The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed a major need in their outfield with the signing of former Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star A.J. Pollock to a four-year contract worth $60 million.
Pollock’s new pact with Los Angeles includes a $10 million club option for 2023 and a $5 million buyout. The 31-year-old can potentially opt out his deal after the 2021 season should he reach 1,000 plate appearances in 2020-21, or 1,450 from 2019-21.
According to the Associated Press, Pollock can earn even more salary over the course of his four-year contract based on triggering certain plate appearance thresholds and National League MVP Award finishes:
His 2023 salary can escalate by $5 million based on plate appearances in 2022: $1 million each for 400, 450, 500, 550 and 600. His 2023 salary also could escalate up to $5 million based on MVP finishes from 2019-22, structured on a point system with each point worth $1 million: five points for first, three points for second through fifth, and one for sixth through 10th.
In seven seasons with the rival Diamondbacks, Pollock has accumulated over 600 plate appearances on one occasion — during his breakout 2015 campaign in which he appeared in 157 games. He finished 14th in NL MVP voting that year, the highest placement of his career.
Pollock has tallied more than 400 plate appearances in three other seasons, most recently in 2018 in which he was sidelined for one and a half months while nursing a groin injury.
Despite struggling to stay on the field in recent years, Pollock figures to have every opportunity to reach those incentives with the Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts views him as the club’s everyday center fielder, although it wouldn’t be surprising if Pollock is strategically rested considering his injury history.
