The Dodgers are building a super bullpen to round out their super team.
Los Angeles has agreed to a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Kirby Yates, sources told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Tuesday. The club has not confirmed the deal, which is expected to be worth $13 million, though he can make another $500K at 50 appearances and another $500K at 55 appearances, per a source.
The move comes after the team signed Tanner Scott, the top lefty reliever available, and it rounds out a bullpen that includes Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia.
The additions of Yates and Scott appear to be the cherry on top of this frenzied Dodgers offseason. Los Angeles landed ace right-hander Roki Sasaki from Japan, the latest in a series of major moves to add to the lineup and rotation. If there was one (relative) flaw on the roster, it was the bullpen.
That’s no longer the case. The Dodgers have added two All-Star-caliber closers in the span of days.
Yates was elite in Texas last season, posting a 1.17 ERA across 61 appearances while earning his second trip to the All-Star Game and All-MLB honors for a second time.
Yates’ 10-year big league career has been a fascinating one. He was a journeyman reliever until he was claimed off waivers by the Padres just after turning 30. It was there that he reinvented himself, honing a wipeout splitter and becoming one of the game’s premier strikeout artists.
Yates excelled in four seasons with the Padres, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and missed the season and most of the following one. He signed with Atlanta, enjoying a renaissance in his mid-30s, turning in a solid season on the ’23 Braves, then a dominant one last year with the Rangers.
In Texas, Yates notched a 35.9% strikeout rate and a .145 batting average against. He used his trademark fastball/splitter combo — with a bit more emphasis on the fastball, which he threw at a 61% clip last year. Despite its middling velocity (an average of 93.4 mph), it graded out as one of the best pitches in baseball.
Yates’ arrival solidifies the Dodgers’ bullpen as a clear strength — however volatile bullpens might be. It’s a group that boasts several options at closer.
It’s been a quarter century since any team has repeated as World Series champions. The Dodgers continue to maneuver with a clear goal of ending that drought.
According to multiple sources, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reached a deal with free-agent reliever Kirby Yates. The contract is reported to be a multi-year deal, although specific terms have not been disclosed.
Yates, 34, is coming off a strong season with the San Diego Padres in which he posted a 1.19 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 23 appearances. The right-hander has been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball over the past few seasons, earning two All-Star selections and leading the league in saves in 2019.
The addition of Yates bolsters an already formidable Dodgers bullpen, which ranked among the best in the league last season. With his proven track record of success in high-leverage situations, Yates figures to be a key late-inning option for manager Dave Roberts.
Dodger fans are sure to be excited about the team’s latest acquisition, as Yates adds another weapon to an already stacked roster. Stay tuned for more updates as details of the contract are revealed.
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