RSS Dodgers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Edwin Díaz contract details, Dodgers payroll, draft pick loss & more

The Dodgers finalized their contract for closer Edwin Díaz on Friday, signing the veteran closer for three years and $69 million. At $23 million per year, Díaz has the largest reliever contract by average annual value in baseball history, breaking his own record.

Much like several Dodgers contracts in recent years, Díaz has deferred money in his deal. In each year of the contract, $4.5 million of Díaz’s salary is deferred on the following schedule, per Ronald Blum at Associated Press: “Díaz’s deferred money is payable in 10 equal installments each July 1. The 2026 money is due from 2036-45, the 2027 money from 2037-46 and the 2028 money from 2038-47.”

The deferred salaries reduce the average annual value for competitive balance tax purposes from $23 million to roughly $21.1 million, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Díaz gets a signing bonus of $9 million, and the following salaries, per:

2026: $14 million ($4.5 million deferred)
2027: $23 million ($4.5 million deferred)
2028: $23 million ($4.5 million deferred)

There’s also a conditional option (somewhat similar to Blake Treinen’s 2024), per Blum at AP:

Los Angeles has a $6.5 million conditional team option for 2029 with no buyout. The option could be exercised if he has a specified injury through the end of the 2028 season and he does not end the season or postseason healthy, or if he has a specified surgery.

If the conditional option is exercised, he could earn $2.5 million in performance bonuses for 2029 based on games finished: $750,000 each for 45 and 50 games and $1 million for 55.

Record setter​

Díaz’s last two contracts are the top two contracts for a reliever by average annual value. His five-year, $102 million deal with the Mets also set a record for most guaranteed money for a reliever in one contract. After earning $64 million in the first three years in New York, Díaz in November opted out of the final two years and $38 million of the deal, and based on his new deal was right to do so.

Highest average annual value by a reliever

Edwin Díaz, Dodgers (2026-28), $23 million per year
Edwin Díaz, Mets (2023-27), $21.4 million
Josh Hader, Astros (2024-28), $19 million
Liam Hendricks, White Sox (2021-23), $18 million
Tanner Scott, Dodgers (2025-28), $18 million

Other costs of the deal​

Because Díaz rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets, the Dodgers for signing him will forfeit their second- and fifth-highest draft pick in 2026, and will have their 2026 international bonus pool reduced by $1 million.

This was a similar situation for Dodgers drafts in both 2021 (after signing Trevor Bauer) and 2022 (after signing Freddie Freeman). The 2022 draft pick loss was offset slightly by receiving a compensatory pick after the fourth round for losing Corey Seager in free agency.

The Dodgers will also see their top draft pick in 2026 drop 10 spots for exceeding the third competitive balance tax payroll threshold of $281 million for 2025, which was also the case in the 2023 and 2025 drafts. The final payroll numbers aren’t out yet, but the Dodgers final total will be well beyond the fourth and highest threshold ($301 million) as well, and they will break their own record for competitive balance tax paid in one season.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...-details-dodgers-payroll-draft-pick-loss-more

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Michael Conforto

When looking back on the 2025 season of Michael Conforto with hindsight, one realizes that the Dodgers were using Conforto to answer a question that was quickly rendered moot: what do the Dodgers do if Teoscar Hernandez decides to sign with Toronto or elsewhere?

Unlike the 2021-signing of Trevor Bauer or the 2025-signings of Tanner Scott or Kirby Yates, the signing of Conforto made some degree of sense at the time. With no Teoscar Hernandez (yet) in the fold, someone had to play in the outfield apart from Andy Pages, James Outman, and Chris Taylor.

In 2024, when playing away from the cavernous confines of Oracle Park, in 72 games, Conforto hit 17 of his 20 home runs with a slash line of .253/.323/.530 (as compared to three home runs and a slash line of .216/.292/.341).

For $17 million, if Conforto could approximate, heaven forbid match, his 2024-away production with the 2025 Dodgers, at the expense of the hapless Giants, that result would be a win-win.

Then Teoscar came back. Yes, the outfield defense with both Conforto in left and Teoscar in right would probably suffer a little. Still, Hernandez and Conforto would likely slug enough to overcome any defensive lapses in the field.

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men​

Needless to say, the plan as diagrammed did not work.

Moreover, Conforto had his worst season as a professional. Imagine a hybrid of the worst of Joey Gallo (contact), Joc Pederson (defense), and Carl Crawford (speed), and one would have an approximation of how poorly Conforto was in 2025.

To everyone’s detriment, the following sentence never applied to Conforto in 2025: “And then on this date, the Dodgers designated Michael Conforto for assignment.” Instead, everyone had to suffer through the shambolic interia that was Michael Conforto as a Los Angeles Dodger.

The Dodgers overlooked one critical statistic when signing Conforto: in 2024, with runners in scoring position, Conforto had a slash line of .217/.312/.359, which would have been an improvement in 2025.

Conforto did show promise in the spring, with Dave Roberts having the mother of all terribly wrong predictions, comparing Conforto to Teoscar in 2024:

“I think he’s going to be one of my picks to click this year as far as a guy that I think is going to really take a step forward,” manager Dave Roberts said of Conforto.

Conforto did perform well in Tokyo (both the exhibitions and the Tokyo Series) and the first week of the year, with a slash line of .368/.500/.737 (7 for 19 with a home run, four RBIs, and four doubles). I saw Conforto hit this bomb at the Tokyo Dome from my hotel in Kyoto.

View Link

Unlike 2024-Teoscar Hernandez, Conforto’s offense basically disappeared overnight after the first week of the domestic season, as breaking his season down by month generally tells the tale of offensive futility, where the Dodgers probably should have cut bait by Memorial Day or at the Trade Deadline at the absolute latest.

• March/April: .156/.303/.267, 16 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 17 BB, 31 K
• May: .194/.337/.306, 8 R, 5 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 13 BB, 23 K
• June: .175/.246/.349, 6 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K
• July: .273/.342/.485, 9 R, 5 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 15 K
• August: .167/.243/.273, 6 R, 4 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 25 K
• September: .246/.347/.344, 9 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 10 BB, 18 K

Still, the Dodgers kept sending Conforto out to left field. Per Dave Roberts to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register in early May:

“I have thought about it,” Roberts said of benching Conforto at least temporarily. “I know he’s grinding right now. We’ll see. … If he doesn’t look more comfortable, to be able to give him a couple days off might make sense. But right now, I want to keep running him out there.”

Conforto had one good month in July, which was apparently enough to convince the Dodgers not to pull the trigger on Cleveland’s demands for outfielder Steven Kwan at the trade deadline. Everyone in baseball figured the Dodgers would end up with Kwan as the Guardians had the Dodgers over the figurative barrel.

Instead, the Dodgers settled on acquiring Alex Call and persisted with Conforto in left field, who rebounded slightly in September.

Conforto has been a bit of a defensive liability in left field in recent years, and 2025 was no different. Conforto had four errors in left field, which was his worst mark since 2021. Ironically enough, while at the bottom of the league for fielding percentage, Conforto did better than Kwan and Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox. The occasional web gem did not overcome the general liability that his glove provided in left field.

Second game in a row for a Conforto defensive boner and Yamamoto getting screwed by the defense. pic.twitter.com/97pgXnxuxg

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 28, 2025

Mr. Automatic Out​

Conforto’s chief sin in Los Angeles was being literally one of the least clutch batters in MLB in 2025.

The Dodger that Conforto most commonly drove in was himself. For comparison, Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays led baseball in 2025 with an otherworldly slash line of .381/.427/.626 and a wRC+ of 189 with runners in scoring position during the regular season campaign. At the literal opposite end of the spectrum was Conforto, who was tied for 4th-worst in the same situation. Conforto had a slash line of .180/.274/.300 and a wRC+ of 63, with 100 being average.

