By Friday afternoon, barely half a day faraway from the top of Main League Baseball’s three-month lockout, Dave Roberts’ thoughts was already racing with the lengthy record of duties mendacity forward of his crew at first of a condensed 2022 season.
“It’s definitely been loopy,” Roberts mentioned.
Seems, the exercise was solely getting began.
By Friday evening, the crew had signed one former Cy Younger Award winner, had one other positioned on administrative go away and was within the midst of constructing much more main strikes forward with the beginning of spring coaching simply days away.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the primary full day of the Dodgers’ post-lockout preseason.
Kershaw returning for 2022
All winter, Clayton Kershaw’s future was shrouded in uncertainty. The three-time Cy Younger Award winner and all-time Dodgers legend was a free agent for the primary time. And getting into Friday, it remained unclear precisely the place his future lay.
The Texas Rangers have been one choice. Not solely have been they his hometown crew, however their common supervisor, Chris Younger, is one in every of Kershaw’s greatest pals within the sport. Retirement was one other various for the soon-to-be 34-year-old, who missed the playoffs final yr with a major elbow damage that almost required Tommy John surgical procedure. However ultimately, Kershaw ended up again with the franchise that he has outlined — and that has come to outline him — over his 14-year huge league profession.
The left-hander agreed to a one-year contract that shall be finalized after he passes a bodily, based on a number of individuals with information of the scenario, making certain he’ll spend at the least another season pitching at Chavez Ravine.
“We again!” Kershaw wrote on Instagram after information of the deal, which is reportedly value $17 million plus incentives, started to interrupt.
Past his symbolic significance because the face of one of the vital profitable durations of Dodgers historical past, Kershaw shall be requested to serve an essential function on the 2022 membership, as nicely.
After Walker Buehler and Julio Urías, the crew’s present rotation lacks star-power — or postseason expertise.
And although Kershaw’s manufacturing dipped throughout his injury-shortened 2021 marketing campaign, he can nonetheless be a stabilizing presence for a pitching employees that misplaced Max Scherzer in free company — a legendary determine hoping for at the least another run at a title in L.A.
Bauer goes again on administrative go away
On Friday afternoon, Roberts wasn’t solely certain whether or not pitcher Trevor Bauer — who didn’t pitch for the crew through the second half of final season whereas on administrative go away following accusations of sexual assault in opposition to him — would report back to camp this weekend.
By Friday night, the Dodgers had their reply.
Bauer shall be put again on administrative go away via March 19, with Main League Baseball and the gamers’ union agreeing to increase the arraignment because the league continues to research the allegations.
Although Bauer was cleared of legal expenses final month and has denied the claims in opposition to him, he may nonetheless face punishment from MLB below its joint home violence and sexual assualt coverage.
With the lockout over, the league is predicted to pursue an interview with Bauer as a part of its investigation.
As soon as that investigation is full, it may droop the pitcher, who may then attraction the choice to an impartial arbitrator, or enable the Dodgers to resolve any self-discipline.
Within the short-term, at the least, the Dodgers now know he received’t be round for the beginning of spring coaching, clearing up for now one of many largest unknowns to accompany the crew popping out of the lockout.
Roberts’ says his extension is close to
One Dodgers scenario that is still unresolved: The contract negotiations between Roberts and the crew on a brand new extension for the seventh-year supervisor.
Forward of what's the last yr on his present deal, Roberts has maintained confidence all through the offseason that he and the membership would hammer out an extension. And on Friday, he reiterated that stance.
“We’re transferring ahead. Hopefully, we are able to get it performed prior to later,” Roberts mentioned. “I feel that we’re actually shut. So I don’t suppose that it’s going to be a difficulty right here within the coming days.”
In his first six seasons in cost, Roberts has led the Dodgers to 5 division titles, three Nationwide League pennants and what was their first World Collection title in 32 years in 2020.
Freeman pursuit continues
The Freddie Freeman sweepstakes appeared to warmth up on Friday evening, with the Dodgers reportedly ratcheting up their push to signal the All-Star first baseman away from the Atlanta Braves.
Freeman was a part of the World Collection-winning Braves crew that knocked the Dodgers off within the postseason final yr however failed to return to an settlement on a brand new contract with the Braves earlier than the lockout — with the crew reportedly failing to satisfy his demand for a sixth season on a possible contract.
That has seemingly opened the door for the Dodgers, who may gain advantage from one other left-handed energy bat following the pre-lockout departure of Corey Seager.
When requested in regards to the crew’s pursuit of Freeman on Friday, Roberts confirmed that the previous MVP is “definitely within the dialog for us.”
“I'd like to see Freddie Freeman in a Dodger uniform,” Roberts added. “Who wouldn’t? He’s a heck of a ballplayer.”
Roberts additionally mentioned he's “undoubtedly anticipating additions” to different elements of the roster, pointing to depth within the beginning rotation and on the bench as potential areas of want.
Roberts reconnects together with his gamers
For the reason that finish of the lockout, Roberts has spent a lot of his time on the cellphone reconnecting together with his gamers, whom he was barred from contacting whereas a brand new collective bargaining settlement was being negotiated.
As he and the remainder of Dodgers’ employees gathers info, Roberts mentioned the crew will start planning the way it will strategy the shortened 31/2-week camp main as much as the membership’s April 8 opener in opposition to the Colorado Rockies.
“It’s type of threading the needle on ramping them up,” Roberts mentioned, “however not attempting to place them in hurt’s approach.”
MLB additionally launched its revised spring coaching schedule on Friday.
The Dodgers first sport shall be on March 18 in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch.
Their annual Freeway Collection in opposition to the Angels will happen April 3-5, with the primary sport at Angel Stadium and the ultimate two at Dodger Stadium.
Post a Comment