Dodgers sign relief pitcher Blake Treinen to a one-year, $10 million deal
SAN DIEGO — The only area the Dodgers have specifically sought to upgrade this offseason is the bullpen. As president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman described it, the need to bolster a relief corps is “omnipresent.”
The Dodgers were looking for someone they believe could dominate batters in the later innings. On Wednesday, they addressed the priority, agreeing to a one-year, $10-million contract with Blake Treinen, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
The news comes after the Dodgers missed out on Gerrit Cole, the offseason’s top free-agent prize, Tuesday night, but terms were agreed upon before Cole’s decision to sign with the New York Yankees.
Treinen’s career has been a story of fluctuation. In 2018, he was arguably the best reliever in baseball, posting an 0.78 ERA and 38 saves as the Oakland Athletics’ closer. Last season, the 31-year-old right-hander regressed and finished with a 4.91 ERA. He lost his job as closer and was non-tendered earlier this month. He has 71 saves and a 2.97 ERA in six seasons.
The Dodgers’ inability to land elite starter Gerrit Cole is on the owners, starting with Mark Walter, the controlling partner of Guggenheim Baseball Management.
The Dodgers will take a chance on Treinen recouping his form from two years ago to bolster the bridge to closer Kenley Jansen.
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