Offensive production for Conforto was the exception rather than the norm, especially in the clutch. This state of affairs caused much of the agitation of the fanbase, some more than others, reaching levels of hate not seen since Harlan Ellison’s “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream.“

If one was pressed to find a positive about Michael Conforto in 2025, it would be that Conforto shockingly did have success against one team in 2025, not counting a single series against the Cleveland Guardians, the Sacramento Athletics, or the Boston Red Sox: the San Francisco Giants.

In 11 games against the Giants, Conforto somehow went 14 for 37 with a slash line of .378/.415/.649 in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. If Conforto could somehow play only against the Giants, he would be a second Bo Bichette.

To his credit, Conforto did not publicly complain about his generally disastrous tenure in Los Angeles. In fact, when Conforto’s batting average peaked above the Bob Uecker line of .200 for the first time since mid-April, both Conforto and Dave Roberts commented.

“That’s nice. It’s been a long time. It’s been like five months,” Conforto said.

Manager Dave Roberts also had praise for Conforto, who finally seems to be turning a corner.

“He’s off the interstate, which is a good thing,” Roberts said.

Conforto’s average made a U-turn back to the interstate and dipped back below .200 the following game, rebounding back and forth before settling just under the Uecker line at .199 to close out the year.

Conforto did not make any of the postseason rosters, which was a mild surprise considering how persistently the Dodgers kept deploying Conforto in the lineup throughout the regular year, much to the annoyance of most of the fanbase.

Kiké Hernández took over the everyday left fielder duties during the playoffs, rendering Conforto a spectator for the Dodgers’ title defense in October. Considering how disastrous the 2025 campaign was for Conforto, it would be extremely unlikely that Conforto suits up again for the team in 2026.

2025 particulars​

Age: 32

Stats: .199/.305/.333/.637, 12 HR, 36 RBI, 20 2B, 54 R, 56 BB, 121 K, 1 SB, 83 wRC+, -.7 rWAR, -.6 fWAR

Salary: $17 million

Game of the year​

Given that the task of picking a Game of the Year is made easier by Conforto tormenting the Giants among all teams, we must select September 20th against the Giants in Los Angeles. While he did have a 3-for-4 game with 3 RBIs in a rout in San Francisco the week before, we instead pick a 3-for-4 game with an RBI, where he provided some padding in a much more competitive contest.

View Link

Roster status​

Conforto is a free agent.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...s/107630/michael-conforto-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Yoshinobu Yamamoto wins Babe Ruth Award as postseason MVP

After a weekend to digest Edwin Díaz’s three-year deal getting finalized and the Dodgers claiming defensive-specialist Michael Siani off waivers, here are a few more stories to start your week.

The New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America has bestowed a Babe Ruth Award for the postseason MVP annually since 1949. Yoshinobu Yamamoto captured the award this year, per the Associated Press, and will be presented the award in a ceremony on January 24 in New York.

Yamamoto during the postseason was 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA in six postseason games, including five starts, with 33 strikeouts and six walks in 37 1/3 innings. His complete games in Game 2 of he NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series made him the first major league pitcher with back-to-back postseason complete games in 24 years. He followed his Game 6 win in Toronto with the final eight outs of relief to close out Game 7 on zero days rest, and the first pitcher to win three road games in a single World Series.

Yamamoto is the seventh Dodger to win the Babe Ruth Award, joining Johnny Podres for Brooklyn (1955), Larry Sherry (1959), Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965), Ron Cey (1981), Orel Hershiser (1988), and Mookie Betts (2024).

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Tyler Glasnow, a subject of recent rumored trade interest, was a guest on MLB Network Radio’s Sunday Sliders program, and per host Dani Wexelman of Sirius XM said that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told Glasnow he isn’t being traded.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...hinobu-yamamoto-babe-ruth-award-tyler-glasnow

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers notes: Tyler Glasnow, Nick Frasso, 2026 draft preview

Tarik Skubal has been the talk of the town regarding star players on the trade block, and the Dodgers are certainly in the mix for his services. Should they succeed at luring him in, they would undoubtedly sport the greatest five-man starting rotation in the game.

Such a trade would require the Dodgers to send back a star-caliber player of their own, and one name that has popped up in trade rumors is Tyler Glasnow, per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN, although the likeliness of his name being included in a Skubal blockbuster is a long shot.

Tyler Glasnow’s name has come up in conversations, and the Dodgers would not be opposed to moving him… Maybe he’s part of the package that brings Tarik Skubal to L.A. It’s a long shot, perhaps, but wilder things have happened.

Links​

Right-hander Nick Frasso is back with the Dodgers on a minor-league deal, tweets Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media. After having missed the entire 2024 season, Frasso was a part of the Dodgers’ Tokyo Series roster, but did not make an appearance in the two games. He spent most of the 2025 season out of the bullpen for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, posting a 6-1 record with a 5.49 ERA, striking out 68 and walking 42 across 77 innings in 43 appearances. Frasso, along with reliever Evan Phillips, were both non-tendered by the Dodgers on Nov. 21.

The 2026 MLB draft is not for another seven months, but Jim Callis of MLB.com is already veering into the potential selections for the Dodgers. Callis named right-handed pitcher Tegan Kuhns from the University of Tennessee as the Dodgers’ first pick in early mock drafts, noting his potential to be a frontline starter for a big league rotation.

The top sophomore-eligible pitcher available, Kuhns posted a 5.40 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings last spring before dominating in three Cape Cod League starts. He has advanced feel for spin, translating it into good carry on a 93-95 mph fastball that reaches 98 and impressive downer break on an upper-70s curveball. He eventually could pitch in the front half of a big league rotation if adding more strength helps him improve his control and develop a dependable third pitch.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-links/108407/dodgers-tyler-glasnow-nick-frasso-2026-draft-preview

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Kirby Yates

Potentially, no reliever in the entire sport saw a larger dropoff in performance from their 2024 to 2025 production than the veteran Kirby Yates, perfectly encapsulating a trying year for a Dodger bullpen that failed to live up to expectations. Signed to a very lucrative one-year deal following a magnificent campaign with the Texas Rangers, Yates was part of a bullpen spending spree that also saw the Dodgers bring in Tanner Scott, forming what looked like a formidable duo spearheading this unit.

For someone who had three separate IL stints, Yates actually did a reasonable job of staying out there for a significant period, covering a little over 40 innings. Unfortunately for Yates, a promising start to his Dodger career, which saw the right-hander secure 24 of his 54 punch-outs through the end of April, quickly went south.

Showcasing the difficult aspects of the life of an elite reliever, across his first 21 appearances, Yates compiled 17 scoreless performances with 31 strikeouts and only five walks, all of which sounds pretty good, right? One bad outing later, as the Dodgers hosted the Angels in mid-May, his last one before hitting the IL, all of a sudden Yates had a 4.34 ERA.

Yates’ first stint on the IL didn’t last much longer than the league minimum, and he was quite effective in his return in June, even if just for a short term. Perhaps a worrying sign even before the runs started to come again, the veteran wasn’t getting strikeouts at anywhere near his usual level (9.5 SO/9 in June).

It wasn’t long until injuries became a problem once again. Right at the beginning of August, the veteran reliever once again had to be sidelined, this time with lower back pain that kept him out for nearly a month. So much of this sport relies on rhythm, and Yates just never could get into one in 2025, ultimately seeing his season cut short with a second right hamstring issue in September. Curiously, Yates’ final four appearances of the year all came against the Giants, which saw him earn a pair of holds despite allowing more runs than innings pitched (4 in 3 IP).

