UPDATE (December 27, 8:45 a.m. PT): The Toronto Blue Jays reportedly agreed to terms with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, which may result in Amed Rosario no longer being a fit or need on their roster.
Amid their need for a right-handed hitting position player, the Los Angeles Dodgers addressed that area by acquiring Kiké Hernández and Amed Rosario as part of separate deals at the 2023 trade deadline.
While Hernández filled his familiar utility role with the Dodgers, a change of scenery for Rosario also brought about shifting over to play some second base. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lauded the former top prospect for handling the position change well and being a positive addition for the team.
Like Hernández, Rosario is now a free agent and doesn’t necessarily appear likely to re-sign with the Dodgers.
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, the Toronto Blue Jays have interest in Rosario if they decide to add a utility man to their roster:
Plus, under the right circumstances, the Blue Jays could pursue a utility player such as Amed Rosario or Isiah Kiner-Falefa, both of whom are on the team’s radar.
At the time of being traded to the Dodgers, Rosario was batting .265/.306/.369 with three home runs, 40 RBI, 51 runs scored, nine stolen bases and an 86 wRC+. He had excelled with the Cleveland Guardians in hitting left-handed pitching, as Rosario batted .303/.345/.477 with a 123 wRC+ this year prior to the trade.
With the Dodgers, he hit an overall .256/.301/.408 with six doubles, two triples, three home runs and 18 RBI over 48 games.
The Dodgers traded Noah Syndergaard in order to acquire Rosario, and the right-hander’s rocky 2023 season continued with the Guardians prior to getting released.
Amed Rosario left off Dodgers’ NLDS roster
Rosario and Ryan Yarbrough were the only Dodgers trade-deadline acquisitions to be left off their postseason roster for the National League Division Series.
“It was a tough one,” manager Dave Roberts said of selecting Kolten Wong instead of Rosario. “It was more driven by the fact that we have Kiké (Hernández) and C.T. (Chris Taylor) that are versatile players from the right side and having Amed, without a left-handed starter going for them, little redundant.
“And so to have a left-handed bat in Kolten, who you could have come out for some hitting situations, to come out of it with him on the bench we felt was a lot of value.”
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