The Dodgers have been one of the most active teams during the offseason with the recent additions of Corey Knebel via trade and Tommy Kahnle via free agency. This just further bolsters the bullpen. In addition to adding those key bullpen pieces, the Dodgers offseason has been full with countless rumors spewing out linking the Dodgers to many free agents and potential trade targets along with a few minor league deals. One of the most recent offseason moves the Dodgers did was just 3 days ago, the Dodgers re-signed Blake Treinen to a two-year $17.5 Million Dollar contract with a club option for 2023 worth $8 Million Dollars. This is after Treinen had a bounce-back season in 2020, but what does this mean for the Dodgers and how they go about adding key pieces to make the bullpen spectacular.
The reigning champs are looking to repeat in the 2021 season and adding Blake Treinen further solidifies the bullpen for another potential World Series run, but after the 2020 season, the Dodgers had a few relievers become free agents, that includes the names of Blake Treinen, Jake McGee, Alex Wood, and Pedro Baez. It’s unlikely the Dodgers bring back Alex Wood and Pedro Baez mainly because they weren’t performing well in the season but Jake McGee is more of a question mark especially after a bounce-back season in 2020, but the Dodgers do have a few other options on who they can sign to bolster the bullpen.
The Dodgers have been linked and are interested in a few free-agent relievers on the market. The first is former Indians southpaw Brad Hand who posted a 2.05 ERA, a 1.37 FIP, and a 0.773 WHIP, then there’s former A’s star closer Liam Hendriks who posted a 1.78 ERA, a 1.14 FIP, and a 0.671 WHIP, and the last option on the Dodgers radar is the former Padres closer Kirby Yates who only played 6 games and was out the rest of the season due to an elbow injury. Now this is where Blake Treinen’s signing comes into play, after the Dodgers signed Blake Treinen their interest in Brad Hand and Liam Hendriks increased but that was before hearing Liam Hendriks is looking for a four-year contract which the Dodgers aren’t willing to commit to because of Treinen’s contract making their interest in Hendriks “dissipate” according to recent reports.
This now brings Kirby Yates into the picture. After losing interest in Liam Hendriks the Dodgers turn their heads to former Padres closer Kirby Yates who they now have “significant interest” in. Kirby posted amazing numbers in 2019 but in 2020 due to a season-ending injury and surgery to come after he only played 6 games and posted horrible numbers, but again let’s not forget the spectacular performance he put on in 2019 which could make this signing a low-risk high reward signing for the Dodgers along with the fact it shouldn’t cost the Dodgers much to sign Yates due to his injury written season in 2020. The Dodgers could potentially be getting two more relievers for the price of one. With the Dodgers seemingly being out on Hendriks due to Treinen’s contract and the amount of time he wants this potentially sets up the Dodgers to get Brad Hand and Kirby Yates for the same price they would be paying Liam Hendriks. Another route the Dodgers can also go is resigning LHP Jake McGee after he posted a 2.66 ERA, a 1.67 FIP, and a 0.836 WHIP in the 2020 season, but whether or not the Dodgers actually decide to pull the plug and sign one or more of these relievers on the free-agent market remains to be seen.
