The Los Angeles Dodgers had 18 Minor League players file for free agency, including former top prospect Yadier Alvarez, and multiple others with Major League experience.
Along with Alvarez, those who elected to become Minor League free agents are Keone Kela, Hansel Robles, Guillermo Zuniga, Sam Gaviglio, Parker Curry, Jon Duplantier, Jose Adames, Daniel Zamora, Tony Wolters, Tomás Telis, Hamlet Marte, Andy Burns, Omar Estevez, Abiatal Avelino, Leonel Valera, Stefen Romero and Jason Martin.
Of that group, Kela, Robles, Gaviglio, Duplantier, Wolters, Telis, Burns, Zamora, Romero and Martin have MLB experience.
The Dodgers signed Alvarez to a $16 million signing bonus on the first day of the 2015-16 international signing period, but their total investment was double that amount because of a tax penalty for exceeding their international signing pool that year.
Alvarez was among the Dodgers prospects named to the 2017 MLB Futures Game, but he has only pitched 3.2 innings above the Double-A level.
The Dodgers signed Kela on Aug. 31 of this past season but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career after he established himself as one of the game’s best relievers in 2015.
Kela has spent parts of seven seasons pitching at the Major League level after making his debut with the Texas Rangers, posting a career 3.33 ERA in 227.1 innings with 279 strikeouts and a 1.13 WHIP.
Martin spent parts of three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Rangers, and he impressed in Spring Training with the Dodgers before being sent back to the Minors. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Martin for raising the floor of the team’s bench, but he did not end up receiving a call back to the club.
Duplantier was one of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ top pitching prospects, but he has not been able to find much success. Wolters and Burns have both appeared in games for the Dodgers, but they have spent most of their time as Triple-A depth.
Robles has closing experience in eight Major League seasons, but he has been ineffective since 2020. Estevez was also once considered one of the Dodgers’ higher-ranked infield prospects, but he has had two consecutive seasons of not being able to produce at Triple-A.
Romero was called up to the Dodgers this past season, but he did not appear in a game.
Dodgers free agents
The group of Dodgers free agents was comprised of Tyler Anderson, Joey Gallo, Andrew Heaney, Tommy Kahnle, Clayton Kershaw, Craig Kimbrel, Chris Martin, Kevin Pillar, David Price and Trea Turner once the season ended.
They have since been joined by Hanser Alberto, Danny Duffy, Jimmy Nelson and Justin Turner, as each of the four had their team options declined. Alberto ($250,000) and Turner ($2 million) received buyouts.
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