The Los Angeles Dodgers have been quiet since signing baseball’s best closer Edwin Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal in December.
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Friday, the Dodgers made an under-the-radar offseason move by claiming infielder Ryan Fitzgerald from the Minnesota Twins. The 31-year-old can play shortstop, third base, and second base.
Fitzgerald played 24 games in the big leagues last season, averaging .196 with four home runs, nine runs batted in, and a .758 OPS in 46 at-bats. He slashed .277/.367/.469 in 59 Triple-A games.
The utility infielder was designated for assignment by Minnesota last week.
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MLB insider Alden Gonzalez was the first to report the news on the Dodgers claiming Fitzgerald off waivers.
Aside from the Diaz signing, the defending champions have been laying in wait for big name free agents such as Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette. The Dodgers have been linked to both superstars, but are not expected to take an aggressive approach in getting a deal done for either of the highly-coveted players.
Tucker and Bichette are both seeking considerable contracts, and while money is no object to the Dodgers, LA’s front office is not looking to sign another superstar to a 10-year contract.
Bichette, 27, could command a five or six-year deal with the Dodgers, but the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as frontrunners in the sweepstakes for the infielder, in part because of their recent hire of former Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly.
The NL powerhouse is set to meet with Bichette again Monday, which could give the Phillies their newest star if things progress well.
As for the Dodgers, there are still many looming questions surrounding the current roster. Their biggest need remains in the outfield as the team lost their primary regular season left fielder Michael Conforto to free agency.
What happens next remains a mystery, but the market should begin to pick up with MLB’s salary arbitration deadline having passed.
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Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
