Apparently the Los Angeles Dodgers are building a super bullpen to round out their super team.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday that they have agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with right-hand backup pitcher Kirby Yates. To free up space on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated right-hand pitcher Ryan Brasier.

The move comes after the team signed top left-pitcher Tanner Scott. The addition of Yates and Scott is the perfect end to a crazy offseason for the Dodgers. Los Angeles brought in ace right-handed Roki Sasaki from Japan, the latest in a series of major additions to the team's line and rotation. If there's one (relative) weakness in the squad, it's the cowshed.

But that is no longer the case. The Dodgers have added two All-Star-caliber finishers in just a few days.
Yates had a strong season with the Rangers, with a 1.17 ERA in 61 games and a second All-Star Game and All-MLB roster.

Yates, who is about to enter his 38-year-old season, is confident that he can continue that momentum. "I still feel like I was able to pitch at a very high level last year and I proved it to myself," Yates said at a press conference at Dodger Stadium on Friday, "and I think I can play for a few more years." ”

Yates' 10-year career in the major leagues was legendary. Before being picked up from the transfer list by the Padres at the age of 30, he was a drifting backup pitcher. In San Diego, he reinvented himself, honing a lethal finger shot to become one of the league's best strikeouts.

Yates had a great four seasons with the Padres, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and missed the entire season and much of the rest of the season. He signed with the Atlanta Warriors, had a resurgence around the age of 35, excelled with the Warriors in 2023, and then shone with the Rangers last season.

"Kirby is an example of tenacity and teammate," said general manager Brandon Gomes, "who started as an undrafted college free agent and overcame a lot of things." He survived injuries and became one of the best backup pitchers in the league. ”

In the Rangers, Yates had a strikeout rate of 35.9% and a batting rate of just 0.145. He used his trademark fastball/knuckle combination – more focused on fastballs, with a whopping 61% usage rate last year. Despite its average ball speed (93.4 mph average), it is rated as one of the finest balls in baseball.

Today, he comes to Los Angeles, and although he grew up in Hawaii, he has a family connection to it. Yates said his parents were both Dodgers fans who grew up in Southern California. "It wasn't until a few days ago that I really realized what it meant for my family," Yates said, "and my phone has been ringing non-stop since the announcement, and many people close to me are very excited, including myself." ”

Yates also has a long-standing relationship with Gomez, dating back to their time as teammates with the Rays in the early 2010s.
Yates' arrival cemented the strength of the Dodgers' bullpen – although the performance of the bullpen could be more volatile. The barn boasts multiple finisher options, including Scott, Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia.

"On paper, it's probably the best cowshed," Yates said, "and you could say the whole line-up...... I think it's better for everyone to have more pitchers in the barn that you can rely on in key moments. This helps to reduce the burden on certain players. ”

It's been 25 years since the last time a team successfully defended their World Series title. The Dodgers continue to operate with clear goals in hopes of ending this long wait.