Dodgers Ridiculed by MLB Twitter for Losing to Padres After Historic Regular Season
Oct 16, 2022
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: The Los Angeles Dodgers dugout reacts during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres in game four of the National League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 15, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers' historic regular season ended with an equally historic playoff flop.
The San Diego Padres scored five runs in the seventh inning to rally from a three-run deficit, earning a 5-3 win over the Dodgers to advance to the National League Championship Series.
Following one of the greatest regular seasons in modern baseball history, the Dodgers will again leave the playoffs empty-handed. While they won a title during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Dodgers have failed in nine of the last 10 postseasons despite being the most consistently dominant team in baseball.
You might say these Dodgers are developing a bit of a reputation.
It has to be said
The 2022 Dodgers are the biggest failure in the history of baseball
111 wins
Best run differential since 1939
Biggest wins differential in playoff matchup (22) since 1906
The Dodgers won all six series vs. the Padres in the regular season.
Tonight marks the first time that a team lost a playoff series to a divisional opponent after not losing a series to them in the regular season. pic.twitter.com/8w5mFcJGKI
Dodgers really won 110+ games, said they were the real deal, had a FIRST ROUND BYE, played their LITTLE BROTHER from San Diego, just to prove that they can only win a World Series by having a shortened season pic.twitter.com/erqJuZ7eQy
The Dodgers' 111 regular-season wins are tied for the fourth most in MLB history, but perhaps we should have seen this coming. Of the five teams with the best regular seasons in baseball history, only one (1998 New York Yankees) went on to win the World Series.
The Dodgers are, however, the first of those teams to not reach at least their LCS.
It's a historic collapse of epic proportions, with seemingly no positive spin to be found.
Trea Turner, Clayton Kershaw and Andrew Heaney are all free agents this offseason and are no lock to be back. Turner is one of the biggest names on the market and will almost certainly command a deal guaranteeing him at least $300 million. Kershaw and Heaney face injury questions but were wildly effective in 2022.
There may never be a Dodgers roster this loaded again in the history of the franchise, and it was all for nothing. It's a bitter pill to swallow heading into an uncertain winter.
Yankees-Dodgers 'An Uncivil War': Best Fan Tweets and Memes from ESPN Documentary
Sep 28, 2022
Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member Reggie Jackson smiles while talking with Houston Astros owner Jim Crane before a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
ESPN Films' latest documentary, Yankees-Dodgers: An Uncivil War, made its debut Tuesday night, and it was met with good reviews on social media.
The film detailed the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers when they met in back-to-back World Series in 1977 and 1978. Many baseball legends were covered prominently throughout the documentary, including Reggie Jackson, Billy Martin, George Steinbrenner and Tommy Lasorda.
Fans who tuned in took to Twitter to praise the documentary for its in-depth look at a unique era in MLB:
This Yankees-Dodgers documentary brings back a lot of childhood memories. The Reggie Jackson-Billy Martin feud was must-see TV back then.
This Yankees/Dodgers doc on @espn right now is 🔥. If Billy Martin had done Reggie Jackson today like he did in Boston in the summer of 1977 he would have been fired immediately and his career would have been over.
The film was directed by Fritz Mitchell, who also directed ESPN 30 for 30 films The Legend of Jimmy the Greek and Ghosts of Ole Miss.
"It was a fun challenge to tell the story of baseball’s most traditional rivalry and to document the Dodgers and Yankees on their inevitable collision course through a two-year period," Mitchell said. "I’m old enough to remember the summer of 1977, the blackout, the Son of Sam and Reggie Jackson’s three home runs, but I had forgotten about the turmoil of the Yankees and was unfamiliar with the Dodgers clubhouse angst. Both New York and Los Angeles were going through periods of profound change and despair. I found that the troubles of baseball’s free agency era mirrored those of society and the ‘me generation,’ a time that seems eerily similar to today."
Actor Rob Lowe narrated the documentary, which featured interviews with many of the writers and reporters who covered the two teams at the time.
But the true core of the film was the extensive set of interviews with those who were actually on the two teams. Jackson, Steve Garvey, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Willie Randolph, Ron Cey, Graig Nettles, Steve Yeager, Mickey Rivers, Bucky Dent and Dusty Baker all opened up about their experiences during the intense rivalry.
It appears there's a chance that the rivalry could be rekindled this year, as the Dodgers are considered the favorites to represent the National League in the World Series after reaching 100 wins faster than any other team this season. The Yankees clinched the AL East on Tuesday night and seem to be peaking at the right time after a midseason slump.
The path through the playoffs will not be easy for either team, but if the Yankees and Dodgers advance to the World Series, the fiery rivalry would be reignited once again.
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Says He's 'Leaning Towards' Playing in 2023 MLB Season
Sep 25, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw hasn't decided on whether or not he'll return for the 2023 season, but he's at least considering it.
"As of now, I haven’t really thought a whole lot about next year," Kershaw said, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. "But I do think I’m leaning towards playing over not, for sure."
Kershaw added: "I hold the right to change my mind, but as of today, I think that I’ve got at least one more run."
Kershaw spent much of the second half of the 2021 season, including the playoffs, dealing with a left elbow ailment. He avoided Tommy John surgery and opted to have a platelet-rich plasma injection instead, which resulted in a lengthy recovery.
Because of the elbow injury, it was unclear if Kershaw would return for the 2022 campaign or opt to retire. He ended up signing a one-year deal to return to the Dodgers in March, telling reporters that he knew he was going to return if his elbow felt fine.
"Once I got healthy, it was no secret—I was either gonna go play in Texas or stay here." Kershaw said.
