The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the offseason with decisions to make on a pair of team options for Austin Barnes and Miguel Rojas.
Unsurprisingly, they exercised Barnes’ $3.5 million club option, locking in their backup catcher for another year. The Dodgers also picked up Rojas’ $5 million option rather than buying him out for $1 million.
Rojas is now set to return to the Dodgers for a fourth season. He began his career with the team in 2014 before finding his way back to the organization prior to the 2023 season via trade from the Miami Marlins.
Rojas expressed gratitude to the Dodgers for exercising his club option and is looking forward to helping the team defend their World Series title in 2025, via “The Chris Rose Rotation” show:
“Man, happy and satisfied. It was a long year. Not just for us as a team playing to November, but for me especially, because the things I had to overcome with my body to be able to play. … When Brandon Gomes called me and said, ‘I don’t want you to wait until the day the options are picked up or declined. I want you to know we’re going to pick up your option and I want you to go home and enjoy this moment, don’t worry about what free agency is going to look like for you because you’re going to be a Dodger next year.’
“After that, Dave Roberts sent me a text message saying, ‘Buddy, we’re going to be together next year. We’re going to run it back. We’re going to be a champion again.’ That was so special to me. It made me feel special and feel good. After all the sacrifices we made this year as a team and person, it’s kind of a reward for everything I did on the field and off the field for this organization.”
Rojas remaining with the Dodgers was widely expected as he put together a resurgent offensive season and established himself as a valued clubhouse leader.
The 35-year-old batted .283/.337/.410 with 21 doubles, six home runs and 36 RBI over 103 games this year. He took over starting duties at shortstop in June after Mookie Betts fractured his left hand but later dealt with a left adductor injury that ultimately became a sports hernia.
Rojas will presumably return to a utility role in 2025 as the Dodgers have Tommy Edman to play shortstop, or will address the position through a new addition.
Miguel Rojas needs surgery
After aggravating his injury during the National League Division Series, Rojas was left off the Dodgers roster for the Championship Series. He returned for the World Series but only appeared in one game.
“It’s a sports hernia surgery, so I have to get it repaired,” Rojas said of his offseason outlook. “I’ve been talking to people who had this surgery before a little bit and trying to touch base. But I need surgery as soon as it’s possible.”
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