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Dodgers In Final Year Of Paying Deferred Salary To Giants’ Scott Kazmir

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers already knew they would get a look at former teammate Alex Wood. However, the weekend set added another layer to that when the Giants called up Scott Kazmir for a start on Saturday.

It marked his first time pitching in a Major League game since the 2016 season, which Kazmir spent with the Dodgers. “Credit to Scott,” manager Dave Roberts said before his club’s 6-3 win. “Wants to keep going, feels there’s more in the tank.

“I definitely didn’t expect to see him make a start against us this year, but credit to his perseverance.”

Kazmir’s long path back to the Majors came with a twist of irony. On Dec. 30, 2015, he signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Dodgers in a deal that included a signing bonus, opt-out clause and deferred payments.

As such, the Dodgers owed $8 million to Kazmir on Dec. 15, 2020, and will again for a final time on that same date this year. Kazmir unsurprisingly declined to exercise his opt out, but then was included in a salary-motivated trade with the Cincinnati Reds in December 2017.

The 37-year-old pitched in an independent league last year and built off that to sign a Minor League contract with Giants this past offseason. The southpaw allowed just one run and two hits in a return to a Major League mound.

Max Muncy had both of those, including a solo home run in the first inning. The southpaw went four innings.

Roberts a fan of Kazmir

Kazmir’s lone season pitching for the Dodgers came in Roberts’ first year as manager of the club. The two have maintained a relationship since.

“I was happy for Scott. I know Scottie well, and it takes a lot for a guy who’s coming back for the love of the game, not for monetary reasons,” Roberts said. “I give him credit.

“Muncy took a good swing on a changeup, but outside of that he kept us at bay. It was good to see Scottie. That was good for him.”

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com