Dodgers Still Targeting ‘High-Leverage Reliever’ in Free Agency
The Los Angeles Dodgers brought back their top reliever in 2024 when they signed Blake Treinen to a two-year deal, but there is still more work to be done. The Dodgers are still targeting a high-leverage reliever this winter, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
The Dodgers were reportedly close to trading for changeup specialist Devin Williams, but lost out on the reliever to the New York Yankees. Since then, there has been speculation the Dodgers have pivoted to signing free agent reliever Tanner Scott.
In 2017, the All-Star began his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles where he recorded a 4.73 ERA over 170 appearances in five seasons. Since then, the left-hander has emerged as one of the best relievers in baseball posting a 1.75 ERA in 72 games with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres during the 2024 season.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers are hoping to avoid any last minute trades at the deadline in July. Therefore, the team must have a complete roster by spring training. The Dodgers began the offseason with the blockbuster signing of free agent ace Blake Snell. The Dodgers extended Tommy Edman and re-signed both Treinen and Teoscar Hernández. The Dodgers continued to address needs on the roster by signing outfielder Michael Conforto.
The Dodgers are close to having another successful offseason, but not quite there. In a perfect world, the Dodgers will add Roki Sasaki to the starting rotation and a high-leverage reliever in the bullpen. However, Sasaki isn’t expected to sign with a team until the next international signing period which opens on Jan. 15. Sasaki’s decision will likely remain a mystery until then.
read more
Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez opens up about unlikely friendship with Shohei Ohtani
Though they only spent a year together as teammates with the Los Angeles Dodgers, it seemed like Teoscar Hernandez and Shohei Ohtani instantly became friends both on and off the field.
The duo had a fun little dance they did together, would celebrate big plays together, and, when Hernandez achieved some of the biggest accolades of his career, it seemed like Ohtani was always close behind to celebrate the accomplishments, such as the Homer Run Derby winner, when his MVP-winning teammate was setting his own records.
But why? Well, Hernandez doesn’t really know, as the mutual respect harkens back to before they were even teammates, but when they both chose to call LA home in 2024, that bond deepened as they became closer friends, as he explained in an interview with Grandes en los Deportes.
“When we played against each other, for some reason, he always greeted me… since I arrived at training camp, he always greeted me,” Hernandez said via Dodgers Nation. “At that time, we felt a little more alone and found refuge in each other.”
Wow, that’s really interesting how things shake out, isn’t it? Ohtani always appreciated Hernandez because of his impressive game as a power-hitting, two-way outfielder, and when they needed each other most, they came together to become friends. With Ohtani locked up in LA for the foreseeable future, it’s nice to know that Hernandez will be right there alongside him for the title defense.