As evidenced by the persistence in trying to recover Blake Treinen during the playoffs, even with his disappointing campaign, Yates likely would’ve received a similar treatment had he been around for the postseason. In the end, that didn’t happen, and the Dodgers had to look elsewhere. Roki Sasaki would’ve gotten the call one way or another, but there’s something symmetrical about the fact that he was brought up as the corresponding move to Yates’ third and final IL trip as a Dodger in 2025.

2025 particulars​

Age: 38

Stats: 50 games, 41.1 IP, 5.23 ERA, 17 walks, 52 strikeouts

Salary: $13,000,000

Game of the year​

A home win against the Cubs in early April with Yates’ involvement symbolized what management envisioned from their veteran reliever and their pitching staff as a whole this past season. Following six scoreless innings from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, each of Yates, Blake Treinen, and Tanner Scott tossed one scoreless inning to help the Dodgers hold on to a 3-0 win, limiting the Cubs to two hits the whole game.

Roster status​

After a down year, Yates is back on the market, quite likely to sign another one-year deal.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108493/kirby-yates-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers notes: Edwin Díaz, Dustin May, David Dahl

Edwin Díaz was facing the Dodgers as the star closer for the New York Mets during the 2024 NLCS. Just over a year later, and Díaz is the newest face of the Dodgers’ bullpen as their star closer.

The race for Díaz ultimately came down to three teams; the Dodgers offered Díaz a three-year deal for $69 million (which he accepted), the Mets lowballed him with a three-year deal for $66 million after signing reliever Devin Williams, and the Atlanta Braves, who had already re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias, managed to offer him a five-year deal, as reported by Jorge Castillo at ESPN. After missing out on Díaz, Atlanta bolstered their bullpen by bringing in former San Diego Padres reliever Robert Suarez on a three-year deal for $45 million.

Castillo notes that Díaz wanted to sign a contract with at least $20 million in annual average value even after including deferrals, and New York and Atlanta were both unwilling to oblige.

Links​

Former Dodgers starter Dustin May has found a new home for the 2026 season, this time heading back to the National League after finishing the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox. May and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season, with Jeff Passan at ESPN being the first to report the news and Charlie Wright at MLBTraderumors.com sharing the details of the contract. May will serve as a frontline member of the starting rotation for a rebuilding Cardinals team after St. Louis dealt ace Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox.

Former big league outfielder David Dahl, who spent part of the 2023 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, took to his Instagram to announce his retirement from baseball.

“Baseball has been my life for as long as I can remember. From being a kid in Alabama chasing a lifelong dream to stepping on a big-league field, it’s been an incredible ride. After 13 seasons, it’s officially time to hang it up,” Dahl wrote. “Thank you baseball for every single day.”

Dahl spent parts of eight big league seasons between the Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies, slashing .268/.313/.460 with 46 home runs and 169 RBI across 350 games while being named an NL All-Star in 2019 with Colorado.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-links/108489/dodgers-edwin-diaz-dustin-may-david-dahl

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers World Series win celebrated at Hall of Fame

Every year at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, the reigning champion has a display at the museum with various artifacts and highlights from the World Series and postseason. For the second straight year, the ‘Autumn Glory’ display will celebrate the Dodgers.

After the Dodgers won the World Series in Toronto on November 1, to become the first MLB team to repeat as champions in a quarter century, a few poses from the clubhouse hinted at items headed to the Hall of Fame, like four-inning Game 3 hero Will Klein’s glove or the shoes Will Smith wore while hitting the championship-winning home run in the 11th inning of Game 7.

If it wasn’t for Will Klein’s gutsy performance in Game 3, there may never have been a Game 7.

The unlikely hero out of the @Dodgers bullpen will send his glove to the Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/4newX80hIg

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (@baseballhall) November 2, 2025

Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.

Will Smith is donating the shoes he used to hit his Game 7-winning home run to the Hall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/SYaDPpc32U

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (@baseballhall) November 2, 2025

From the Hall of Fame on Tuesday, here are some more of the items on display, including some from the Blue Jays as well:

• Bat used by Miguel Rojas to hit his ninth-inning, game-tying home run in Game 7
• Jersey worn by Shohei Ohtani during Game 5
• Spikes worn by Will Smith when he hit his go-ahead home run in Game 7
• Glove used by Mookie Betts throughout the World Series, including in his series-ending double play
• Bat used by Freddie Freeman to hit his walk-off home run in the 18th inning of Game 3
• Glove worn by Will Klein, who pitched four shutout innings to earn the win in the 18-inning Game 3
• Jersey worn by manager Dave Roberts in Game 7
• Glove worn by Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage during the World Series
• Cleats worn by the Blue Jays’ Addison Barger in Game 1 when he hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history
• A ball thrown by Toronto’s Max Scherzer in Game 3 when he became the first pitcher to appear for four teams in the World Series
• Alan Porter’s home plate umpire indicator from Game 5, which he also used in the 15-inning finale of the Mariners vs. Tigers ALDS contest

This ‘Autumn Glory’ exhibit, which replaces last year’s Dodgers exhibit, will be on display at the Hall of Fame through the end of the 2026 postseason.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108481/dodgers-world-series-hall-of-fame

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers players’ haul for winning World Series is $484,748 per share

LOS ANGELES – A full postseason share for the Dodgers, who won the World Series for a second straight season, is worth $484,747.57 in 2025, part of a total $128.2 million player pool for the postseason, a source confirmed to True Blue LA.

Players’ share of the postseason pool is determined by gate receipts from the guaranteed length of all four rounds of the playoffs. Sixty percent of the first two games of each wild card series, minus visiting team travel expenses for the single-site series is part of the total pool, as is 60 percent of the first three games of each Division Series, the first four games of each League Championship Series, and the first four games of the World Series.

Postseason shares are distributed as follows:

• 36 percent to the World Series winner (Dodgers)
• 24 percent to the World Series loser (Blue Jays)
• 12 percent to each LCS loser (Brewers, Mariners)
• 3.25 percent to each Division Series loser (Phillies, Cubs, Yankees, Tigers)
• 0.75 percent to each wild card series loser (Reds, Padres, Red Sox, Guardians)

The total pool this year is $128,186,164.98, down only slightly (0.7 percent) from the 2024 total of $129.1 million. The Dodgers’ portion is $46,147,019.39, which included 82 shares at $484,747.57 each, 12.5 partial shares, plus miscellaneous cash awards that totaled $340,000.

This year’s full share for the Dodgers is slightly higher than last year ($477,441), because there were three fewer full shares and five fewer partial shares.

Any player on the team or injured list by June 1 through the end of the season get a full share. All other players’ shares are subject to vote by the players by the end of the regular season.

Two athletic trainers and one club strength and conditional coach are eligible to receive a full or partial share as voted on the players. Other non-uniformed personnel – per Major League Rule 45(b)(4), “including, but not limited to, spring training coaches, traveling secretaries, clubhouse personnel, media relations personnel, scouts, and members of the grounds crew” – are not eligible for a postseason share but are eligible for cash awards, which cannot exceed the value of a full share.

A full postseason share of $484,748 for the Dodgers comes out to 63.8 percent of the 2025 minimum salary of $760,000. For some players with under three years of service time who split time between the majors and minors during the season, they might have been paid more for the postseason than during the regular season.

