Dodgers sign Kirby Yates
LOS ANGELES ¨C The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates on a one-year contract for $13 million. The Dodgers designated right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Yates, 37, joins the Dodgers after going 7-2 with a 1.17 ERA for the Texas Rangers last season. The Hawaii native finished his second All-Star campaign with 85 strikeouts in 61.2 innings and finished eighth in Cy Young voting. His first All-Star season came in 2019 as a member of the San Diego Padres as he led the National League with 41 saves in 60 appearances. He finished the season with a 1.19 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 60.2 innings.
Since the beginning of the 2019 season, the righty owns a 14-10 record with a 2.23 ERA and 280 strikeouts in 194 innings. He has 81 saves and 7.0 bWAR in 197 games during that span. He is entering his 11th Major League season after playing for Tampa Bay (2014-15), New York-AL (2016), Los Angeles-AL (2017), San Diego (2017-20), Atlanta (2022-23) and Texas (2024) and he is a combined 26-21 with 95 saves in 422 games. He has 571 strikeouts in 411.1 innings while posting a 1.113 career WHIP.
He was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2005 First Year Player Draft out of Kauai High School (HI) and signed after playing one season at Yavapai Community College (AZ).
The Dodgers will have an introductory press conference for Yates at 11:00 a.m. in the Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium.