Dodgers extend Tommy Edman – MLB trade rumors

The Dodgers and super utility man Tommy Edman The team has agreed to a five-year, $74 million extension that runs from 2025 to 2029 and includes a club option for the 2030 season. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first with the agreement. According to Passan, the 2030 option is worth $13 million and comes with a $3 million buyback. The deal includes a $17 million signing bonus and about a third of the money is deferred. Edman already had a contract for 2025 at a rate of $9.5 million, so this deal adds four years and $64.5 million in new money.

The club was reportedly in the middle of “preliminary” extension talks with Edman’s camp last week and those talks have now come to fruition. The 29-year-old Edman was acquired from the Cardinals along with the White Sox right-hander from the Dodgers Michael Kopech in a three-team, eight-player trade that was also sent Tommy Pham And Erick Fedde to the cardinals and Miguel Vargas to the White Sox just before this summer’s trade deadline. At the time of the contract, Edman had not appeared in a major league game due to setbacks related to wrist surgery he underwent in the 2023 offseason. Although he ultimately didn’t make his Dodgers debut until August 19, the switch-hitter made an immediate impact on the club, seamlessly switching between center field and shortstop as needed on the road and in the postseason, while hitting respectably . .237/.294/.417 (98 wRC+) in the regular season and an outstanding .328/.354/.508 during a hot playoff run that earned him the NLCS MVP award.

Apparently, 53 games between the regular season and postseason was all the Dodgers needed to decide that Edman was a player they wanted on the team long-term. The utility man was awarded $9.5 million in his final year before free agency, meaning the deal actually guarantees Edman $64.5 million in new money over four years, despite the club option Dodgers still have an additional five years of control over Edman. Who will play the 2030 season at age 35? Back to the guaranteed years: This deal theoretically increases the average annual value of Edman’s deal from $9.5 million to $14.8 million for the 2025 season, although it’s unclear where the final AAV calculation for the extension will land as soon as the reported shifts have been taken into account.

By keeping Edman on the roster long-term, the Dodgers retain a flexible player who can play anywhere on the diamond and switch between the infield and outfield with minimal hassle depending on the club’s needs. This is an archetype of player that the club has coveted in recent years, as evidenced by his commitment as an experienced all-rounder Chris Taylor and frequent dealings with utility companies Enrique Hernández. While Hernandez is currently a free agent and Taylor is unlikely to be a permanent part of the club’s roster for 2025, Edman joins him Mookie Betts as a player who offers the Dodgers a lot of flexibility in building their lineup. A six-time Gold Glove winner in right field, Betts has begun playing more frequently at second base and even shortstop in recent seasons, and the club apparently plans to have him back on the infield dirt in 2025.

With Betts, Gavin LuxAnd Miguel Rojas He’s poised to oversee the Dodgers’ middle infield next year, which could lead to Edman patrolling the Dodgers’ middle infield on a regular basis next year. It’s a position he didn’t hold on a regular basis until 2023, but he’s been undeniably effective since moving there: He earned +1 outs above average at the position in just 188 innings with the Dodgers this year after pitching an excellent +5 mark had 330 innings at center for the Cardinals in 2023. If he can maintain this level of defensive prowess at the position for an entire season, Edmans should Average hitter in the league is enough Overall, he is a well above average starter for the Dodgers in 2025.

It’s already been a busy offseason for the Dodgers, as today’s Edman extension ties into their blockbuster five-year deal with Lefty Blake Snell earlier this week. With room for improvement in the corner outfielder corners, holes to fill in the bullpen and a long-time franchise face Clayton Kershaw Unsigned as of yet, there are numbers that will be much more on President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman’s to-do list this winter. With Edman’s plus-defensive skills anchored in midfield for the foreseeable future, the club could find it even easier to pursue offensive improvements in the outfield corners. They have already been associated with corner hitters without much defensive ability, e.g Teoscar Hernandez and even Juan Sotoboth of whom are rumored targets for LA this winter and will certainly appreciate being flanked by a midfielder of Edman’s caliber.