The Los Angeles Dodgers and reliever Kirby Yates came to an agreement on a one-year, $13 million contract on Tuesday after the soon-to-be 38-year-old passed a physical.
The Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches in their bullpen heading into 2025 with Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott also signing contracts with the team this offseason. The Dodgers committed more than $37 million in salary for next season to these three relievers alone.
With the incentives included in this deal, both the Dodgers and Yates anticipate a high level of usage in 2025 as he can earn up to $1 million more in hid contract, according to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Yates’ deal could grow in value too. He can earn a $500,000 bonus for pitching 50 games and another $500,000 for pitching 55 times.
Yates has pitched at least 60 innings and made 61 appearances in each of the last two seasons, so he should be able to reach his incentives even in a loaded Dodgers bullpen.
While it hasn’t been a problem for him yet, it is worth noting that Yates underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career in 2021. The injury kept Yates off a Major League mound for 724 days, but he has managed to stay healthy since.
Yates had a good 2023 season with the Atlanta Braves in the first full season since his surgery, with a 3.28 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. He was even better in 2024 with the Texas Rangers, posting the lowest ERA of his career and receiving his second-ever All-Star selection.
Dodgers add to closer committee with Kirby Yates addition
Yates was the Rangers’ primary closer in 2024 and he converted on 33 of his 34 save opportunities. But much like Scott, he will not be confined to that singular role.
Perhaps more than any other year, the Dodgers embraced a different strategy when it came to using their bullpen in 2024.
The Dodgers took a more matchup based approach inning by inning without adhering to the typical setup man and closer roles. Scott and Yates join a Dodgers’ bullpen that saw Treinen, Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Alex Veisa, Anthony Banda and Edgardo Henriquez each record saves.
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