Smith was previously scheduled to enter the free agency after 2025 but is now under contract with the Dodgers through the 2033 MLB season. The extension is reportedly worth $140 million, making it the third-biggest deal ever given to a catcher. It includes $30 million in signing bonus and $45 million in deferrals.

After making his debut in 2019, Smith quickly emerged as one of the best hitting catchers in the game. This was particularly on display in 2023 when he batted .261 with 19 home runs and 76 RBI while earning his first career All-Star nod. He also had a fine start to the new season, recording five hits in 10 at-bats with two RBI.

The agreement should be beneficial for both the Dodgers and Smith.  The franchise gets luxury tax benefits while also being able to defer money and continue building their roster in the upcoming decade. Smith, on the other hand, gets a long-term security rarely afforded to catcher, especially as young as he is.

Prior to signing Smith, the Dodgers were the biggest spenders in the MLB by far. They signed two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million deal before also inking Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a $325 million contract and giving pitcher Tyler Glasnow a $137.5 million extension.

The post LA Dodgers Sign All-Star Catcher Will Smith to 10-Year, $140 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani underwent an elbow procedure in September. While the details of the procedure are kept under wraps, it is clear that he won’t be returning to the mound until 2025 at the earliest.

The initial plan was for Ohtani to serve as a designated hitter this upcoming season before returning to his two-way role next year. But according to Roberts, if Ohtani’s throwing program progresses well, he might see some action in the field.

“Shohei this year is primarily going to be the designated hitter,” Roberts told reporters on Monday. “Once we get back to the States, he is going to start his throwing program, which he hasn’t started yet. We’ll see how that progression goes. If his arm is healthy enough, we’ll have that conversation in the field. I do know he’s not going to pitch this year.”

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal, the record in professional sports, with the Dodgers in December. He previously spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, where he won two unanimous AL MVP awards.

The post Dodgers Open to Possibility of Shohei Ohtani Playing in the Field This Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to ESPN’s MLB Insider Alden Gonzalez, Ohtani’s agreement with the Dodgers is constructed in a way that he’ll only have a $2 million salary during the duration of the contract. The remaining $680 million will be in deferred money and paid out to Ohtani from 2034 to 2043.

Gonzalez reports that the unique structure of the contract was proposed by Ohtani. The Japanese star pitcher and designated hitter wanted to give the Dodgers financial flexibility to keep on improving their roster.

Shohei Ohtani spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels. During that time, he became arguably the best player in baseball, showing a remarkable ability to star both as a designated hitter and pitcher.

Ohtani received a number of individual accolades with the Angels, including being the first player in MLB history to win two MVP awards unanimously. However, he never played in the postseason, as the LA team consistently ended their campaigns in a disappointing manner.

After becoming a free agent this offseason, Ohtani reportedly prioritized teams with a winning culture that would allow him to compete in the World Series on a regular basis. The Dodgers, who made the postseason each year since 2012 and had three World Series trips in the last seven years, fit the bill more than any other team.

The post Shohei Ohtani’s Contract With the Dodgers Has $680 Million in Deferred Money appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

As it turns out, Gonsolin had been struggling with an “arm issue” for the past month but decided to pitch through it. However, after an abysmal outing against the Marlins, which included him allowing 10 earned runs in less than four innings, the Dodgers decided to sideline him.

Speaking with reporters on Saturday, the Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts said that Gonsolin is “unlikely” to return to the mound in 2023. The 29-year-old player might also end up needing surgery to resolve the issue. 

“I think that all pitchers have something going on with their arms and elbows, with the mileage,” Roberts said. “But (we) were all aligned as far as it made sense for us to continue to give (Gonsolin) the baseball. And right now, we just feel where we’re at, the IL is the best course of action.”

Tony Gonsolin went 8-5 in 20 starts this season. He has a career-worst 4.98 ERA with 82 strikeouts. This is a stark contrast to the All-Star campaign Gonsolin delivered in 2022 when he had a 16-1 record with a 2.14 ERA and 119 RBIs.

