The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to be aggressive in free agency as they recently reached agreements with Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates to further bolster their bullpen.
Scott reportedly received a four-year, $72 million contract that includes a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred salary. The left-hander had long been a Dodgers target and both sides were seemingly motivated to work out a deal.
The reported signing of Yates was more of a surprise as the Dodgers had not necessarily been linked to him. Yates was considered a possible fallback option if Scott signed elsewhere.
The Dodgers moving ahead with also signing Yates appears to stem from team possibly being without Michael Kopech for the first month of the 2025 season due to a right forearm injury.
According to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times, Kopech is dealing with inflammation and a potential stint on the injured list would be more cautionary than anything else:
Kopech, meanwhile, could be in danger of missing the start of next season, according to USA Today, though that is considered only a precautionary potential measure as he deals with arm inflammation, a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly said.
Complete details of Kopech’s injury have not yet been confirmed by the team, but it was reported he pitched through the right forearm trouble during the postseason.
The Dodgers acquired Kopech from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team trade at the deadline last year and immediately established himself as a key contributor.
He went 4-0 with six saves, a 1.13 ERA, 2.54 FIP and 0.79 WHIP across 24 appearances for the Dodgers. The right-hander followed that by going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts over nine innings pitched in 10 games (one start) during the playoffs.
Along with Kopech being an apparent question mark, the Dodgers are also facing the reality of being without Brusdar Graterol for the first half of the 2025 season after undergoing right shoulder surgery.
Dodgers avoided arbitration with Michael Kopech
Kopech was among the Dodgers’ arbitration-eligible players tendered a contract at the deadline in November. He then went on to agree to a one-year, $5.2 million contract to avoid arbitration.
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