The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced Clayton Kershaw was re-signed to a one-year contract, and they reportedly have agreed to deals with Reyes Moronta and Hanser Alberto as well.
Moronta joined the organization on a Minor League contract that includes a non-roster invite to Spring Training. Alberto is said to have signed a Major League deal with a team option for 2023. Alberto signed with the Texas Rangers out of the Dominican Republic in 2009 and made his MLB debut with the team six years later.
Alberto has appeared in parts of six Major League seasons, and spent last year with the Kansas City Royals.
Prior to the Dodgers signing the 29-year-old, they pursued fellow utilityman Josh Harrison, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
Per sources, prior to agreeing with Alberto, the Dodgers were pursuing Josh Harrison, who went to the White Sox. https://t.co/FlDpUqta1M
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 13, 2022
Harrison agreed to a reported one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox prior to the Dodgers’ signing of of Alberto. Harrison’s deal includes a team option for 2023 and $1.5 million buyout. The value of Alberto’s contract with the Dodgers has not yet been reported.
The two players share similarities in being able to play multiple positions and though neither is a prolific batter, both are capable of putting the ball in play.
Harrison hit a combined .279/.341/.400 with 33 doubles, eight home runs and 60 RBI for the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics last season.
Alberto batted /270/.291/.402 with 20 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBI over 103 games with the Royals in 2021. The bulk of his career success has come against left-handed pitching, whom Alberto has a career .333 batting average and .815 on-base plus slugging percentage against.
Dodgers lose Kelly to White Sox
Along with a rumored free agency target in Harrison signing with the White Sox, the Dodgers also saw Joe Kelly join Chicago.
The right-hander had expressed interest in remaining with the Dodgers, but agreed to a two-year contract with the White Sox on Saturday.
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