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“The rich get richer” is a phrase that’s been continually applied to the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason.
At some point, we have to wonder when that will cease to exist. There’s no sign of this machine slowing anytime soon.
The latest additions have come in the form of the bullpen. Over the weekend, news broke that the Dodgers agreed to a 4-year, $72 million deal with elite lefty Tanner Scott. On Tuesday, LA reportedly made another addition — coming to terms on a deal with veteran right-handed closer Kirby Yates.
Scott was the premier arm on the market. With a devastating four-seam fastball with sink and a wipeout slider, he’ll immediately elevate an already potent bullpen. Analytics indicate a guy who’s literally atop the sport in several categories — including hard-hit percentage (99th percentile), average exit velocity (100th percentile), xBA (90th percentile), fastball velocity (91st percentile), and barrel percentage (99th percentile).
Adding Yates was the proverbial cherry on top of the sundae. Last season for the Texas Rangers, Yates went 7-2 with a microscopic 1.17 ERA and 33 saves. The Dodgers surely will appreciate his ability to toggle between closing games and functioning as a high-leverage reliever. Yates is also a veteran with tons of experience, and one that’s motivated to play for a winner.
Like Scott, his underlying numbers are sublime. Yates is in the 100th percentile in both xERA and xBA. He’s in the 98th percentile in strikeout rate, the 94th percentile in whiff percentage, and the 95th percentile in barrel percentage.
With these two arms, the Dodgers’ projected assortment of bullpen arms looks like this:
- Tanner Scott (LHP)
- Anthony Banda (LHP)
- Alex Vesia (LHP)
- Kirby Yates (RHP)
- Michael Kopech (RHP)
- Evan Phillips (RHP)
- Blake Treinen (RHP)
- Ryan Brasier (RHP)
- Brusdar Graterol (RHP)
