Dodgers Decline Jedd Gyorko’s Option

Jedd Gyorko is on his way out of Los Angeles almost as quickly as he arrived. 

Dodgers decline $13 million option on Jedd Gyorko, pays $1 million buyout and he becomes a free agent.

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— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) November 3, 2019

The Dodgers declined his $13 million option on Sunday, making him a free agent this winter after the club buys out his contract on a $1 million pricetag.

Gyorko originally signed a five-year, $35 million extension with a team option for the sixth year back in 2014 with the San Diego Padres, however he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals just one year later. He spent three and a half seasons in St. Louis before he was acquired by the Dodgers ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for Tony Cingrani and minor league pitcher Jeffry Abreu.

Cingrani was out for the season after undergoing surgery on his left labrum in June, while Abreu is still with the Rookie League GCL Cardinals. 

Gyorko struggled the entire 2019 season, and the change of scenery did not help. He played in in 24 games, mustering just five hits in 36 at-bats with the Dodgers for an average of .139. He had just one extra base hit, a double, and two RBI. Gyorko’s WAR was -0.5, meaning that a replacement-level player would have contributed more to the Dodgers than he did.

The Dodgers did what was expected from the moment they acquired Gyorko. He hopes to bounce back and return to the consistent bat that he was before this season, but that will have to be with a new club.