The post Dodgers RHP Tony Gonsolin Allows 5 Home Runs Against Marlins Before Landing on IL appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Syndergaard is expected to earn $13 million playing for the LA team in 2023. He spent the last year on a one-year, prove-it deal with the Los Angeles Angels that saw him earn $21 million.

Syndergaard joins the Dodgers after splitting the 2022 campaign with the Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies. He played 25 games combined last season, posting a 10-10 record with a 3.94 ERA and 95 strikeouts.

The Dodgers became an attractive destination for free-agent veteran pitchers who are looking to boost their value in recent years. For example, lefty Tyler Anderson signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the franchise ahead of 2022 and ended up making his first All-Star nod during the season. He recently joined the Angels on a three-year, $39 million agreement.

Noah Syndergaard will likely look to do the same, especially after struggling with injuries in recent years. When he made his MLB debut in 2015, Syndergaard was considered one of the best young pitchers in the league. He started a World Series game in his rookie year and then made an All-Star the year later.

However, Syndergaard’s career never really took off the way everyone predicted. A series of arm injuries, which included Tommy John surgery in 2020, prevented him from establishing himself as a star pitcher in the league. It remains to be seen whether the spell with the Dodgers can get him anywhere near that.

The post Dodgers Land All-Star RHP Noah Syndergaard on a 1-Year, $13 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, Kershaw is expected to sign a contract that is of a similar value to the one-year, $17 million he signed for the team in March following the owners’ lockout. While Kershaw was previously given a $19.65 million qualifying offer, the Dodgers decided to decline it as they did last season as they did not wish to pressure him into a decision.

Kershaw proved to be one of Los Angeles’ topperforming pitchers last season, going 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA in 126⅓ innings and striking out a total of 137 batters. Such figures were generated despite the 34-year-old player being on the injured list twice due to experiencing lower back discomfort.

Going forward, the future Hall of Famer has decided to sign contracts on a year-on-year basis. The Texas Rangers, the team he grew up supporting, had previously been seen as a threat to him re-signing with the Dodgers for 2023.

The post Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw Nearing Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Friedman said that the Dodgers have “strong hope” they’ll keep Kershaw around despite the fact that he’ll be a free agent this coming offseason.

“Nothing has changed,” Friedman said on Tuesday. “My strong hope is that Clayton Kershaw is pitching here next year.”

Friedman also added that the organization intends to give Kershaw the time he needs to figure out “what makes the most sense” for his family before making the final decision. 

The Dodgers didn’t want to make a big commitment to Kershaw after an injury-plagued 2021 campaign and instead signed him to a one-year, $17 million deal in March. The 34-year-old responded with an All-Star campaign that saw him post a 12-3 record as a starter with a 2.28 ERA and 137 strikeouts.

Coming off a strong year, there is no doubt that Kershaw might attract interest from other teams looking for an experienced pitcher. However, the chances of him actually accepting to leave Los Angeles seem slim. He spent his entire career with the Dodgers and is already considered one of the best players in the franchise’s history.

The most likely scenario is that the Dodgers and Kershaw work out a new deal, possibly for two or more years. However, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Kershaw decides to call it quits and retire from baseball.

The post Dodgers Have “Strong Hope” That Ace Clayton Kershaw Will Return in 2023 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Dodgers had to work hard to get the win, with the game remaining scoreless until the 10th inning. Facing Steven Wilson in the top 10th, star first baseman Freddie Freeman singled to center with Mookie Betts scoring. 

Tommy Kahnle then gave a great pitching performance for the Dodgers in the bottom 10th to finish the job.

“That’s a lot of wins if you really think about it,” Freeman said about the record. “A lot of good things have to happen from a lot of guys. Not just 26 guys, but 40 to 45 guys have to contribute to be able to do that.”

The Dodgers already have the top seed in National League locked up as well, with seven games remaining in the season. If they win them all, the Dodgers will become only the third team to have a .700 win percentage or higher in a 162-game season. The two teams that managed to reach the mark were 1998’s New York Yankees with a 114-48 record and 2001’s Seattle Mariners with a 116-46 record.

