The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with free agent starting pitcher Alex Wood, who has already passed his physical, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Alex Wood’s deal with the #Dodgers is for one year, $4M, with incentives that can push his total to $10M, source says. Physical is complete. Deal is done.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 13, 2020
Rosenthal also reports the deal has incentives that can push the total to $10 million.
Wood makes his return to LA after being traded to the Reds with Yasiel Puig last off-season. He was previously with the Dodgers from the second half of 2015 through 2018.
He only pitched 35 2/3 innings in 2019 due to injuries but in 839 career innings, Wood owns a 3.40 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 8.24 K/9 and 2.55 BB/9.
Wood spent this off-season working out at Driveline, specifically with Rob Hill, the Dodgers’ new pitching coordinator.
I think I'm in on Alex Wood back to LA? Love to see him working w/ Driveline and especially the note about arm path. Dodgers seemingly fixed him up initially, but his release point got a bit whacky w/ CIN.
Up to 91 which seems noteworthy too considering his SI avg'd 89.9 in 2019 https://t.co/OtfyHTofpZ pic.twitter.com/s7s3WixMh8
— ? (@eccentricladdie) December 20, 2019
At his best, Wood has the potential to be an all-star, as he showed in 2017 when he posted a 2.72 ERA in 152 1/3 innings. Hopefully, after working with Driveline, he can get back to that level and become a key contributor to the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
Wood is the third pitcher the Dodgers have signed to a major league contract this season, joining Jimmy Nelson and Blake Treinen. All three moves have been low-risk deals that provide a lot of upside.
While this probably isn’t the move most fans were hoping for, it could end up being one of the better signings of the off-season.
