After weeks of minimal roster movement due to a trade for Aroldis Chapman falling apart and an agreement with Hisashi Iwakuma coming undone due to a failed physical, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Scott Kazmir to a three-year, $48 million contract on Wednesday.
Despite struggling with the Houston Astros after being traded by the Oakland Athletics last season, the southpaw was widely viewed as the best remaining option left in the free-agent market.
Kazmir went a combined 7-11 with a 3.10 ERA, 3.98 FIP and 1.21 WHIP over 31 starts — 18 with the A’s and 13 with the Astros.
While the left-hander adds depth to the Dodgers rotation, some still view him as a question mark given his struggles in 2010 that carried into 2011 and led to Kazmir not pitching in the Majors in 2012.
In 2010, the Texas native pitched to a 9-15 record, with a 5.91 ERA, 93 strikeouts and 79 walks for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
As the season progressed, his outings worsened, with his fastball dropping from 91 MPH to 87 MPH in just under two seasons.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the L.A. Daily News, Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi wondered if Kazmir would recover and praised him for his work ethic and determination:
“There were games he had (with the Angels) where it would have been hard to conclude (that his career wasn’t over),” Zaidi said. “I think he’d be the first person to say that. I think that’s a testament to his will and resolve to get back to performing at a high level.”
Zaidi was with the Athletics when they took a gamble on signing Kazmir for the 2014 season. Zaidi commended the lefty and believes Kazmir will be a positive addition to the Dodgers.
“There was a certain maturity and appreciation for the game leading up to (Kazmir) coming back in 2013,” Zaidi said. “The guy I saw in Oakland was a great teammate, a guy who I think really appreciated the chance to put the big league uniform on every day. I really felt based in my interaction with him in Oakland, he’d be an additive guy to our clubhouse.”
In 2014, the 2002 first-round draft pick posted a 15-9 record with a 3.55 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 3.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Kazmir earned his third All-Star bid that year.
Kazmir’s signing with the Dodgers came on the birthday of his idol, Sandy Koufax. Several of his new teammates took to Twitter after the signing was made official. Projections have Kazmir winning anywhere from nine to 11 games next season with a mid-3.00 ERA.
