Reliever Daniel Hudson will be in the Dodgers’ bullpen, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts informed media representatives, including Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Roberts claims there is no “hard date” for adding Hudson to the roster, despite the fact that the minor league player is in camp and has an opt-out date of March 15. Whenever Hudson is added, the team has to make a matching 40-man roster move.
The 37-year-old Hudson inked a contract with the Dodgers that would expire in 2022. He signed a $7 million, one-year contract with the club that included a 2023 club option. For the first couple months, he was very good, averaging 2.22 earned runs in 25 relief appearances. He only gave walks at a 5.2% clip, struck out 30.9% of hitters he faced, and kept 53.4% of balls in play on the ground.
Sadly, in June of that year, he tore the ACL in his left knee, which put an early stop to his season. Because of their continued confidence in him, the Dodgers decided to extend their contract in September of that same year, so extending their 2023 option and adding a 2024 option. However, he experienced knee patellar tendinitis and ankle tendinitis in the winter of 2023–2023. He missed just three games after being on the disabled list until June, when he sprained his right knee’s MCL, ending his season early once more.
The team declined their option to retain Hudson through 2024, but he was able to return through a minors agreement that includes a $2 million base salary and an additional $2 million in incentives. This spring, he has made four appearances due to his health, and it appears the team intends to add him back to the lineup eventually. The Dodgers are far past the fourth and last line of the tax and will be paying the competitive balance tax for the third time this season. They will therefore have to pay an additional $4.2 million to record Hudson’s wage on their books since they will be subject to a 110% tax rate on any further expenditure.
Hudson is a player with at least six years of service time who ended the previous season on a major league roster or injured list, making him an Article XX(B) free agent. If a player of this type signs a minor league contract more than ten days before Opening Day, they have three options to opt out of the pact as long as they haven’t been assigned to the 40-man roster: five days before to Opening Day, May 1, and June 1.
The Dodgers begin their season earlier than most teams, starting on March 20, when they take on the Padres in the Seoul Series. It’s unclear if Hudson was given the opportunity to opt out five days prior to Opening Day on March 15 or if this was a contractual requirement. Either way, he will have another opportunity to do so on March 23, which is five days prior to the wider opening day. In any case, he has two more opt-out opportunities, and it appears that he gets along well with the Dodgers. Given Roberts’ assertion that there isn’t a “hard date,” it’s possible that Hudson and the club have reached an understanding that will save him from feeling pressured to use his early opt-out.
The Dodger bullpen will be a little crowded at the beginning of the season, with Hudson added. While veterans such as Hudson, Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, Blake Treinen, and Ryan Yarbrough cannot be optioned due to their service time exceeding five years, closer Evan Phillips is out of options. Six of the eight bullpen slots would be occupied by that group of players. Despite having options, Brusdar Graterol would almost definitely be a member of the big league team given his 1.20 ERA, seven saves, and 19 holds from the previous season. The Dodgers will likely want a spot for Alex Vesia, so they have a lefty in case they need a situational one, as Yarbrough is the only southpaw in that group and a long relief pitcher.
J.P. Feyereisen might be squeezed out and optioned to the minors unless Yarbrough ends up in the rotation or someone gets placed on the injured list. Prior to 2023, the Dodgers acquired him from the Rays, aware of his history of shoulder surgery and impending extended absences. Despite not pitching at all in the previous season, he has a 2.31 ERA in 89 2/3 innings pitched overall.