Year	Total player pool	Dodgers finish	LA pool	LA full share amount	LA full shares
2013	$62,683,967	lost NLCS	$7,522,076	$108,037	58
2014	$62,026,462	lost NLDS	$2,015,860	$31,543	54
2015	$69,882,149	lost NLDS	$2,271,170	$34,169	48
2016	$76,627,827	lost NLCS	$9,195,339	$123,741	65
2017	$84,500,432	lost WS	$20,280,104	$259,722	65
2018	$88,188,633	lost WS	$21,165,272	$262,027	67
2019	$80,861,146	lost NLDS	$2,627,987	$32,428	60
2020	$50,000,000	won WS	$18,000,000	unknown	unknown
2021	$90,468,645	lost NLCS	$10,856,437	$112,701	80
2022	$107,510,840	lost NLDS	$3,494,102	$36,148	82
2023	$107,798,415	lost NLDS	$3,503,448	$36,929	80
2024	$129,092,159	won WS	$46,473,177	$477,441	79
2025	$128,186,165	won WS	$46,147,019	$484,748	82

2020 pool amount is unknown, but was guaranteed to be at least $50 million

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-payroll/107755/dodgers-postseason-shares-2025

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers in review: Clayton Kershaw

In what was the final season of his historic career, Clayton Kershaw gave Dodgers fans one last hurrah as he ended his career as a three-time champion and one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history.

Kershaw played a minor role in helping the Dodgers maintain their supremacy in the NL West in 2024, making just seven starts before suffering a bone spur in his toe. Once again a free agent, Kershaw signed back with the Dodgers on one-year deal, but was placed on the IL to begin the season after undergoing surgeries to repair both his foot and a torn meniscus.

Kershaw missed the first month of action as he continued to rehab, but he made his 2025 debut on May 17 against the crosstown Angels. He struggled mightily in his first start, giving up five runs across just four innings before a rain delay in Queens limited his next start to just two innings of work against the New York Mets.

Kershaw managed to hit his stride in June, where he managed to toss at least five innings in four of his five starts, posting a perfect 4-0 record with a 2.28 ERA while striking out 23 and walking just seven across 27 2/3 innings of work. By the end of the month, Kershaw was sitting at 2,997 career strikeouts, with a chance to make history in his next start against the Chicago White Sox.

Kershaw’s road to history against Chicago was a hard-fought battle, having given up four runs over 5 2/3 innings with just two strikeouts. Against Vinny Capra, and with his next pitch being his 100th of the night, Kershaw placed a slider on the outside corner to get Capra looking and cemented himself as the 20th member of the 3,000 strikeout club. Kershaw joined Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson as the only left-handers with at least 3,000 strikeouts and became the only one of the three to do so with just one team.

Strikeout No. 3,000!

Clayton Kershaw becomes the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record 3,000 career strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/mD7tM1POJC

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 3, 2025

Kershaw was named to the NL All-Star team for the 11th time in his career as a “legend” pick, and he managed to get two quick outs on six pitchers, striking out Vladimir Guerrero while mic’d up with the broadcasting crew during the midsummer classic.

Kershaw once again struggled to open the second half, overall miring in a poor month of July where he posted an 0-2 record with 4.71 ERA, with his strikeouts dropping to just 10 in 21 innings over four starts. He quickly turned the page in August, as he secured a winning decision in each of his five starts and lowered his ERA to 3.06 by month’s end.

The Dodgers had just wrapped up their first series win over the Philadelphia Phillies since 2023 on Sept. 17, where Blake Snell had a statement performance by striking out 12 over seven shutout innings. The following day, Dodgers fans were shocked when it was that Clayton Kershaw would retire following the 2025 season. Kershaw never publicly hinted at retiring throughout the season, but privately, through conversations with his wife, Ellen, he knew that it was the right time to call it a career.

“Usually we wait until the offseason to make a final call, but I think almost going into the season we kind of knew that this was going to be it. I didn’t want to say anything, unless I changed my mind… Over the course of the season, how grateful I am to have been healthy, be out on the mound, and be able to pitch, I think it just made it obvious this was a good sending-off point.”

His final home start of his regular season career came on Sept. 19 against the San Francisco Giants, and although he went just 4 1/3 innings while throwing 91 pitches, he allowed just two runs and struck out six hitters, with the final strikeout of his home career coming against Rafael Devers. He made his fourth career regular season relief appearance while the team was in Arizona, and he made his final regular season start in Seattle against the Mariners, tossing 5 1/3 shutout innings while striking out seven.

Kershaw’s presence in the postseason was minimal at best, having been relegated to mop-up duties during the Dodgers’ loss to the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS. He wasn’t on the field for any of the Dodgers’ four games against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, but he got one opportunity in the World Series.

In an 18 inning marathon between the Dodgers and Blue Jays in Game 3, Kershaw came in with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 12th inning, with the goal to get Nathan Lukes out and preserve the tie. Kershaw tossed eight pitches to Lukes, with the final one being hit weakly to the right side of the infield. Tommy Edman made a shovel pass to Freddie Freeman to send the game to the bottom of the 12th, and Clayton Kershaw threw the final pitch of his 18-year career, ultimately ending with his third World Series championship.

Kershaw ends his career as the Dodgers all-time leader in strikeouts and second to Don Sutton in wins, and he is the most valuable Dodger in history per both rWAR and fWAR. His career 2.53 ERA is the second best in baseball since the beginning of the live ball era behind Hall of Fame pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, and his career 154 ERA+ is tied with Pedro Martinez as the best in baseball history among starting pitchers with at least 2,000 innings.

2025 particulars​

Age: 37

Stats: 11-2, 3.36 ERA, 1.216 WHIP, 3.55 FIP, 84 K, 35 BB, 112 2/3 IP, 124 ERA+, 1.6 rWAR, 2.5 fWAR

Postseason stats: 2 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 3 BB

Salary: $7,500,000

Game of the year​

Clayton Kershaw saved his best start for last, as in the final start of his 18-year career, he tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners, giving up just four hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Roster status​

Clayton Kershaw is retired after spending his entire 18-year career with the Dodgers. He will become eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2031.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108257/clayton-kershaw-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers will pay $169.4 million in competitive balance tax, a new MLB record

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series for the second year in a row, and did so with the highest-paid team in Major League Baseball history. The Dodgers’ payroll in 2025 for competitive balance tax purposes was $417.3 million, per Ronald Blum at Associated Press, which resulted in a record-setting luxury tax levy of $169.4 million.

At $417,341,608 in 2025, the Dodgers bested the $374.7 million by the 2023 New York Mets for the highest payroll in MLB history. The 2024 Dodgers at $353 million had the third-highest payroll.

The $169,375,768 million in competitive balance tax is also a new MLB record, surpassing the $103 million paid by the Dodgers last season.

This is the fifth season in a row the Dodgers have surpassed the competitive balance tax threshold. Any team repeating three or more years in a row as payers are subject to the highest tax rates at each level. In 2025, the initial CBT threshold was $241 million. The Dodgers paid a 50-percent tax for the first $20 million over the threshold, 62 percent for the next $20 million, 95 percent for the next $20 million, and 110 percent on everything above $301 million.

Payroll	Amount	Tax rate	Tax amount
$0-241 million	$241,000,000	0.0%	$0
$241-261 million	$20,000,000	50.0%	$10,000,000
$261-281 million	$20,000,000	62.0%	$12,400,000
$281-301 million	$20,000,000	95.0%	$19,000,000
over $301 million	$116,341,608	110.0%	$61,616,896
Totals	$417,341,608	96.0%	$169,375,768

A total of nine teams paid competitive balance tax in 2025, including the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Padres, Astros, Red Sox, and Rangers.

The Dodgers surpassed the third threshold of $281 million, which in addition to the elevated tax rate comes with the extra penalty of their first draft pick in 2026 dropping 10 slots, which was also the case for Los Angeles in the 2022 draft, 2023 draft, and 2025 draft as well.

Adding Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow on big deals and extending Will Smith for 10 years prior to the 2024 season ensured the Dodgers would be paying the luxury tax for the foreseeable future, a trend that continued last offseason by signing Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Teoscar Hernández, and Tommy Edman, and this month with Edwin Díaz.

The Dodgers have 15 players under contract for 2026, and adding in assumptions for minor leaguers on the 40-man roster, the pre-arbitration bonus pool, and standard team benefit costs, the estimated payroll next season for CBT purposes is already over $315 million, and that’s before the four remaining players eligible for salary arbitration plus filling out the rest of the roster.

