The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed one of their biggest needs with the signing Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract. Their bullpen was a major liability this past season and into the playoffs, and Díaz represents a major upgrade.
While the new closer provides the biggest reason for optimism, the Dodgers will also receive further reinforcements from the injured list next season in the form of Brusdar Graterol and Brock Stewart.
Graterol was expected to be one of the Dodgers’ most important relievers entering the 2024 season after posting a career year in 2023. But he’s managed to make just 10 appearances between the regular season and postseason over the last two years.
Stewart was acquired from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline this year to help address the absence of relievers like Graterol and Evan Phillips, but he too would suffer and injury and miss the end of the 2025 season.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said both pitchers are expected to be part of the bullpen plan next year, but Stewart’s return will be later in the season, according to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Brusdar Graterol is expected to be “full go” next spring, Gomes said, after the reliever missed all of last year recovering from a shoulder surgery. Fellow reliever Brock Stewart “will be a little delayed” after missing the end of last year with his own shoulder surgery, Gomes said, “but we don’t think it’s going to be anything [that lingers] too deep into the season at all.”
Graterol began this season on the 60-day injured list after undergoing surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder.
The Dodgers initially were hopeful Graterol would return after the All-Star break, but he never made much progress. The right-hander has spent most of his time rehabbing at Camelback Ranch but never advanced to pitching in a Minor League game.
Stewart appeared in four games for the Dodgers before landing on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. The team was hopeful Stewart would be able to return for the playoffs, but that came to an end upon further evaluation of his ailing shoulder.
Gomes previously explained the decision for Stewart to undergo right shoulder surgery was made to prioritize the right-hander’s long-term health.
Brusdar Graterol and Brock Stewart arbitration projections
The Dodgers will have to work out deals with Graterol, Stewart, Anthony Banda and Alex Call after tendering contracts to each of them for 2025.
The aforementioned players have three or more years of Major League service time but less than six years, which makes them eligible for salary arbitration.
Graterol is in his final year of salary arbitration before potentially becoming a free agent after the 2026 season, while Stewart has two arbitrations years left on his contract before becoming eligible for free agency.
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