The MLB offseason is drawing to a close as all 30 teams will begin Spring Training in the next two weeks. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitchers and catchers are due to report to Camelback Ranch by Friday, February 9.
Beginning on Thursday, the Dodgers will be able to transfer players to the 60-day injured list in order to clear spots on their 40-man roster for possible additions.
Tony Gonsolin and pitching prospect Nick Frasso will be among the players heading to the 60-day IL as they are expected to miss the entire 2023 season while recovering from respective Tommy John and shoulder surgeries.
Dustin May is another candidate to go on the 60-day IL as he is recovering from flexor tendon surgery. Unlike Gonsolin and Frasso, May could be back on a mound for the Dodgers at some point during the second half of the 2024 season.
When those three 40-man roster spots are officially created, the team will be able to announce the signing of Ryan Braiser to a two-year, $9 million contract.
Reports of the Dodgers agreeing to terms with Brasier came shortly after Caleb Ferguson was traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitchers Matt Gage and Christian Zazueta Jr.
With Brasier back in the fold, L.A. will still have two open spots to fill on their 40-man roster. One of those will go to Clayton Kershaw, who reportedly agreed to terms with the team early Tuesday morning.
The left-hander will be sidelined until at least the second half of the 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. So he will also be transferred to the 60-day IL after signing.
The team could also look to add former Milwaukee Brewers All-Star Brandon Woodruff, who will likely miss all of 2024 after undergoing right shoulder surgery.
Woodruff could sign a two-year contract to re-establish his value and test free agency again after the 2025 season. The Dodgers gave a similar deal to Tommy Kahnle during the 2020 offseason, who missed all of 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery before returning the following year.
Shohei Ohtani reports early for Dodgers Spring Training
While the Dodgers’ first full-squad workout isn’t scheduled to take place until February 14, Shohei Ohtani is among the position players who have already reported to Camelback Ranch for Spring Training.
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