Even after winning back-to-back World Series titles, the Los Angeles Dodgers again stole the offseason with the signing of free agents Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker. The Dodgers shore up two weaknesses that plagued them last season in the closer role and outfield production, as the Michael Conforto signing didn’t go as planned.
Diaz posted a record of 24-22 with an ERA of 2.93, 538 strikeouts, and 144 saves in 332 appearances, per StatMuse. Meanwhile, Tucker has spent eight seasons with the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs, posting a .273 batting average with 748 hits, 147 home runs, 490 RBIs, and 456 runs scored, per StatMuse.
Along the way, Tucker has earned one Gold Glove, two Silver Slugger awards, and a World Series title. With the latest moves to fuel a potential three-peat, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman shared his thoughts on the team’s offseason.
“It injects energy into us to go out and keep getting the best players year in and year out, even when you’re winning the World Series,” Freeman said on Jan. 31 during DodgerFest (h/t Dodgers Nation).
“It’s refreshing. It just really shows you that our organization, front office, [and] ownership [want to compete] every single year, to be a part of that it’s special. When you sign Edwin, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s great.’ And then all of a sudden Kyle comes along a couple of weeks ago and you’re like, ‘Geez, okay, it’s exciting.’”
Kyle Tucker Reveals Reason for Heading to Los Angeles
On Jan. 21, Tucker was presented to the media in Los Angeles, and one of the questions the former Cubs star received was about his decision to join the Dodgers, leading the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays to be rejected.
“I mean, there’s a lot of great ball clubs out there with great teams, and they all have unique things that make them great,” Tucker said (h/t Dodgers Nation). “But, like I said, I think this organization from the top down is first class, and the team that these guys put together and assembled to give a great product for the fan base in the city to go out there and compete for a championship kind of speaks for itself.
“Just kind of taking everything into account and wanting to be a part of that, I think, is very special. You don’t really get that very often. It’ll be a lot of fun playing with these guys and competing for another, hopefully a three-peat here.”
Dodgers GM Talks Reason for Kyle Tucker Signing
Moreover, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes shed light on why Los Angeles felt that moving in for Tucker was the right move for the ball club.
“Kyle being one of the few free agents we felt could really impact our club, we stayed in contact throughout the offseason to make sure we were expressing interest,” Gomes said. “If there was something that made sense for both sides, we would have the ability to bring him on board. And like all of these things, the incredible support from our ownership group to give back to the fans [who] are coming out, and in the packs of four million last year.
“I think we felt like let’s continue to pour into them and to the team, and when we had the opportunity to do it, and this was a real chance to fill a hole that would really impact our team, we did it. It was one of those things where we were kind of waiting around and being in contact, and then it came together pretty quickly over probably five to seven days.”
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