Dodgers agree to a deal with reliever Kirby Yates
- Share via
The Dodgers’ latest offseason addition is complete.
On Tuesday night, the team agreed to a one-year, $13-million contract with veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. The signing came a week after news emerged the Dodgers and Yates were in advanced discussions on a deal.
Yates, 37, joins the Dodgers coming off an All-Star season with the Texas Rangers in which he posted a 1.17 earned-run average in 61 games with 33 saves.
A 10-year veteran who was also an All-Star in 2019 with the San Diego Padres, Yates has a career 3.17 ERA and has improved every season since returning from a 2021 Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers will have to clear a 40-man roster spot to finalize their signing with Yates, the details of which were first reported by MLB.com and ESPN.
Andrew Friedman has long wanted to avoid making big decisions at the MLB trade deadline. He might finally get his wish because of the roster he has constructed.
The team reportedly has been shopping several players, including reliever Ryan Brasier. That type of move could ease a potential logjam in the bullpen. With Yates, the Dodgers will have seven veteran relievers with no minor-league options — a potential source of inflexibility for a team that has made a habit of shuttling relievers back and forth from the minors in recent years to ease the workload of its starting rotation.
Either way, Yates’ arrival marks the latest notable addition for a Dodgers team that has committed $458.5 million in guaranteed money this offseason through free-agent signings and contract extensions.
Yates’ deal could grow in value too. He can earn a $500,000 bonus for pitching 50 games and another $500,000 for pitching 55 times.
Are you a true-blue fan?
Get our Dodgers Dugout newsletter for insights, news and much more.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
