Despite Spring Training camps opening for all 30 teams this week, there remains a glut of players unsigned for the 2018 season. Many teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, have prioritized staying beneath the $197 million luxury tax, which led to a historically slow-moving market for free agents.
One of the most prominent free agents recently came off the board, however, with former Dodgers right-hander Yu Darvish signing a six-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Clayton Kershaw, who frequently worked out with Darvish this offseason, understood why the Dodgers couldn’t retain him but was nevertheless frustrated with the outcome and stagnant free agency, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“What’s hard for players to understand is we just want the best players as a teammate,” Kershaw said. “All the other stuff, all the financial, economic stuff, we realize it’s a part of it, but for me, personally, go get the best players every time. That’s what is kind of frustrating about this off-season, is there are so many guys who can really help your team. Not a lot of teams are pulling the trigger.”
Kershaw praised Darvish for being an excellent teammate last season and was understandably disappointed that he signed with the Cubs, rather than an American League team.
It was always going to be a challenge for the Dodgers to re-sign Darvish, but his lingering on the market gave them an outside chance to perhaps work out a deal that benefited both sides. That wasn’t the case, and now the club figures to continue monitoring the free agent and trade markets for potential reinforcements.
Though, manager Dave Roberts revealed that he’s content with the current group of arms that reported to Camelback Ranch this week.
Meanwhile, Kershaw joins Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and Alex Wood as Dodgers who have voiced their displeasure with a lack of spending by clubs on free agents.
