The Los Angeles Dodgers further bolstered their bullpen by signing Kirby Yates to a one-year, $13 million contract for the 2025 season.
The Dodgers’ deal with Yates was originally reported on Jan. 21, but had not been followed by any updates. There was an assumption that the team wanted to wait until the start of Spring Training to announce the deal, but Yates also had to pass his physical.
The right-hander has the potential to receive an extra $1 million in incentives if he makes at least 55 appearances this year.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, Yates also received a $3 million signing bonus in his contract with the Dodgers but did not receive and deferrals:
Breakdown of Kirby Yates’ one-year, $13 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, per source: $10 million in 2025. $3 million signing bonus. The deal does not contain any deferred money.
It includes $500,000 each for 50 and 55 relief appearances, as @FabianArdaya said.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) February 3, 2025
Yates is coming off an All-Star season for the Texas Rangers that saw him post a 1.17 ERA, 2.50 FIP and 0.83 WHIP with 33 saves in 61 appearances. He also recorded a 35.9% strikeout rate while lowering his walk rate to 11.8%.
Yates, who is turning 38 in March, pitched just 11 innings from 2020-2022 due to multiple injuries, including a UCL strain that required Tommy John surgery.
Yates is now set to be part of a talented Dodgers bullpen that will also feature Michael Kopech, Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen, among others.
Kirby Yates confident in ability to continue pitching at high level
Despite his age and recent injury history, Yates believes he still has several good years left in the tank.
“I think the first thing was trying to prove not only to everybody else but myself, that I can stay healthy and I feel good enough to still do this at a high level,” Yates said of his success over the past two seasons.
“I think in ’23, I was healthy but I didn’t exactly feel great all the time. And in doing that, from my point of view after that season and I looked at it, I felt pretty good with the body of work I did with the time off and inconsistencies of going out there on the mound and just having to grind on a daily basis to get meaningful outs every night.
“Last year, I felt really good and I slid into a role I was very comfortable with. I still felt going into that year I could pitch at a high level still, and I proved that to myself.
“I still think I’ve got a few more good years. I know I’m 38 and have been doing this for a while, but I think if you look at the log of innings and everything, I don’t think it matches up to a normal 38-year-old. I still think I can do this for a few more years at a high level and I like where I’m at.”
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