The Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to almost all of the big-name free agents this offseason, although to this point president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had not yet struck on a big signing.
The Dodgers went into the winter with a surplus in their outfield, but after trading both Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig to the Cincinnati Reds, they suddenly had a need at the position.
Bryce Harper is the outfielder currently on the market with the most accolades, but the Dodgers were reportedly not willing to give him the 10-year contract that he is seeking.
Because of that, the Dodgers have shifted their focus to former Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock in recent weeks. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Dodgers have come to terms with Pollock on a contract:
#Dodgers in agreement with free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic. Terms of deal not known.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2019
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the deal is for four guaranteed years and has incentives and escalators built in :
It's actually a four-year guaranteed deal worth about $50 million filled with incentives, escalators and opt-outs. https://t.co/nwKIY3uLHm
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 24, 2019
Pollock has had a solid seven-year Major League career with the Diamondbacks, although he has been a bit injury prone. After a breakout season in 2015, he has missed time due to injury in each of the last three seasons.
Two of those were fluke injuries as he suffered a broken elbow and thumb, while the third was a groin strain.
Last season was a tale of two years for Pollock as in 40 games before breaking his thumb, Pollock hit .293/.349/.620 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI and 9 stolen bases. Then in 73 games after returning, he hit .236/.297/.407 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and four stolen bases.
Overall in 113 games in 2018, Pollock posted a .257/.316/.484 slashline with 21 home runs, 65 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
Where Pollock will slot into the Dodgers’ outfield remains to be seen, although he did win a Gold Glove playing center field in 2015. If the Dodgers view him as a center fielder, then Cody Bellinger would likely slide over to one of the corners.
Considering Pollock was given a qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers will lose a draft pick and $500,000 in international signing money by signing him.