The first CBT threshold is $244 million in 2026 – the final season of the current collective bargaining agreement – with the fourth and highest threshold at $304 million.

Guggenheim Partners has owned the Dodgers since May 2012. In the 13 full seasons under this group, beginning in 2013, the Dodgers have paid the competitive balance tax 10 times, averaging $272.9 million in payroll per season with a total tax paid of $506.6 million. Both of those figures lead MLB in that span, with the New York Yankees second in each category, totaling $299.6 million in tax with an average payroll of $249.6 million.

Year	CBT threshold	LA payroll	Tax	Rate
2013	$178,000,000	$243,234,050	$11,415,959	17.5%
2014	$189,000,000	$277,737,083	$26,621,125	30.0%
2015	$189,000,000	$298,320,297	$43,728,119	40.0%
2016	$189,000,000	$252,551,634	$31,775,817	50.0%
2017	$195,000,000	$253,633,893	$36,209,572	61.8%
2018	$197,000,000	$195,039,730	$0	0.0%
2019	$206,000,000	$204,918,530	$0	0.0%
2020	$208,000,000	$204,653,651	$0	0.0%
2021	$210,000,000	$285,599,944	$32,649,965	43.2%
2022	$230,000,000	$293,330,382	$32,397,344	51.2%
2023	$233,000,000	$268,198,867	$19,423,297	55.2%
2024	$237,000,000	$353,015,360	$103,016,896	88.8%
2025	$241,000,000	$417,341,608	$169,375,768	96.0%

Competitive balance tax payments are due to Major League Baseball by January 21. The first $3.5 million of the total tax collected is used to defray costs associated with teams’ funding of the players benefit plans. The rest is divided as follows, per the collective bargaining agreement:

(a) 50% of the remaining proceeds collected for each Contract Year, with accrued interest, shall be used to fund contributions to the Players’ individual retirement accounts, as provided in the Major League Baseball Players Benefit Plan Agreements.

(b) The other 50% of the remaining proceeds collected for each Contract Year, with accrued interest, shall be used to fund a Supplemental Commissioner’s Discretionary Fund.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-payroll/108038/dodgers-payroll-competitive-balance-tax-2025

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Clayton Kershaw should play for Team USA

Clayton Kershaw has ridden off into the sunset as an unlikely back-to-back champion. Normally, athletes who linger in their respective sports do not receive the fairytale ending they were promised as children.

As players have started to announce whether they will participate in the World Baseball Classic, while sifting through old essays for follow-up, I noticed something I had written about Clayton Kershaw two years ago.

If Kershaw wants to play in the WBC, now is the time.​

Kershaw was stymied from participating in 2023’s World Baseball Classic due to an insurance issue. Namely, due to his injury history, no one would insure Kershaw’s contract in the unfortunate circumstances of new-Dodger Edwin Diaz back in 2023.

With Kershaw’s retirement, the insurance problem is now moot. MLB player contracts are guaranteed and as a retired dad, Kershaw’s time is his own. While Kershaw is under no obligation to anyone apart from his family to do anything at the moment, if he wanted to call Manager Mark DeRosa and say, “Hey, I want to play baseball for my country,” now is the opportunity.

Granted, Kershaw has likely settled into Dad mode, helping his wife, Ellen, and embracing life at home with his family. That said, the Kershaws are expecting their fifth child in early 2026. No one would fault Kershaw for staying at home or enjoying retirement instead of playing for Team USA at the 2026 WBC.

Still, Kershaw was animated on the subject back in 2023:

“I’m not going to be able to play in the WBC. It’s super disappointing. We tried a lot of different things. All sides really tried to make it work,” Kershaw said Friday. “Nothing is wrong with me. It just didn’t work out. I really wanted to do it. I really wanted to be a part of that group. It was probably my last chance to get to do it, so I really wanted to do it, but it just didn’t work out for a number of reasons. Disappointing, but it’s okay. I’ll be ready for the season.”

The opportunity is likely there if he wants it.

Other Dodgers bowing in and out​

As has been reported elsewhere, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will play for Team Japan in the upcoming WBC, while Roki Sasaki will not participate. Will Smith will play for Team USA behind Cal Raleigh.

Whether Ohtani will embrace his Two-Way Player status or simply hit is probably the most significant question mark of the WBC. Dave Roberts has previously publicly discussed the discussion with the Associated Press:

“I don’t want to be dismissive of what it means to them representing their country,” Roberts said. “I know the organization doesn’t but I do think that the conversations need to be had, will be had, as far as what each individual is taking on and whatever role that they might be taking on and what potential costs there might be. … But you can’t debate the emotion, what a player might feel of this potential opportunity.”

Mookie Betts announced to Adin Ross on the Kick streaming platform that he would not participate under fear of pain of divorce in the upcoming WBC due to a likely schedule conflict with the birth of his third child. Why Mookie Betts and other ballplayers are interacting with someone like Ross is a larger question for another day.

BREAKING: Mookie Betts reveals he will not play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic as the birth of his third child is expected around the same time

“She (Brianna Betts) said she’d divorce me if I wasn’t there.”

: Adin Ross/Kick pic.twitter.com/TaBGGdej7u

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 18, 2025

Freddie Freeman’s status for Team Canada is in doubt, per Greg Hamilton and Ernie Whitt of Baseball Canada, as reported by Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Freddie Freeman wants to play for Canada at the WBC per Greg Hamilton & Ernie Whitt of Baseball Canada.

Freeman dealing with "a little bit of a health issue" after the wear and tear of a long season per Hamilton but "he does want to do it, he really wants to play."

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 9, 2025

Freeman is currently dealing with both the wear and tear of the successful championship defense and an undisclosed health issue. Freeman has played for Team Canada since the 2017 WBC tournament.

Last month, two weeks after the World Series, Kiké Hernández announced on his Instagram account that he underwent left elbow surgery, which would preclude his participation with Team Puerto Rico for the upcoming tournament.

“I played [until], basically, I felt like I couldn’t even hold the bat anymore,” Hernández said upon his return from the IL. “And I mean, it was kind of dumb on my end. But I’ve always felt that if I feel like I could play, I’m not going to go on the IL. By the time we went in for the MRI, it was a little too late.”

We will continue to monitor whether additional players (current or retired) opt to participate in the World Baseball Classic and will update accordingly.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/world-ba...participation-kershaw-betts-freeman-hernandez

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers sign Chuckie Robinson, Carlos Duran to minor league deals

In the last week or so the Dodgers have signed a trio of players to minor league contracts, per the MLB.com transaction logs. Nick Frasso returning after getting non-tendered was already reported, but a couple others have returned as well — catcher Chuckie Robinson and pitcher Carlos Duran.

Robinson had a busy year transactionally, spending time in three organizations. The Dodgers claimed the veteran catcher off waivers from the Angels in May, then lost him on waivers to the Atlanta Braves in September. While with the Dodgers he had two stints on the 40-man roster, and hit .254/.337/.348 with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Robinson started 41 games behind the plate for the Comets, and eight more at designated hitter.

When Dodgers catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing got injured on the same road trip in September, Robinson got called up to the majors and caught one game for Los Angeles, on September 15, and batted twice.

Atlanta outrighted Robinson off the 40-man roster on November 6, and he elected free agency. He signed back with the Dodgers on Thursday, four days after his 31st birthday.

Duran originally signed with the Dodgers in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic, and pitched parts of six seasons for them in the minors until he was traded to the A’s for outfielder Esteury Ruiz on April 2.

Duran made his major league debut on May 22 in Sacramento against the Angels, but he walked three and allowed a single among his five batters faced, with three runs allowed. The A’s designated Duran for assignment in June and he spent the rest of the season in Triple-A, putting up a 5.25 ERA in 37 games, with 59 strikeouts and 34 walks in 58 1/3 innings.

