Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Provides Injury Update on Evan Phillips
In a season with an injury-cursed rotation, the Dodgers bullpen saved Los Angeles several times throughout the year. In the postseason, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts strategically utilized new relief pitchers nearly every inning, keeping opponents on their toes.
One of the Dodgers’ most reliable relievers was right-hander Evan Phillips. He logged a 3.62 ERA and 18 saves in 61 regular season games. In the last four consecutive postseasons with Los Angeles, Phillips has not allowed a single run in a total of 15.1 innings.
More News: Former Dodgers Outfielder Won’t Retire From MLB This Offseason After All
But, Phillips did not pitch an inning of the World Series. The Dodgers left Phillips off the World Series roster after he endured a shoulder injury in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.
Fortunately, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman gave a promising update on the health status of the 30-year-old. Although he has not started a throwing program, Phillips is healthy and will not undergo surgery. He will also be ready to pitch by Spring Training.
Unlike Phillips, multiple Dodgers have undergone surgery this offseason. First baseman Freddie Freeman had surgery on his right ankle to address an injury sustained in a series against the San Diego Padres in late September. The Dodgers expect Freeman to be recovered for Spring Training.
Additionally, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani had surgery to fix a torn labrum. Ohtani is also expected to be healthy by Spring Training but will not rush to make his Dodgers debut on the mound.
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One Juan Soto suitor isn’t willing to pay $700 million but they’re still alive anyway
With each passing report, it seems like the bidding for Juan Soto gets higher and higher. First it was $600 million, then $650 million, and now it appears that even Shohei Ohtani’s record $700 million deal is in jeopardy: According to a report from the New York Post’s Jon Heyman on Friday night, “at least four teams — Mets, Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays — are thought to be at least in range of that record MLB figure”.
Which is maybe something we should have seen coming all along. Like Ohtani, Soto is a historically unique case; players that good simply don’t hit the market that young. And like Ohtani, the richest teams in the sport all have reason to be involved, and reason to be desperate. Those four teams listed above would all send their fan bases into a panic if they miss out on the star outfielder, especially the Yankees and Mets. Combine that with Soto’s desire to set a new financial precedent, and you have yourself in very rareified air.
Or so we think, at least. While most of the reporting around the Soto sweepstakes has suggested that there will be no discount coming to whichever team wants to sign him, it seems like money might not be the only thing at play here.
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Dodgers the one finalist unwilling to meet $700 million asking price for Juan Soto
While Heyman name-checks the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays, there’s another team still in the running which is noticeably absent: the Los Angeles Dodgers, who scored an in-person meeting with Soto last month and reportedly remain in the mix as the 26-year-old approaches a final decision. And yet, despite lagging behind the other interested suitors, Heyman reports that “the Dodgers are … apparently not eliminated due to other obvious positives.”
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