not top 3 in the NL or MLB. And 2024 Ohtani was within a hair of winning the triple crown.
Now that Ohtani has had a full year with the Dodgers and knows where they will bat him, he’s even more comfortable at the plate, and against NL pitching, same applies to Teoscar, still good enough to be very good.
The gang is all here.
Wonder if the Dodgers would trade taylor, full contract,outman and river ryan for helsley?
too late. Dodgers already have Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates.
Helsley is an upgrade no matter who you have in that bullpen
Then the Cards will have no trouble moving him. But not to LAD.
stan lee
In a vacuum, perhaps, but at this point, Helsley would be a luxury the Dodgers have no need purchasing. So why over-package to get a guy who’d get lost in that mix, rather than waiting to fill an actual need when said need presents itself?
In Scott, Treinen, Kopech, Phillips and Yates, LA has FIVE legitimate closers on their roster (along with high-leverage man Vesia and High-Leverage=Man-in-Waiting Enrique Hernandez, idling at the fringe).
There’s just no more room at the inn….
They don’t want to move him, it’s pretty obvious they feel there will be more value at the trade deadline. That’s pretty normal for high-end relievers.
Pretty much all of the signings the Dodgers have made this year have been luxuries the Dodgers have not needed. After watching this ridiculous offseason for them, it’s a very poor argument to say that they wouldn’t upgrade here because they don’t need it.
I think Helsley stays put, but that would be because the Cardinals aren’t actually selling right now without a completely overwhelming offer
“all of the signings the Dodgers have made this year have been luxuries the Dodgers have not needed”
from where you sit I’m sure you think that’s true. I don’t agree. As for Helsley, he’s at the top of his game but LAD do not need him. When a team has Scott and Yates the upgrade is marginal. If they go for anything in July, Dodgers will go after another hitter before they pay a premium for Helsley (barring injuries to current staff of course).
If they package Taylor with some of their better prospects to move him out it’s for prospects, not another add to the 40-man.
@BlueSkies-LA
Like they did with the Busch and Lux trades I mentioned elsewhere. There’s fantastic value in scouting other teams’ farm systems.
$500,000 contract, deferred till 2048
162-0!
Who’s next? You’re next!!!!!!!!!
In corresponding move mlb announces deferrals and only the the deferrals will be allowed a 30 man roster and his season
One year deal, pays $0.50 this year and $1 trillion in 3025
All the deferral jokes are soooooooo funny.
I never see them; all muted, I assume.
The humor is indefinitely deferred.
People can joke all they want about deferred money….All I know is we are celebrating a World Series Championship now!
Kike too much of a scaredy cat to put in a hard day’s work for a lesser team.
Keekay shows up in October. If that’s being a scaredy cat, then give me more scaredy cats.
Not fair! Dodgers get everyone.
– Said all the fans of loser teams that will never win a championship. Haha!
alex cora is crying in a corner somewhere…
F the Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Waaaaaaa!
This is something the Padres lack: great team chemistry. Kikè definitely isn’t a game changer (well, he kind of tears up the playoffs), but it brings the clubhouse that much together. There’s a reason why Soto, Tatis Jr. Machado, and Bogarts only went 82-80 – those guys (not sure about Bogarts), are “me first.” I love this signing.
@Kewldude69,
As of two weeks ago, the Dodgers had 22 “homegrown” players on their 40-man roster. The Padres had just nine (tied with the Phillies for second fewest behind the MLB-leading Rays with eight). In my opinion, that level of continuity benefits the Dodgers.
I understand that the Padres have had an excellent farm system in recent years and that the low number is due to many prospects being included in trades. However, it would benefit them if they didn’t change the deck chairs so often. For instance, I feel they will miss Kim more than many think. Stability breeds chemistry throughout a long season.
Oh no more facts to confuse the benighted.
@El Kab AJ Preller is a lunatic. He literally is the type of GM that trades away Trea Turner, and then offers him a 200 million dollar contract when he’s a free agent
In some of Preller’s trades, I thought he surrendered one more prospect than necessary (if not two). They’ve had a ton of talent; it’s just too much of a revolving door.
I hope Preller doesn’t outsmart himself by trading Cease, a stud starter who can help them win now.
CT(K) going to get moved at some point!
CT3 has been a solid Dodger contributor and a huge contributor off the field. He deserves more respect than you give him. Is it really necessary for you to insult him regularly?
I’m sure there will be some complaints from Dodger fans during the season for the lack of production but we all know he was re-signed for postseason.
It’s the like the Padres’ signing of Connor Joe this weekend. He’s a bench piece and injury fill-in who is consistently average enough to rely on and one who won’t tank a team with their performance. For non-competitive teams, Joe and Hernandez signings wouldn’t make sense for them and they should play a young guy with more upside potential.
Kike is a versatile bench piece for the regular season but a much more important player come postseason. He’s a career 0.874 OPS over 20 postseason series and 259 plate appearances. Versus only a 0.713 career OPS in regular season, including only 0.654 as a Dodger last year. Plenty of Dodger fans grumbled last year as to why Kike was on the team and on postseason roster. Kike shut their mouths pretty quickly in the postseason. For whatever reason the guy delivers in postseason.
Waaaa, Dodgers are ruining baseball! Big Blue Wrecking Crew! Love it!
No surprise there, and now the Dodgers have their playoff weapon back for the very high chance to make a repeat.
I’d bet this was agreed to a while back. Just had to stay hush until the 60 day IL moves were imminent.