The now-24-year-old Duran was a minor league free agent at the end of the season.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-minor-leagues/108559/dodgers-chuckie-robinson-carlos-duran

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Matt Sauer

Matt Sauer got the chance to play for his hometown team, appearing in 10 games for the Dodgers and even making a start while pitchers such as Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and Blake Snell were all on the injured list.

A native of Santa Maria and a former second round pick in 2017 by the New York Yankees, Sauer was a Rule 5 pick by the Kansas City Royals, where he made his big league debut in 2024 and struggled across 16 1/3 innings while posting a 7.71 ERA. He was later returned to the Yankees in May, and became a free agent following their World Series loss to the Dodgers.

Sauer joined the Dodgers on a minor league deal back on Jan. 5 and was elevated to the big league roster for the Tokyo Series, only to be demoted back to Triple-A once the Dodgers returned to the United States. Sauer was called back up in early April as a corresponding move to Blake Snell landing on the injured list due to left shoulder inflammation, and he made his Dodgers debut on April 7, tossing 1 2/3 innings of relief in a loss to the Washington Nationals. He was once again demoted to Triple-A the following day and didn’t receive another call-up for the next three weeks.

As Tyler Glasnow landed on the injured list due to back tightness, Sauer was once again promoted, this time getting a longer leash with the big league club. He tossed five solid innings of relief in a win over the Miami Marlins and recorded a four innings save against Miami in his next outing. Sauer made his first big league start on May 15 against the Athletics, holding them to two runs over four innings of work with the Dodger offense giving him an abundance of run support in a 19-2 victory.

Sauer bounced between the big leagues and Triple-A sporadically over the next three months, making another two appearances in June and another in August before the Dodgers designated him for assignment on Sept. 6 and being released four days later. He rejoined the Dodgers on another minor league deal on Sept. 18, and spent the remainder of the season with the Oklahoma City Comets. He was released by Oklahoma City on Nov. 4 shortly after the Dodgers repeated as champions.

2025 particulars​

Age: 26

Stats: 2-1, 1 SV, 6.37 ERA, 1.449 WHIP, 5.16 FIP, 24 K, 8 BB, 29 2/3 IP, 66 ERA+, -0.7 rWAR, -0.1 fWAR

Salary: unknown

Game of the year​

Sauer’s best game of the 2025 season came on May 7 against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Sauer pitching four innings while allowing just one hit and one unearned run, striking out four and walking one as he picked up his first career save in a 10-1 Dodgers victory.

Roster status​

Matt Sauer will pitch for the KT Wiz of the KBO for the 2026 season.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108360/matt-sauer-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Chris Stratton

For those needing a dramatis personae, or those who mistook Chris Stratton for Andrew Heaney (oops), Stratton is a journeyman pitcher who was drafted by and debuted with the San Francisco Giants before bouncing around the league. Stratton broke into the league as a six-pitch starter, but shifted to the bullpen once joining the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2019.

Stratton started the year in the Kansas City Royals organization and generally underwhelmed in a low-leverage role. Over the first three months of the season, Stratton appeared in 12 games, pitching 17 innings with a 7.94 ERA and a 4.19 FIP. He struck out 16 while walking eight. Stratton also allowed 29 hits while having a BABIP of .443.

On May 18, the Royals designated Stratton for assignment, and he was released four days later.

On May 25, the Dodgers gave Stratton a shot, as the team needed bullpen coverage. Accordingly, Bobby Miller was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and J.P. Feyereisen was designated for assignment.

On May 26, Stratton spoke to Kirsten Watson about joining the Dodgers.

New Dodger signee Chris Stratton speaks with @kirsten_watson ahead of today's matchup in Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/eTXfJucY8V

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) May 26, 2025

Stratton did not see any action until the New York Yankees series at Dodger Stadium about a week later in two low-leverage appearances. You might remember one of those games as the day the Dodgers literally beat Aaron Judge 18-2. Stratton gave up one of the two to Judge.

View Link

On June 2, the Dodgers designated Stratton for assignment, as the team needed replacement arms in the bullpen. Out went Noah Davis and Stratton, and in came Will Klein and Ryan Loutos. On June 5, rather than accept an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City, Stratton elected for free agency.

Normally, this point is where these types of reviews would usually end. But something odd happened, as the Dodgers were cycling through relievers during the early part of the summer with little effect.

The next day, Stratton channeled his inner Billy Preston and came right back to the major league club. Out with Loutos, in went Stratton for Round 2.

Stratton made one more appearance in a mop-up role against the St. Louis Cardinals that very day to close out the game. Wilson Contreras concluded the scoring that afternoon.

View Link

One thing you can say about Stratton is that his allowed homers in 2025 are certainly not wall scrapers.

The next day, the Chris Stratton Encore came to an end when the Dodgers designated Stratton for assignment for the second time in a week. On June 9, rather than accept another assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City, Stratton again elected for free agency, where he remained for the rest of the season.

No word yet on whether Stratton will hang it up or give it another go in 2026. Regardless, he will likely get a championship ring, a full share of playoff money, and serve as a trivia answer for those who obsess over fringe roster moves from the 2025 season.

2025 particulars​

Age: 35

Stats: 0-0, 3 games with LA, 4 IP, 3 R, 2 HR, 6 K, 2 BB, 6.75 ERA, 8.14 FIP, 5.33 xERA, 1.250 WHIP, 0 rWAR, -0.1 fWAR

Salary: $4.5 million (with the Dodgers responsible for an unknown prorated portion of the league minimum)

Game of the year​

Stratton faced the Yankees for the second time on June 1, where he struck out four in two innings of mop-up work.

View Link

Roster status​

Stratton is a free agent.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/107637/chris-stratton-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Hunter Feduccia

Hunter Feduccia in 2025 finally got his chance at extended major league time, but it took getting traded from the Dodgers for the opportunity.

The 12th-round pick in 2018 out of LSU got one brief run with the Dodgers this April, called up for six games as Freddie Freeman finished off his early-season injured-list stint. He did not see time behind the plate in the two games he played, but did pinch hit twice and played two innings at first base.

The third catcher on the Dodgers depth chart has been as busy as the Maytag repairman mostly since Will Smith took over behind the plate in 2019. But this season saw a shakeup, first with top prospect Dalton Rushing called up in May to replace longtime backup Austin Barnes.

Feduccia for his part did well in Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .290/.399/.467 with a 124 wRC+ in 79 games. His opportunity came at the trade deadline, when the Dodgers got involved in the Reds acquiring pitcher Zach Littell from the Rays. In the three-team deal, the Dodgers sent Feduccia to Tampa and in return got catcher Ben Rortvedt — who took over behind the plate for four weeks in September and October while Smith and Rushing were injured — 6’10 reliever Paul Gervase, and minor league pitcher Adam Serwinowski, who is already one of the Dodgers’ best prospects.

Being with the Rays got Feduccia some real time in the majors, and he started 28 of Tampa’s final 52 games behind the plate. He got 13 hits in 86 at-bats, including five doubles, with 14 walks.

2025 particulars​

Age: 28

Stats: 2 games, 0-for-2 with a walk for Dodgers; .151/.265/.209 in 102 PA for Rays

Salary: unknown

Game of the year​

With only two games with the Dodgers, we’ll go with a Triple-A game here. Feduccia on July 22 had four hits, including a double for Oklahoma City, driving in two runs in a road win at the Reno Aces.

Chef Feduccia

Feduccia is cooking as he picks up his 3rd hit and 2nd RBI! pic.twitter.com/HZ92nf05sh

— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) July 23, 2025

Roster status​

Feduccia is on the Rays’ 40-man roster, and has one option year remaining.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108067/hunter-feduccia-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

Dodgers notes: Mookie Betts, Justin Dean, Munetaka Murakami

The baseball world isn’t used to players appearing with widely-known influencers on streaming platforms, but Mookie Betts was handed the opportunity for fans to get to know a bit more about him.

