5:32PM: The 2024 option could be worth between $1MM and $7MM based on Treinen’s health and other factors, Ardaya tweets. According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter links), the option price will depend on what specific kinds of injuries Treinen may or may not miss time with over the course of the next two seasons.
This uncertain health situation factored into Treinen’s decision to agree to the extension, Harris writes, as Treinen’s return in 2022 isn’t a lock. A source tells Harris that there is a “decent” chance Treinen pitches again this season, while another source tells Ardaya that Trienen has a “very possible” chance.
4:58PM: Treinen will earn $8MM in 2023, as The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reports that the extension will guarantee the club option. The deal also gives the Dodgers a conditional option over Treinen for 2024.
4:38PM: The Dodgers announced a contract extension with right-hander Blake Treinen that will officially keep the reliever in the fold for the 2023 season. Treinen was already controlled for 2023 via a club option, which would’ve paid him $8MM if exercised (or $1.5MM if bought out). Treinen is represented by Apex Baseball.
Treinen was first signed by L.A. following an underwhelming 2019 season with the A’s, but the righty bounced back with an impressive performance for the eventual World Series champions. The Dodgers then re-signed Treinen to a two-year, $17.5MM pact in January 2021, which broke down as $6MM salaries in both 2021 and 2022, the $1.5MM guaranteed by the possible option buyout, and a $4MM signing bonus.
In 2021, Treinen more than lived up to his end of the deal, posting a 1.99 ERA over 72 1/3 innings out of the Los Angeles bullpen. Other than a below-average 8.7% walk rate, Treinen was otherwise stellar across the board in both bottom-line results and Statcast numbers. This season, however, Treinen only pitched in three games before shoulder soreness sent him to the injured list.
Manager Dave Roberts recently said that Treinen wasn’t expected back until around the All-Star break, and the club moved Treinen to the 60-day IL earlier this week. With this injured status in mind, the timing of the extension is perhaps a little curious, though it could also be interpreted as a positive sign about the Dodgers’ confidence in the right-hander’s longer-term health.
Treinen is a little over a month away from his 34th birthday, and he is in his ninth season of MLB action, with stops in Washington and Oakland before his arrival in Los Angeles. The 2018 season saw Treinen finish sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting due to a superb season as the Athletics’ closer, but for much of his career, Treinen has worked in a set-up capacity. With Craig Kimbrel handling the ninth inning for the Dodgers, Treinen is expected to resume his usual set-up role when he does return to action.
Looks like a good move.
Unfortunately for Treinen, I expect this means he’s gonna be on the shelf for most/rest of ’22.
Oy vey.
I definitely like this move
Completely out of nowhere. But as a Dodger fan absolutely love it
Should make Blake Treinen prove himself when he returns sometime after the all star break that is if he returns
Treinen prove himself when he returns sometime after the all star break that is if he returns
Dodgers have money to throw away. They got him cheap
Has nothing to do with “money to throw away”, especially if you get someone cheap. It has all to do with his season-ending injury – that seems to be able to get you 34yo’s for pretty cheap
Probably a better defender than Muncy
A glove on a mannequin is a better defender than Muncy.
Haha, this made me laugh….
Not having anyone at 2nd base is a better defender than Muncy
Muncy is a good defender
in before buying a championship
So they basically just guaranteed that they would pick up his option for next year in order to get another option for 2024?
If they already knew they wanted to pick that option up anyways that’s a pretty solid move for them to get some value out of it.