The start of MLB free agency the morning after the 2021 World Series concluded saw Danny Duffy, Cole Hamels, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Knebel, Jimmy Nelson, Albert Pujols, Max Scherzer, Corey Seager, Steven Souza jr. and Chris Taylor no longer being under contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The group grew to include Joe Kelly when the Dodgers elected to pay a $4 million buyout in favor of exercising a $12 million team option for the 2022 regular season.
While the Dodgers’ most pressing need at the start of offseason was starting pitching, replacing Corey Seager also became necessary when he agreed to a 10-year, $325 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
When a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) put an end to the MLB lockout, the Dodgers quickly moved to re-sign Kershaw and shortly after added Freddie Freeman. The team additionally completed an array of Minor League signings as well.
Now the Dodgers have signed Dellin Betances, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
Free-agent reliever Dellin Betances in agreement with Dodgers on minor-league contract, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 5, 2022
Betances was a key member of the New York Yankees bullpen from 2014 to 2018, when he appeared in at least 66 games during each of those five seasons. Included in that stretch was a sub-2.00 ERA in both 2014 and 2015, which were All-Star campaigns for the right-hander.
However, the once-dominant reliever made just one appearance in 2019, his final season with the Yankees, on account of successive shoulder and Achilles injuries. Despite the lost season, the Mets signed Betances to a two-year contract.
That didn’t pan out well as Betances threw 11.2 innings in his first season with the Mets. He then made one appearance last year before more shoulder trouble arose that ultimately required season-ending surgery in June.
It’s unclear when Betances may be fully recovered, but at minimum he gives the Dodgers a potential option for their bullpen late this season.
Dodgers had prior interest in Betances
The Dodgers reportedly were among the teams making a strong effort to sign Betances after the 2019 season. As previously mentioned, the right-hander instead wound up joining the Mets on a two-year deal.
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