Betts appeared on a live stream with Adin Ross and N3on, two controversial streamers who operate on Kick, and they discussed whether hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports, balancing baseball with personal life, and Betts’ feelings on playing both in Boston and Los Angeles. Former Dodger outfielder Justin Dean joined mid-stream, and when asked about the wedged ball in Game 6 of the World Series, Dean explained the situation and whether or not the outcome of the game (and series) would’ve changed had it not been for his awareness.

“I don’t really know how it popped up in my head. I guess it’s like a red flag, because [Barger] hit the ball really hard, and then it didn’t move after it hit the wall so I’m like, ‘Alright, it’s gotta be stuck’… It would’ve been harder to review it and overturn it in our favor, so it would’ve sucked.”

Links​

For any Dodgers fans hoping to see the team make another blockbuster signing for a free agent out of the NPB, those hopes are dwindling by the day, as Munetaka Murakami’s signing window comes down to the wire on Monday.

So far, as Mark Feinsand of MLB.com notes, there are six teams interested in the Japanese slugger, including division rivals in the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, but Feinsand tweets that the Chicago White Sox have recently emerged as a potential suitor for Murakami after having finished dead last in the AL Central two years in a row.

Joe Trezza of MLB.com breaks down the top prospects for the Dodgers and which of them have the highest individual skill sets. Notable outfield prospects such as Josue de Paula, Zyhir Hope, Kendall George and Edgardo Quintero all rank first between hit tool, power tool, speed tool and arm tool respectively, while shortstop Noah Miller ranks first in defensive tool with a 70 grade.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-...tts-justin-dean-munetaka-murakami-farm-system

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Emmet Sheehan

As a 23-year-old in 2023, Emmet Sheehan made a statement while pitching for the Dodgers with an impressive MLB debut, no-hitting the San Francisco Giants for six innings in June. He finished that season with a 4.92 ERA, but started 2024 on the injured list with right forearm inflammation before eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Emmet Sheehan’s return to the mound from May 2024 Tommy John surgery couldn’t have gone much better. In 2025, the right-hander returned to the mound for the Dodgers in mid-June, and he proved his worth and earned a key spot on the roster.

Upon his return to the Dodgers, Sheehan made significant contributions and became an essential source of organizational depth beyond their main starting pitchers. Sheehan’s versatility as both a starter and reliever proved valuable down the stretch and deep into the postseason.

Sheehan started 12 regular-season games and worked out of the bullpen in his other three appearances. He continued to work and build upon his solid return throughout the summer. He finished the regular season strong with a 2.82 ERA, 89 strikeouts, and a 0.97 WHIP in 73 1/3 innings. His starts against the Cincinnati Reds on August 25 and against the San Francisco Giants on September 21 stand out as highlights.

Emmet Sheehan matches his career high with a 10-strikeout performance pic.twitter.com/HNkudnj8GN

— MLB (@MLB) August 26, 2025

Sheehan rebounded quickly and got back to pitching for the Dodgers just in time for their World Series run. Upon his return, his 30.6% strikeout rate impressed. Many of Sheehan’s other stats including chase rate (32.8%) and whiff rate (32.9%) reflected his effectiveness since coming back from major surgery. His slider against right-handers and his changeup kept batters at bay.

In the postseason, Sheehan transitioned from a starting role to a key bullpen arm for the Dodgers. He started his 2025 playoff campaign shakily, but he bounced back with strong performances, contributing to key wins, including Game 7 of the World Series.

View Link

Sheehan described the Dodgers’ wild, extra-inning win in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series against the Blue Jays as “the craziest game he’s played in.” In that game, he pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief before Clayton Kershaw’s last-ever appearance, and the Dodgers eventually came away with the victory after 18 unforgettable innings.

Going into the 2026 season, the Dodgers have one of the best, if not the best, rotations in baseball with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki already penciled in.

Sheehan figures to be in the Dodgers’ starting rotation mix if built up as such or as a high-leverage reliever out of the bullpen. Glasnow and Snell have been injury-prone, and Ohtani is coming off his first full season as a starting pitcher and full-time DH since 2023 with the Angels.

Champ @Emmet_Sheehan

via @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/zeRl7WZXvF

— Boston College Baseball (@BCBirdBall) November 2, 2025

2025 particulars​

Age: 25

Stats: 6-3, 15 games (12 starts), 73 1/3 IP, 2.82 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 0.986 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 1.0 bWAR, 2.1 fWAR

Postseason: 8.59 ERA, six games, 7 1/3 IP, 13 H, 7 R, 5 BB, 6 K

Salary: Base Salary: Approximately $780,000.

Bonus Pool: Received $248,666 from the performance-based bonus pool

Game of the year​

Sheehan pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief during the 18-inning marathon of Game 3 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Emmet Sheehan finishes off a second scoreless inning! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/uwlrnu42uh

— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2025

Roster status​

Sheehan is under team control and will be eligible for arbitration in 2027, becoming a free agent in 2030. He has two option years remaining.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108590/emmet-sheehan-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Dalton Rushing

Dalton Rushing got his chance to earn some time in the big leagues in 2025, serving as the understudy to Will Smith after the Dodgers released Austin Barnes and platooning with Ben Rortvedt while Smith dealt with a hand injury.

Rushing was ranked as the Dodgers’ no. 1 prospect entering the 2025 season, and it wasn’t a matter of if he would make his big league debut, it was a matter of when. Austin Barnes had been the Dodgers’ go-to back-up catcher behind the likes of Yasmani Grandal and Will Smith since 2017, but an underwhelming start to the season prompted the Dodgers to designate him for assignment on May 14, opening the door for Rushing to take his place.

Rushing made his big league debut during the Dodgers’ 19-2 romp of the Athletics on May 15, registering his first hit with a single up the middle and finishing the game going 2-4 with a walk and three runs scored. His first big league home run also came in another Dodgers slugfest, this time doing so against position player Pablo Reyes in an 18-2 win over the New York Yankees.

Rushing continued to serve as Smith’s back-up over the next three months of the season, getting the occasional start as a means to conserve Smith’s health and productivity heading into the postseason. After a nice first sample of games in May to begin his career, Rushing struggled to adapt to major league pitching throughout the middle of the season, as he slashed just .163/.233/.250 over his next 35 games with a pair of home runs and 14 RBI, striking out 37 times and walking eight times over 103 plate appearances.

The Dodgers catching depth suffered quite the blow when Will Smith took a foul ball off the bat of Nick Gonzales of the Pittsburgh Pirates to his right hand, and he would miss the remainder of the regular season. Both Rushing and recent trade acquisition Ben Rortvedt served in a platoon role to close the season, and Rushing performed well in Smith’s absence, slashing .268/.310/.464 with a home run and three RBI over his final 11 games. Rushing served as the back-up to Rortvedt during the Wild Card series against the Cincinnati Reds and once Will Smith returned for the NLDS, Rushing saw barely any playing time, only receiving one at-bat in a Game 3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

There were some visible growing pains for Rushing, as among the 13 Dodgers hitters with at least 100 regular season plate appearances, his 37.4 strikeout percent and his 62 wRC+ both ranked as worst on the team. There are still facets to his game to be excited about for the future, as he posted above league average rates for average exit velocity, barrel rate, launch angle sweet-spot percentage, and ranked fourth on the Dodgers in chase rate behind Will Smith, Alex Freeland and Alex Call at just 19.6 percent.

