The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent most of the offseason to this point adding to their bullpen, acquiring Corey Knebel from the Milwaukee Brewers and signing the likes of Tommy Kahnle and Brandon Morrow in free agency.
The club also brought back a key contributor from last year’s World Series roster in Blake Treinen, re-signing him to a two-year contract with a team option for the 2023 season.
Even after all of the aforementioned moves, the Dodgers remain interested in further strengthening their relief corps. They have consistently been linked to Liam Hendriks and Brad Hand, arguably the top two relievers left on the market.
Hendriks in particular would help the Dodgers fortify the closer role, but won’t come cheap as he is believed to be in search of a four-year contract. Given the high asking price, L.A. appears to be turning their attention elsewhere, via Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
The Dodgers’ interest in Hendriks, widely regarded as the best free-agent reliever, has recently dissipated, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The 31-year-old Hendriks wants a four-year contract. But going to four years for a reliever isn’t in the Dodgers’ playbook this winter.
Hendriks, 32 next month, pitched to a superb 1.78 ERA, 1.14 FIP and 0.67 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and three walks in 25.1 innings last season (24 games).
He had a career year in 2019, posting a 1.80 ERA, 1.87 FIP and 0.97 WHIP with 25 saves, 124 strikeouts and 21 walks over 85 innings across 75 appearances.
While Hendriks would undoubtedly bolster the Dodgers bullpen, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman isn’t one to hand out long-term contracts to relievers. His biggest expenditure was signing Joe Kelly to a three-year contract during the 2018 offseason.
Dodgers reportedly showing significant interest in Kirby Yates
With Hendriks presumably off the table, the Dodgers reportedly have significant interest in signing former San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates.
The right-hander is only one year removed from an excellent 2019 campaign in which he led the league with 41 saves to go along with a 1.19 ERA, 1.30 FIP, 0.89 WHIP, 101 strikeouts and 13 walks in 60.2 innings.
Yates was limited to just six games in 2020 due to an elbow injury, so he will likely have to settle for a one-year contract this winter, with hopes of rebuilding his value for another shot at free agency next year.
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