The big signing for the Dodgers at the winter meetings is now in the books. Today, the Dodgers and right-handed relief pitcher Blake Treinen agreed to a one-year contract for the 2020 season.
Dodgers confirm signing of RHP Blake Treinen.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) December 15, 2019
The 31 year-old was non-tendered by the Oakland Athletics after a poor 2019 where he pitched to a 4.91 ERA and 5.14 FIP in 58 2/3 innings. He also dealt with multiple injuries, including a shoulder strain and a season-ending back injury. He was projected to make $7.8 million in arbitration, something Oakland couldn’t afford to take the risk on.
However, outside of the 2019 season, the former closer has consistently been lights out in his career with a lifetime 2.97 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 8.80 K/9, and 3.58 BB/9 in 345 games.
The reliever will join with Kenley Jansen and Joe Kelly to form what could be one of the top bullpens in the National League if some things bounce the right way.
Official Press Release
The Los Angeles Dodgers today signed free agent right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen to a one-year contract.
Treinen, 31, joins the Dodgers after spending the last two plus seasons with the Oakland Athletics where he went 18-11 with a 2.44 ERA (48 ER/177.0 IP) and 67 saves with 201 strikeouts in 160 games. In his first full season with the Athletics in 2018, he went 9-2 with a career-high 38 saves, a career-best 0.78 ERA (7 ER/80.1 IP) and 100 strikeouts. The 2018 All-Star became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history with 30 saves, an ERA under 1.00 and 100 strikeouts in the same season. His ERA was the lowest in Major League history among pitchers with 80 or more innings since the earned run became an official stat in 1912. After his 2018 campaign, he was named Major League Relief Pitcher of the Year by Baseball Digest and was on the Baseball America All-Star Team. He finished the season third in the American League in saves and his 88.4% save percentage was seventh in the league.
Last season, the Kansas native went 6-5 with a 4.91 ERA (32 ER/58.2 IP) and 59 strikeouts against 37 walks in 57 games for the Athletics. He finished the season with 16 saves in 21 opportunities before he was non-tendered on December 2. He was originally acquired by the Athletics along with infielder Sheldon Neuse and left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle on July 16, 2017.
In six Major League seasons, he is a combined 26-22 with 71 saves and a 2.97 ERA (132 ER/400.0 IP) and 391 strikeouts. He began his professional career after being drafted by the Athletics in the seventh round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of South Dakota State University.