The post LA Dodgers Beat the Padres, Set Franchise Record with 107 Wins appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Betts’ departure on Saturday, a day before he was officially moved to the injured list, with no returned day on the horizon.

“You’re taking one of the best players in baseball out of the lineup. It’s a big blow, but at least we know what we’re dealing with and we’re going to get him back sooner rather than later,” said Roberts.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Mookie Betts suffered a broken rib & will be placed on the injured list

(h/t @FabianArdaya) pic.twitter.com/NxMP5EKuzH

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 19, 2022

Betts sustained the rib injury when he collided with Cody Bellinger in the first inning of the Dodger’s recent 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels last Wednesday. He continued playing the rest of the game and didn’t expect the injury to be serious, but it became clear he’s yet to recover after he missed two games of the Dodgers’ series against the Cleveland Guardians.

This is a significant loss for the Dodgers, especially after they lost starting pitchers Walker Buehler, Andrew Heaney, and Dustin May to injuries. According to Roberts, it’s still unclear if Betts is dealing with a hairline fracture or a larger break, and his return date is yet to be determined.

The post Dodgers Dealing with a “Big Blow” As Mookie Betts is Sent to Injured List appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

By agreeing to a new deal, the two sides avoided arbitration. This also means that Bellinger, who played on a one-year, $16.1 million contract last season, has one arbitration year left and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2023.

The reason why the news got out just now is because the teams don’t talk about business involving players during the lockout. The news won’t even become official until the work stoppage is over, something that isn’t likely to happen anytime soon.

Cody Bellinger looked primed for an early big extension after tearing through the league in 2019 and winning the MVP honors on the back of a .305 batting average, 47 homers, and 115 RBIs. Since then, however, his performances saw a sharp decline that culminated in his career-worst year in 2021.

In 95 games last season, Bellinger hit just .195 while finishing the year with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. He did improve in the postseason, however, accounting for 12 hits, one homer, and 11 RBIs.

The post Cody Bellinger and Dodgers Reportedly Agreed to a New Contract Before MLB Lockout appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Smith was previously scheduled to enter the free agency after 2025 but is now under contract with the Dodgers through the 2033 MLB season. The extension is reportedly worth $140 million, making it the third-biggest deal ever given to a catcher. It includes $30 million in signing bonus and $45 million in deferrals.

After making his debut in 2019, Smith quickly emerged as one of the best hitting catchers in the game. This was particularly on display in 2023 when he batted .261 with 19 home runs and 76 RBI while earning his first career All-Star nod. He also had a fine start to the new season, recording five hits in 10 at-bats with two RBI.

The agreement should be beneficial for both the Dodgers and Smith.  The franchise gets luxury tax benefits while also being able to defer money and continue building their roster in the upcoming decade. Smith, on the other hand, gets a long-term security rarely afforded to catcher, especially as young as he is.

Prior to signing Smith, the Dodgers were the biggest spenders in the MLB by far. They signed two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million deal before also inking Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a $325 million contract and giving pitcher Tyler Glasnow a $137.5 million extension.

The post LA Dodgers Sign All-Star Catcher Will Smith to 10-Year, $140 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Ohtani underwent an elbow procedure in September. While the details of the procedure are kept under wraps, it is clear that he won’t be returning to the mound until 2025 at the earliest.

The initial plan was for Ohtani to serve as a designated hitter this upcoming season before returning to his two-way role next year. But according to Roberts, if Ohtani’s throwing program progresses well, he might see some action in the field.

“Shohei this year is primarily going to be the designated hitter,” Roberts told reporters on Monday. “Once we get back to the States, he is going to start his throwing program, which he hasn’t started yet. We’ll see how that progression goes. If his arm is healthy enough, we’ll have that conversation in the field. I do know he’s not going to pitch this year.”

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal, the record in professional sports, with the Dodgers in December. He previously spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, where he won two unanimous AL MVP awards.

The post Dodgers Open to Possibility of Shohei Ohtani Playing in the Field This Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to ESPN’s MLB Insider Alden Gonzalez, Ohtani’s agreement with the Dodgers is constructed in a way that he’ll only have a $2 million salary during the duration of the contract. The remaining $680 million will be in deferred money and paid out to Ohtani from 2034 to 2043.

