Dodgers Bolster Bullpen with Kirby Yates Signing
In a move that has the baseball world buzzing, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reached an agreement with right-handed reliever Kirby Yates on a one-year, $13 million contract, according to sources who spoke with ESPN. This signing is yet another step in the Dodgers’ quest to assemble a superteam poised to dominate the 2025 season and emerge as heavy favorites for the World Series.
Yates, at 37 years old, is coming off a stellar season where he was one of the top relievers in the league. He posted a remarkable 1.17 ERA over 61⅔ innings, striking out 85 batters while walking 27, and successfully saving 33 games for Texas. His addition to the Dodgers’ bullpen is significant, as it already boasts the likes of newly acquired closer Tanner Scott, re-signed fireman Blake Treinen, and returning talents such as right-hander Michael Kopech and left-hander Alex Vesia.
But the Dodgers’ pitching prowess doesn’t stop at the bullpen. Their starting rotation is equally formidable, featuring stars like Shohei Ohtani, free agent signing Blake Snell, and right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Landon Knack. The likely return of left-hander Clayton Kershaw further solidifies their status as having the deepest pitching staff in baseball, as they aim to become the first repeat World Series champions in a quarter-century.
Yates’ journey to the majors is a testament to perseverance. A late bloomer, he didn’t make it to a big league roster until he was 27. Despite this, he has carved out an impressive career, saving 95 games and earning two All-Star selections, including one last year. His ability to rack up strikeouts is particularly noteworthy, as he achieves this without relying on a blazing fastball. Instead, his weapon of choice is a devastating split-fingered fastball. His strikeout rate of 12.5 per nine innings ranks sixth all-time among pitchers with at least 400 innings, trailing only the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, Craig Kimbrel, and former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
The financial implications of Yates’ $13 million salary are significant, pushing the Dodgers’ offseason spending to over $450 million guaranteed. This includes the free agent signings of Snell, Scott, Treinen, outfielders Teoscar Hernandez and Michael Conforto, infielder Hyeseong Kim, and a contract extension for super-utility man Tommy Edman.
With a luxury-tax payroll projected to be around $390 million, the Dodgers are set to exceed the $241 million threshold, resulting in a total payroll likely surpassing $500 million. This level of spending has not gone unnoticed, with other team owners, such as the New York Yankees’ Hal Steinbrenner, expressing their views. Steinbrenner recently told YES Network, “it’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kinds of things they’re doing.”
- Yates’ contract includes $500,000 bonuses for reaching 50- and 55-appearance thresholds.
- The Dodgers’ offseason spending exceeds $450 million guaranteed.
- Los Angeles’ luxury-tax payroll is projected to be around $390 million.
As the Dodgers continue to build their powerhouse roster, the baseball world watches with anticipation to see if their investments will pay off with another World Series title.
Originally Written by: Jeff Passan
