The Los Angeles Dodgers have irked other owners with an aggressive approach this offseason, which included reportedly coming to terms with Kirby Yates even after re-signing Blake Treinen and adding Tanner Scott.
The Dodgers’ deal with Yates was originally reported on Jan. 21, but had not been followed by any updates. There was some assumption that related to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster crunch and potentially wanting to wait until the start of Spring Training in order to utilize the 60-day injured list.
There also was the aspect of Yates needing to pass his physical.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, that’s now taken place and Yates’ contract with the Dodgers is a one-year deal worth a minimum of $13 million and potential to receive an extra $1 million through performance bonuses:
Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $13 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Can get up to $14M with 55 games. Deal is done. The Dodgers’ bullpen gets even stronger. First on Yates’ physical being passed was @Feinsand.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 29, 2025
Yates pitched just 11 innings from 2020-2022 due to multiple injuries, including Tommy John surgery. He had a 3.28 ERA upon returning in 2023, but that included a walk rate of nearly 15%.
The veteran right-hander bounced back with the Texas Rangers last year, as he finished with a 1.17 ERA, 2.50 FIP and 0.83 WHIP while collecting 33 saves in 61 appearances. Yates also posted a 35.9% strikeout rate while lowering his walk rate to 11.8%.
Yates, who turns 38 years old in March, primarily relies on a four-seam fastball that is combined with a splitter.
Dodgers bullpen with Kirby Yates
The Dodgers signing Yates appears to give them a surplus in their bullpen, and suggests a trade might be on the horizon. There had been an indication Michael Kopech would miss the first month of the regular season because of an unspecified injury.
However, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes told DodgerBlue.com that Kopech is going through his offseason throwing program and the team isn’t anticipating any issues.
The Dodgers are poised to be without Brusdar Graterol for the first half of the year while he recovers from right shoulder surgery.
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