2025 particulars​

Age: 24

Stats: .204/..258/.324, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 5 2B, 15 R, 62 wRC+, 0.2 rWAR, -0.1 fWAR; Postseason: 0-1, K

Salary: $760,000

Game of the year​

Rushing had six multi-hit games during the regular season, and his best performance came in a 13-7 win over the Washington Nationals on June 22, reaching base in every plate appearance and finishing the game going 2-2 with a double, two walks, and three runs scored.

Roster status​

Dalton Rushing has 136 days of big league service time and is on the Dodgers 40-man roster.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108447/dalton-rushing-2025-dodgers-review

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

All in the cards

Once again, we are on holiday autopilot, which means that barring the unexpected, it should be a very quiet week. Although, Munnetaka Murakami signed with the Chicago White Sox on a prove-it, two-year, $34 million deal on Sunday.

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This essay consists of a bunch of card-and-ball-related stubs that would be too short to merit their own essay.

The baseball card market goes Ohtani mad​

If there is one thing I have learned while covering Shohei Ohtani over the past two years, it is that anything with his name on it at auction tends to get stupidly expensive, stupidly quickly.

On Thursday, December 19th, an Ohtani Topps Gold Logoman autograph card was sold for $3 million (including fees), shattering the previous record for an auctioned Ohtani card of $1.067 million (including fees) set in 2024. The 2025 card is a one-of-a-kind item, including a signature and the gold MVP patch from Ohtani’s jersey on April 29 against the Marlins, when he homered for the first time since becoming a father.

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Per Bryan Horowitz of MLB.com, Minneapolis residents Pete Anderson and his twin sons Colton and Henry pulled the card and opted to put it up for auction. Considering what the previous record card sold for, it is life-changing money.

For contrast and context, on November 21, New York Knicks player Karl Anthony Towns pulled a Logoman one-of-one card featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which sold for $72,000 at auction after the World Series.

Seeing how players like Will Klein and others are embracing collecting and hunting baseball cards, the situation proves that time is a flat circle in this respect, as everything cycles from boom to bust.

Final Dodgers One Piece PSA​

Back in July, the Dodgers collaborated with the hit anime One Piece and gave away a commemorative straw hat and a trading card from the One Piece Trading Card Game.

Per Brooks Peck of The Athletic, one such card from that sold for $14,999.99 on eBay. Per The Athletic, the card has been graded more than 7,000 times by industry leader Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), with more than 6,000 examples earning the top PSA 10 grade, which were selling for more than $2,000 in November, while ungraded One Piece Dodger promo cards were selling for as much as $1,000.

Mr. Peck also provided information on how this card sold for a record $14,999.99. The card was graded through Beckett Grading Services (BGS) instead of PSA and earned a BGS 10 Pristine Black Label, which collectors consider the most difficult grade to attain and carries a premium value. For the approximate 1,500 examples of the Dodgers One Piece card graded by Beckett at the time of the article, only 50 have achieved Black Label status.

This story is not to say that the promo you might have can suddenly be sold for $14,999.99. First, there is a bubble in collective card games like One Piece and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Second, if the card is not sealed in pristine condition, the value drops considerably.

So, dear reader, if you still have a sealed promo card from that night, you might want to keep track of it or sell it before the trading card bubble bursts.

Nachos or a one-in-a-lifetime-ball​

Larry Holder of The Athletic gave a fun account of an interesting problem: how does one authenticate a home run ball that literally left the stadium? On October 17, Ohtani had the best playoff game in history as the Dodgers clinched a World Series berth by single-handedly sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers out of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.

His second home run literally left Dodger Stadium, and the Dodgers put a plaque commemorating the feat in the days following the game.

Fan Carlo Mendoza was eating nachos in the center field plaza and saw the ball land near him. Per Mr. Holder, Mr. Mendoza had a choice:

Enjoy some delicious Dodger Stadium nachos or launch into the bushes in the center-field concourse for a Shohei Ohtani home run ball.

Safe to say Mendoza made the right decision by ditching the nachos to snag a piece of arguably the greatest single-game performance in MLB history during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ win over the Milwaukee Brewers. And that call could end up being a seven-figure, life-changing decision.

Mendoza chose the ball. Unlike other famous Ohtani home run balls (see: first 50/50 home run ball scrum in Miami, Florida), Mendoza scraped up his leg but otherwise got the ball with little incident.

Since the ball left the stadium, the authenticators at Dodger Stadium would not authenticate the ball. Mendoza had the quick thinking to take photos of himself with the ball and his MLB Passport. Moreover, Dodger Stadium staff did stamp the second Ohtani home run ball with the date, and the auction house had Mendoza sign a notarized affidavit and take a polygraph, which he passed, to verify the ball’s authenticity.

The ball ultimately sold for $270,000 at auction.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-ange...084/ohtani-one-piece-cards-polygraph-yamamoto

 

[Los Angeles Dodgers]

2025 Dodgers season review: Alex Freeland

Switch-hitting Alex Freeland made his way to the majors in 2025, which qualifies this as a successful season for the 23-year-old shortstop.

Freeland was called up to the Dodgers on July 29, the club’s second draft pick from 2022 to reach the majors. Freeland, a third-round pick that year out of Central Florida, was preceded by catcher Dalton Rushing, the club’s second-round pick that year, by two and a half months.

Freeland is the fourth Dodgers player to wear uniform number 76, joining relievers Duaner Sanchez (2004), Matt West (2015), and Josh Sborz (2019-20).

Getting the call to Cincinnati — where the Dodgers were playing at the time — capped a strong rise for Freeland, who began the 2024 season by repeating High-A Great Lakes. He quickly that season made his way to Double-A Tulsa and thrived at both levels, earning a call-up to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he spent the final six weeks. Freeland showing some power, being a switch-hitter, and playing a capable defense at shortstop gave him a similar rise on prospect lists. Entering 2025, Freeland was named to six top-100 lists, ranging from 35th to 82nd, averaging 57th.

When Baseball America updated their prospect rankings in July, Freeland was still in the top 100, but fell from 35th to 56th overall.

“This seems to be a big drop,” J.J. Cooper wrote at the time, “but it’s more of an acceptance of multiple pieces of scouting feedback indicating that Freeland is a solid player, but without the tools to be an impact regular.”

Being a solid player can still be quite useful, and at the end of July the Dodgers were without Max Muncy and Kiké Hernández, needing all the help they can get in the infield. A shortstop by trade, Freeland filled in at third base and second base in the majors, and started 25 of 31 games before the cavalry returned.

Freeland held his own for a while, including home runs in back-to-back games, but ended his first major league stint with a brutal 2-for-26 stretch with 15 strikeouts and one walk that torpedoed his final numbers, which included a .601 OPS and 36-percent strikeout rate. He finished up his season in Triple-A, and on the season hit .263/.384/451 with a 115 wRC+ for the Comets.

Between Triple-A and the majors, Freeland hit better while batting left-handed (.266/.387/.453) than batting right-handed (.207/.321/.356), which has been the case in each of the last three seasons. Both of his home runs with the Dodgers came from the left side.

Holding your own against right-handed pitchers is a good place to be in a league full of them, and being able to play all over the infield is quite valuable, so expect Freeland to get more chances going forward.

2025 particulars​

Age: 23

Stats: 29 G, .190/.292/.310, 73 wRC+, 2 HR, 2 doubles, triple, 11 walks in 97 PA

Salary: $760,000, pro-rated for his time in the majors (roughly $155,268)

Game of the year​

Freeland homered on consecutive days in Sn Diego on August 22-23, but his best game with the Dodgers came one day before in Denver. On August 21, Freeland started at third base and later shifted to second. At the plate he had three hits in a win over the Rockies, including his first major league triple and an RBI double off the wall.

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Roster status​

Freeland has 38 days of major league service time and two option years remaining, having used an option year in 2025.

Source: https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/108069/alex-freeland-2025-dodgers-review