It’s crazy, how the Dodgers keep adding age 30 and older players to their rosters and have yet to pay any sort of real price for it.
They just bought themselves what should be 6 years of Tommy Edman’s baseball dotage; a respectably talented player with nothing like a star’s pedigree who has every chance of being out of baseball like most players with his skill set in his early 30s, but his aging curve will magically improve with the Dodgers.
So… what are they feeding these guys? some super-macrobiotic diet? Are there supersecret ballet-yoga meetings three hours before game time? TM?
Are old players versus their projections the new undervalued assets in baseball? That doesn’t seem to be the case on other teams, so how are the Dodgers pulling this off?
With the addition of Edman, with Will Smith and Ohtani turning 30, and with the age of the Dodgers’ pitching staff they’re going to field a 30 and older lineup including their starter a lot more than once this season. I don’t think there’s one other team in MLB that’s going to do that even once in all of 2025.
What’s the secret?
The secret is they are right in line with the average age of The Mets (older), Astros, Yanks, Orioles, Jays, Cubs, Rangers, Padres, Cards, and Royals. All of those teams average 28 to 29 years. Amazing what facts can do for ya.
espn.com/mlb/stats/rosters/_/sort/average_age/orde…
Their secret is having PROVEN veterans who are professionals, proven performers under pressure and bright lights, selfless, pass the baton, next guy up, keep the line moving, relatively ego less players, most of whom have been there in the playoffs, and battle tested. Raw talent young players are exciting, but many will fade in the postseason, or the opposing team is too young to handle the pressure of postseason ball. Team chemistry is also a real thing and motivator of success.
It’s not a guarantee of postseason success, but the Dodgers will keep player who are consistent performers till they aren’t anymore.
I’m not a huge fan of this, because I prefer a at least a trickle of prospects every season. I suppose you could say that Lux and Outman had their chances but I don’t like blocking out Pages. And regular season Kike’ is nothing to write home about.
His regular-season value is his ability to fill in at several positions, which helps to keep everyone fresh. He also understands the team’s clubhouse culture. Everyone doesn’t have to be a star.
Pages just isnt a good defender yet. Too many times last season he didnt make plays that a decent CF really should. He’s younger and has some time to improve, but he looks like a barely average corner that got pushed into CF. Kike AND Taylor play anywhere you put them at a high level. Seems like Pages best shot is to get regular AB’s and hone his D at AAA until injuries need to be covered.
Pages and Vargas nearly killed each other twice in LF and CF.
Worst bobblehead ever: Rookies Outman and Vargas together.
I’ve got one of those. Two actually. Real collectors items.
Do you have the Puigy Bank?
No but I’ll swap you a Vargas and Outman for one.
I live in the Philly area. The only bobbleheads I have are two from the belated Dick Allen Day. It’s nice; it’s more of a figurine.
Too early to rule out Pages. Who knows if there will be an injury during spring training.
Kike has earned his spot for postseason. Fans will grumble about regular season but until he doesn’t perform in postseason I don’t see why fans don’t want Kike. Regular season is irrelevant. We all know that the Dodgers will be in postseason.
Just 37 days until Dodgers-Cubs in Japan.
Last piece of the puzzle. Now Dodgers need to not peak to early n ride this team into repeat champs. Go Dodgers !
Dodgers fan
Not shocking at all…the guy only wanted to play in LA, and frankly if he can maneuver himself into doing that, who wouldn’t;…..
The only guy? Players who chose or to stay with Dodgers (extension) recently – Ohtani, Yamamoto, Sasaki, Teoscar, Edman, Smith, Glasnow, Freeman, Betts, Treinen, Phillips, Scott.
Hey everyone the punk is back. Missed ya Mickey.
The league should ban him from ever bumping his groin with another teammate. End ‘a story!!
KikE is a clown. I don’t like the vibes that fruit-loop gives me. Can’t stand the chartreuse shoes. Only other Dodger that irked me like this was Alex Verdugo. Maybe they sign him too??
I never liked Verdugo and got clown vibes from him. It was also disrespectful to let him wear Kemp’s number.
amazing they didn’t check with you before signing him
$6.5m for a 26th man. Anyone wondering why he went back to the Dodgers? And know, it’s not because blue is his favorite color.
Why are the Dodgers giving a 33 yr old 6.5 = 13mil with the tax hit? Kike has always been a below average hitter who’s mediocre fielder/runner at this point. Fan favorite? Yeah yeah we all know he hit 2 HRs last post season, but it’s just a dumb signing.
Yeah he’s a fan favorite but for whatever reason he performs in postseason with 15 career HRs, 0.874 OPS (compared to only 0.713 in regular season). This all in 259 career postseason plate appearances. I agree that the $6.5mm is rich and I’m surprised they paid him that much but if he keeps performing in postseason he’ll get a look.
Yeah, that team clearly has no idea what they are doing.
Yeah they won, but man you gotta admit that rotation was piecemeal! They were basically a last second Flahtery deal from missing that ring.
looked to me like he must’ve been the inspiration for the team that took them past SD. roberts doesn’t; have the ability to inspire at all unless you think guys like ass slaps. at the parade he was the overwhelming favorite of the players. he means a lot more than his stats and his versatility in the field is huge.
KikE must have a video of himself with Friedman and friends.
It would take up less space to make a list of who the Dodgers have NOT signed.
Evan Phillips likely opening season on IL.
And dirtbags keep on dirt bagging?, right Mick