As part of a series of roster moves last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Jimmy Nelson to a one-year, $1.2 million contract for the 2023 season. David Peralta and Alex Reyes also joined the team on respective one-year deals.
This marks the fourth contract Nelson has signed with the Dodgers despite only pitching for them during the 2021 season. He missed all of last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was sidelined in 2020 after undergoing season-ending back surgery.
The Dodgers declined their $1.1 million team option on Nelson declined during the offseason. Had it been exercised, he would have been in a position to potentially earn as much as $7 million this season.
Nelson reportedly will still have an opportunity to earn more through incentives. According to The Associated Press, the right-hander’s new contract includes a point system for games started and relief appearances:
Nelson could earn $2 million in performance bonuses based on relief appearances of three innings or less: $300,000 each for 35, 40, 45 and 50, and $400,000 apiece for 55 and 60.
He could earn $4 million for a points system in which he accrues one point for each start of relief appearance of 3 1/3 innings or more: $250,000 each for 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 points, and $500,000 apiece for 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30.
Nelson’s career high for appearances is 32, which came as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2016 season. He hasn’t averaged at least 3.1 innings per appearance since 2017 in what marked his last full year as a starting pitcher.
In his only healthy season with the Dodgers, Nelson made the Opening Day roster and went 1-2 with a 1.86 ERA and 44 strikeouts across 28 games (one start).
Jimmy Nelson felt there was ‘unfinished business’ with Dodgers
Nelson has enjoyed being part of the Dodgers organization and last year spoke of feeling like there was “unfinished business” with the team. He was hoping to return to the mound this past September but did not make it back in time.
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