The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Wednesday the signing of Scott Kazmir to a three-year contract. The deal is worth a reported $48 million.
Outfielder Daniel Fields was designated for assignment to clear room for Kazmir on the 40-man roster. The Dodgers claimed Fields off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month.
The signing is the first significant addition for the Dodgers in an offseason that’s been eventful for the wrong reasons.
With top free-agent pitchers off the market, Los Angeles was recently said to have continued interest in Kazmir despite a starting rotation already heavy on left-handers.
The 31 year old was a combined 7-11 with a 3.10 ERA, 3.98 FIP and 1.21 WHIP with the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros last season.
Unlike the Dodgers’ agreement to sign Hisashi Iwakuma, adding Kazmir does not require the club to forfeit their first-round draft pick.
Kazmir posted a 2.38 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 1.09 WHIP and averaged 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings with Oakland. His ERA, FIP and WHIP increased to 4.17, 5.19 and 1.39, respectively, in 13 starts for the Astros. Moreover, Kazmir’s strikeout per nine innings dropped to 6.6 with Houston.
Left-handed batters hit .272/.312/.462 with a .337 wOBA in 186 plate appearances against Kazmir last season. Comparatively, righties hit .225/.301/.344 with a .285 wOBA over 577 plate appearances.
With Kazmir in the fold, 2016 could see an all left-handed Dodgers rotation that is expected to also feature Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood.
To date, other roster moves of note this offseason for the Dodgers are the re-signing of Anderson and Chase Utley. Plus, Los Angeles acquired a trio of prospects from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team trade that involved the Cincinnati Reds.
The Dodgers are believed to be pursuing, if not be the frontrunner for Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda.
