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The Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Cody Bellinger agreed to a one-year, $17 million deal to avoid salary arbitration before the league's Dec. 1 lockout, according to sources familiar with the agreement. The 26-year-old is coming off the worst season of his career, slashing .165/.240/.302 with 10 home runs in 95 games, but he played much better in the postseason. Bellinger is only two seasons removed from winning the National League MVP in 2019 by slashing .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs. The deal won't be guaranteed until Bellinger makes the Opening Day roster, but he won't hit the free-agent market now until after the 2023 season. A hairline fracture in his left leg, a rib fracture and a hamstring strain caused him to miss time last year, so with better health, fantasy managers should expect better production in 2022.
According to a tweet from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly re-signed infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor to a four-year deal. Per Rosenthal, the contract is worth $60 million and includes an option for a fifth year, that if exercised, would take the contract's total value to $73 million. The 31-year-old hit .254 with a .344 on-base percentage, 20 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 582 plate appearances for the Dodgers last season. With shortstop Corey Seager now in Texas, Taylor could, in theory, see more starts at both middle infield spots alongside Trea Turner.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (elbow) referred to suffering a "torn UCL" in his left elbow and not recovering as quickly as he would like when talking with MLB Network's Alanna Rizzo on Monday. It's the first time that Muncy has acknowledged an injury to his dislocated elbow other than just "damage." The 31-year-old suffered a dislocated elbow in the regular season finale and is hoping to be ready for the start of the 2022 season. A torn UCL is pretty significant, though, but the good news is that it's to his non-throwing arm. We'll have to keep an eye on when Muncy might begin baseball activities, but there's a real chance he won't be ready on time in 2022, and the injury could affect his power stroke at the plate as well.
The Los Angeles Dodgers may have seen Max Scherzer and Corey Seager sign with other teams Monday, but they brought back an old friend in relief pitcher Daniel Hudson, who spent 2018 in Dodger blue. The contract is a one-year deal worth $7 million dollars. The 34-year-old Hudson has made 454 career appearances, recording a 3.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 27 saves and 719 strikeouts in 765 innings. He is not expected to act as closer in Los Angeles, though he could play a role as a key setup man if he can limit home runs, as has been a challenge throughout his career. He will only hold value in the deepest holds leagues.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney has agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pending a physical, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Heaney struggled this past season, posting a 5.83 ERA in 129.2 IP split between the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees. He was 8-9 and added 150 strikeouts, good for a 26.9 K%. However, Heaney had trouble with the long ball, surrendering 29 of them. He pitched exclusively in the rotation before the Yankees moved him to the bullpen in late August. In Los Angeles, he should be able to secure a rotation spot. The 30-year old isn't a bad late-round draft pick in deeper fantasy leagues with the hope that he can fix his home run problem while keeping his strikeout numbers up.