Blake Treinen extension with Los Angeles Dodgers has odd timing
The Los Angeles Dodgers clearly value Blake Treinen. The former A’s closer has been a valuable setup man since heading to Los Angeles, serving as a solid backup plan for the ninth inning should their closer be unavailable. His loss due to shoulder soreness after just three appearances this year has left a large hole in the bullpen.
It will be some time before Treinen returns. The Dodgers are expecting that he will be back around the All Star Break, hoping that he will be the equivalent of a trade deadline upgrade. For Treinen, those final three months would be important since the Dodgers held an $8 million option; otherwise, he would enter free agency on the heels of that shoulder issue.
Los Angeles Dodgers make certain Blake Treinen is not leaving
That is not something that Treinen will have to worry about any longer. He has signed a one year extension with the Dodgers, locking in the $8 million option he had for 2023 while adding a conditional option for 2024. That option could be worth between $1 million and $7 million depending on the types of injuries, if any, that Treinen suffers and how much time is missed.
While the Dodgers are locking in a key piece of the bullpen puzzle, the timing is a bit peculiar. Treinen is not close to coming back from the Injured List and was even transferred to the 60 day IL last week. One would have thought that they would have wanted to see how he performed once he came back before making such an offer.
However, this is a sign that the Dodgers are confident that he will return to the form he has displayed over the years. It is also potentially a way for the Dodgers to lock in the ninth inning ahead of the offseason as Craig Kimbrel is slated for free agency. Treinen had been penciled in as the Dodgers closer before that acquisition and could find himself in that role once again.
It is still a deal that could have waited. All the Dodgers really did was to guarantee that option year while covering themselves with another option. That could have happened once he returned or during the offseason.
Next. Puig still has an incredible arm. dark
The Los Angeles Dodgers have extended a key part of their bullpen in Blake Treinen. However, the timing of this move is questionable at best.