Gonzalez reports that the unique structure of the contract was proposed by Ohtani. The Japanese star pitcher and designated hitter wanted to give the Dodgers financial flexibility to keep on improving their roster.

Shohei Ohtani spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels. During that time, he became arguably the best player in baseball, showing a remarkable ability to star both as a designated hitter and pitcher.

Ohtani received a number of individual accolades with the Angels, including being the first player in MLB history to win two MVP awards unanimously. However, he never played in the postseason, as the LA team consistently ended their campaigns in a disappointing manner.

After becoming a free agent this offseason, Ohtani reportedly prioritized teams with a winning culture that would allow him to compete in the World Series on a regular basis. The Dodgers, who made the postseason each year since 2012 and had three World Series trips in the last seven years, fit the bill more than any other team.

The post Shohei Ohtani’s Contract With the Dodgers Has $680 Million in Deferred Money appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

As it turns out, Gonsolin had been struggling with an “arm issue” for the past month but decided to pitch through it. However, after an abysmal outing against the Marlins, which included him allowing 10 earned runs in less than four innings, the Dodgers decided to sideline him.

Speaking with reporters on Saturday, the Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts said that Gonsolin is “unlikely” to return to the mound in 2023. The 29-year-old player might also end up needing surgery to resolve the issue. 

“I think that all pitchers have something going on with their arms and elbows, with the mileage,” Roberts said. “But (we) were all aligned as far as it made sense for us to continue to give (Gonsolin) the baseball. And right now, we just feel where we’re at, the IL is the best course of action.”

Tony Gonsolin went 8-5 in 20 starts this season. He has a career-worst 4.98 ERA with 82 strikeouts. This is a stark contrast to the All-Star campaign Gonsolin delivered in 2022 when he had a 16-1 record with a 2.14 ERA and 119 RBIs.

The post Dodgers RHP Tony Gonsolin Allows 5 Home Runs Against Marlins Before Landing on IL appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Syndergaard is expected to earn $13 million playing for the LA team in 2023. He spent the last year on a one-year, prove-it deal with the Los Angeles Angels that saw him earn $21 million.

Syndergaard joins the Dodgers after splitting the 2022 campaign with the Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies. He played 25 games combined last season, posting a 10-10 record with a 3.94 ERA and 95 strikeouts.

The Dodgers became an attractive destination for free-agent veteran pitchers who are looking to boost their value in recent years. For example, lefty Tyler Anderson signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the franchise ahead of 2022 and ended up making his first All-Star nod during the season. He recently joined the Angels on a three-year, $39 million agreement.

Noah Syndergaard will likely look to do the same, especially after struggling with injuries in recent years. When he made his MLB debut in 2015, Syndergaard was considered one of the best young pitchers in the league. He started a World Series game in his rookie year and then made an All-Star the year later.

However, Syndergaard’s career never really took off the way everyone predicted. A series of arm injuries, which included Tommy John surgery in 2020, prevented him from establishing himself as a star pitcher in the league. It remains to be seen whether the spell with the Dodgers can get him anywhere near that.

The post Dodgers Land All-Star RHP Noah Syndergaard on a 1-Year, $13 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, Kershaw is expected to sign a contract that is of a similar value to the one-year, $17 million he signed for the team in March following the owners’ lockout. While Kershaw was previously given a $19.65 million qualifying offer, the Dodgers decided to decline it as they did last season as they did not wish to pressure him into a decision.

Kershaw proved to be one of Los Angeles’ topperforming pitchers last season, going 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA in 126⅓ innings and striking out a total of 137 batters. Such figures were generated despite the 34-year-old player being on the injured list twice due to experiencing lower back discomfort.

Going forward, the future Hall of Famer has decided to sign contracts on a year-on-year basis. The Texas Rangers, the team he grew up supporting, had previously been seen as a threat to him re-signing with the Dodgers for 2023.

The post Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw Nearing Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Friedman said that the Dodgers have “strong hope” they’ll keep Kershaw around despite the fact that he’ll be a free agent this coming offseason.

“Nothing has changed,” Friedman said on Tuesday. “My strong hope is that Clayton Kershaw is pitching here next year.”

Friedman also added that the organization intends to give Kershaw the time he needs to figure out “what makes the most sense” for his family before making the final decision. 

The Dodgers didn’t want to make a big commitment to Kershaw after an injury-plagued 2021 campaign and instead signed him to a one-year, $17 million deal in March. The 34-year-old responded with an All-Star campaign that saw him post a 12-3 record as a starter with a 2.28 ERA and 137 strikeouts.

Coming off a strong year, there is no doubt that Kershaw might attract interest from other teams looking for an experienced pitcher. However, the chances of him actually accepting to leave Los Angeles seem slim. He spent his entire career with the Dodgers and is already considered one of the best players in the franchise’s history.

The most likely scenario is that the Dodgers and Kershaw work out a new deal, possibly for two or more years. However, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Kershaw decides to call it quits and retire from baseball.

The post Dodgers Have “Strong Hope” That Ace Clayton Kershaw Will Return in 2023 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Dodgers had to work hard to get the win, with the game remaining scoreless until the 10th inning. Facing Steven Wilson in the top 10th, star first baseman Freddie Freeman singled to center with Mookie Betts scoring. 

Tommy Kahnle then gave a great pitching performance for the Dodgers in the bottom 10th to finish the job.

“That’s a lot of wins if you really think about it,” Freeman said about the record. “A lot of good things have to happen from a lot of guys. Not just 26 guys, but 40 to 45 guys have to contribute to be able to do that.”

The Dodgers already have the top seed in National League locked up as well, with seven games remaining in the season. If they win them all, the Dodgers will become only the third team to have a .700 win percentage or higher in a 162-game season. The two teams that managed to reach the mark were 1998’s New York Yankees with a 114-48 record and 2001’s Seattle Mariners with a 116-46 record.

The post LA Dodgers Beat the Padres, Set Franchise Record with 107 Wins appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Betts’ departure on Saturday, a day before he was officially moved to the injured list, with no returned day on the horizon.

“You’re taking one of the best players in baseball out of the lineup. It’s a big blow, but at least we know what we’re dealing with and we’re going to get him back sooner rather than later,” said Roberts.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Mookie Betts suffered a broken rib & will be placed on the injured list

(h/t @FabianArdaya) pic.twitter.com/NxMP5EKuzH

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 19, 2022

Betts sustained the rib injury when he collided with Cody Bellinger in the first inning of the Dodger’s recent 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels last Wednesday. He continued playing the rest of the game and didn’t expect the injury to be serious, but it became clear he’s yet to recover after he missed two games of the Dodgers’ series against the Cleveland Guardians.

This is a significant loss for the Dodgers, especially after they lost starting pitchers Walker Buehler, Andrew Heaney, and Dustin May to injuries. According to Roberts, it’s still unclear if Betts is dealing with a hairline fracture or a larger break, and his return date is yet to be determined.

The post Dodgers Dealing with a “Big Blow” As Mookie Betts is Sent to Injured List appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

By agreeing to a new deal, the two sides avoided arbitration. This also means that Bellinger, who played on a one-year, $16.1 million contract last season, has one arbitration year left and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2023.

The reason why the news got out just now is because the teams don’t talk about business involving players during the lockout. The news won’t even become official until the work stoppage is over, something that isn’t likely to happen anytime soon.

Cody Bellinger looked primed for an early big extension after tearing through the league in 2019 and winning the MVP honors on the back of a .305 batting average, 47 homers, and 115 RBIs. Since then, however, his performances saw a sharp decline that culminated in his career-worst year in 2021.

In 95 games last season, Bellinger hit just .195 while finishing the year with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. He did improve in the postseason, however, accounting for 12 hits, one homer, and 11 RBIs.

The post Cody Bellinger and Dodgers Reportedly Agreed to a New Contract Before MLB Lockout appeared first on yoursportspot.com.