Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Thursday that while he anticipates Scott receiving plenty of save chances, he will not be the team's set closer, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Scott might very well be the favorite to nab the most saves for the Dodgers after inking a four-year, $72 million contract, but the team plans to play matchups in the late innings rather than have a dedicated closer. In addition to Scott, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech (forearm) also figure to be in the mix for save opportunities.
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Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Thursday that while he anticipates Scott receiving plenty of save chances, he will not be the team's set closer, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Scott might very well be the favorite to nab the most saves for the Dodgers after inking a four-year, $72 million contract, but the team plans to play matchups in the late innings rather than have a dedicated closer. In addition to Scott, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech (forearm) also figure to be in the mix for save opportunities.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed Kopech's right forearm injury Wednesday and said, "I don't think there's anything of concern at this point," Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. A report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today on Monday indicated that Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation he began experiencing during the playoffs. While Gomes conceded that Kopech was "grinding" through the postseason, the GM doesn't seem to believe it will be a long-term issue. Whether Kopech will indeed get a late start to the 2025 season is not clear. When healthy, Kopech will be part of the late-inning mix in the Dodgers' bullpen.
Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Kopech battled a forearm issue during the playoffs, although it never got to the point where he was unavailable to pitch. There's no indication the injury has gotten worse since then, with Nightengale noting that Kopech does not have any structural damage. However, the Dodgers are opting to take things slowly with the hard-throwing reliever. Once healthy, Kopech figures to be in the mix for saves, along with Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and perhaps others.
Kopech (undisclosed) is expected to possibly miss the first month of the season, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic note that Kopech dealt with a forearm issue throughout the postseason, "but it was not deemed to be anything he couldn't pitch through." It's not clear whether it's the forearm problem or something else that might force the month-long absence. More information on Kopech's situation should come to light soon.
The Dodgers reached a contract agreement with Yates on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Just a couple days after signing the top free-agent relief arm in Tanner Scott, the Dodgers have further fortified their bullpen with the addition of Yates. Slated to turn 38 in March, Yates collected a microscopic 1.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 85:28 K:BB over 61.2 innings while notching 33 saves for the Rangers in 2024. It's not an ideal landing spot from a fantasy perspective, as he will have lots of competition for saves in the Dodgers' bullpen.
Scott agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers on Sunday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Shortly after landing coveted Japanese starter Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles has now also secured the top closer on the market. Scott recorded 22 saves and 11 holds between the Marlins and Padres during the 2024 regular season and finished with a 1.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 84:26 K:BB across 72 innings. The left-hander should open 2025 as the favorite for saves on the best team in baseball, but righty Michael Kopech could also be in the mix.
The Dodgers and Phillips avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.1 million contract Thursday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. Phillips' ERA rose to 3.62 this season for the Dodgers, but he still boasted a 63:17 K:BB across 54.2 innings. The right-handed reliever was left off the team's World Series roster due to arm fatigue but is expected to be fine for spring training.
Banda agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. The left-hander inked a minor-league deal with the Guardians last winter and was dealt to the Dodgers in May, and he proved to be an effective bullpen piece for Los Angeles with a 3.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 50:18 K:BB over 49.2 regular-season innings. Banda tallied two saves, eight holds and also started two games, and he could fill a similarly versatile role in 2025.
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