For many players in Major League Baseball, the game is all about adjustments. As a pitcher enters the latter stage of their career, they must adjust their game to compensate for lost velocity, hitters need to atone for a slower bat speed, and other adjustments may be needed.
For Scott Kazmir, that stage came earlier than it does for most pitchers. He struggled in 2010 and was released by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after just one start in 2011.
Kazmir didn’t pitch in the Majors in 2012 and instead spent the year in the independent Atlantic League and the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Winter League.
He resurfaced with the Cleveland Indians in 2013, then signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Oakland Athletics; Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi was part of Oakland’s front office at the time.
After spending last season with the A’s and Houston Astros, Kazmir hit free agency this winter and signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Dodgers.
The deal includes an opt-out clause after the 2016 season and deferred salaries. While the 31 year old can test the free-agent waters one year from now, he’s hopeful to remain with the Dodgers for the remainder of his career, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:
“From a business perspective, it’s always good to have options,” Kazmir said. “That being said, I would be honored to finish my career with the Dodgers. I really would.”
For their part, Zaidi explained the Dodgers are comfortable with the structure of the contract given the pitching depth they’ve continued to develop in the Minors and multiple arms being on the verge of contributing at the Major League level.
Kazmir last season was 7-10 with 3.10 ERA, 130 ERA+, 3.98 FIP and 1.20 WHIP. His ERA ranked fourth in the American League.
