With less than a month until the scheduled start of 2021 Spring Training, several top free agents remain on the board. It’s a group that includes Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto, Marcell Ozuna and Justin Turner, among others.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent most of the offseason to this point addressing their bullpen, but there is still more work to be done. The club wants to add another right-handed bat or two, with Turner and Marcus Semien among the options under consideration.
While L.A. is in good shape with their starting pitching, they reportedly are monitoring the market for Bauer as well. The Southern California native would give the Dodgers a third ace and arguably the best rotation in all of baseball.
The Dodgers’ interest in Bauer presumably hinges on the possibility of signing him to a short-term contract with a high average annual value. It was a similar approach they took with Bryce Harper two years ago before he signed a long-term contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Bauer at one point appeared open to sign a series of one-year contracts to finish his career, but the likelihood of that holding true is slim. Because of this, the New York Mets and L.A. Angels are viewed as the most likely landing spots for the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:
Based on conversations with sources, the two teams believed to have the best shot at Bauer are the Mets and the Angels.
The Mets, with new owner Steve Cohen at the helm, have been linked to many of the top free agents this offseason. Thus far, they’ve signed Trevor May and James McCann, and acquired Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians.
Bauer would give the Mets another ace to pair with Jacob deGrom, but they are said to be focused on adding another outfielder at this time. The Angels, meanwhile, have a clear need for starting pitching, although it is unclear if would be willing to make the financial commitment.
Bauer went a modest 5-4 this past season but had a 1.73 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 11 starts. He led the NL in ERA, WHIP, opponents’ batting average (.159), opponents’ BABIP (.215), adjusted ERA+ (276), hits per nine innings (5.1), shutouts (two) and complete games (two).
Dodgers signing Bauer considered ‘long shot’
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman historically has been reluctant to dole out a nine-figure contract, and the team certainly does not lack for options in their starting rotation. Because of this, the club isn’t considered likely to sign Bauer.
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