Kershaw has spent his entire 15-year career with the Dodgers, but at 34 years old and as injuries continuing to hamper him, there have been questions about his future beyond the 2022 season.
However, the three-time Cy Young winner has been solid when healthy. He has started 20 games this season, posting a 10-3 record with a 2.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 115.1 innings.
Kershaw will also be a significant piece in the team's rotation during the postseason, anchoring a unit that includes Julio Urías, Tyler Anderson, Tony Gonsolin and Andrew Heaney.
The Dodgers already locked up the NL West crown and sit first in the division with a 106-47 record.
If the Kershaw does opt to retire this winter, he'll go down as one of the best pitchers to ever take the mound. In addition to winning three Cy Young awards, he has won the MVP award, the Triple Crown, a Gold Glove, five ERA titles and a World Series title.
In 399 games across 15 seasons, the left-hander has posted a 195-87 record with a 2.49 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 2,794 strikeouts across 2,570 innings.
Dodgers Clinch Home-Field Advantage Throughout 2022 National League Playoffs
Sep 25, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 12: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives Justin Turner #10 and Cody Bellinger #35 after hitting a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 12, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 6-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Barring any miscalculations by Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have home-field advantage in the National League postseason for the first time since 2019.
The Dodgers clinched the NL's best record with Sunday's 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. They also made history in the process as the first team ever with at least 106 regular-season wins in three straight full seasons:
Teams to win 106+ games in 3 straight full seasons:
Los Angeles became the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season, though it came 24 hours after the initial announcement.
The Dodgers thought they made the postseason after an 11-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Sept. 11. The following day, MLB announced an internal error in calculating its clinching scenarios, so the Dodgers' previous celebration was for naught.
A 6-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 12 officially put the Dodgers in the playoffs. It also lowered their magic number to win the NL West to one.
This marks the 10th consecutive year the Dodgers will compete for a World Series in October, extending the longest playoff streak in franchise history. The Houston Astros and New York Yankees are the only other MLB teams that have an active streak of at least five years.
The sole instance during this run that the Dodgers didn't win the NL West was in 2021. Their 106 wins were tied for the most in franchise history and set an MLB record for most victories by a team that didn't win a division title.
The Dodgers have been even better so far this season. Their 106-47 record is 5.5 games better than any other team in MLB (Astros: 101-53). Their plus-322 run differential is 96 runs better than the No. 2 team (Yankees, plus-226).
They lead MLB in runs scored (812) and runs allowed (490). Their .693 winning percentage is on pace to be the best in franchise history in a 162-game season. They went 43-17 (.717) during the 2020 season that was shortened on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As if that weren't enough to underscore how dominant they have been, there's a chance the Dodgers will end up with the NL MVP (Mookie Betts), Cy Young winner (Julio Urias) and Manager of the Year (Dave Roberts) when season awards are handed out in November.
The Dodgers are going to be heavy favorites to represent the NL in the World Series, even with the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals being very formidable.
While there's still some work to be done before the end of the regular season, the road to the Fall Classic will go through Los Angeles in the playoffs.
Craig Kimbrel Will No Longer Serve as Dodgers' Closer; Postseason Role TBD
Sep 24, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks solo homerun, to take a 2-1 lead, during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Craig Kimbrel will no longer serve as the Los Angeles Dodgers' closer, manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday.
"I don’t know," Roberts said when asked if Kimbrel would return to being the team's closer in the postseason. "I think that’s where we’re at right now. Nothing is cemented but we think that’s the best way to go about it right now."
Kimbrel, an eight-time All-Star, has struggled in his first season with the Dodgers, posting a 4.14 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 54.1 innings across 46 appearances. He has also blown five saves.
For reference, the right-hander has a career 2.33 ERA, and his 394 career saves lead all active pitchers.
The last straw for Kimbrel came in Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he gave up the go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning before his teammates rallied in the bottom half of the inning for a 3-2 win.
"The stuff is starting to slide a little bit, the fastball velocity," Roberts said after Thursday’s game. "I’ve just got to continue to look at this. We’ve got to have our best guys at the back end."
The Dodgers acquired Kimbrel in a trade that sent A.J. Pollock to the Chicago White Sox. He is in the final year of his contract, earning $16 million this season. The 34-year-old was acquired to replace Kenley Jansen, who signed with the Atlanta Braves in the offseason.
It's unclear who the Dodgers will turn to in the ninth inning moving forward. They have Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Caleb Ferguson, Chris Martin, Brusdar Graterol, Tommy Kahnle and Phil Bickford available out of the pen.
The Dodgers have already locked up a playoff spot and the NL West title, sitting first in the division with a 104-46 record, the best mark in baseball.
Dodgers Rumors: Daniel Hudson's $6.5M Contract Option for 2023 Season Exercised
Sep 22, 2022
ATLANTA, GA JUNE 24: Los Angeles relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (41) throws a pitch during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on June 24th, 2022 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson's season may have ended prematurely because of a torn ACL, but he won't be going anywhere next season.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Dodgers have exercised Hudson's $6.5 million option for 2023 and will have a club option worth the same amount for 2024.
Hudson has been on the injured list since he tore his left ACL in a game against the Atlanta Braves on June 24. He was attempting to field a dribbler hit by Ronald Acuna Jr. when his knee buckled. His recovery was expected to take six to nine months.
Prior to his injury, Hudson was the Dodgers' best setup reliever. The 35-year-old had a 2.22 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, 30 strikeouts and five saves in 25 appearances this season. This is Hudson's second stint in Los Angeles, as he also made 40 appearances for the Dodgers in the 2018 season before he was shut down because of an arm injury.
A 13-year veteran, Hudson made his MLB debut in 2009 for the Chicago White Sox. He has also pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres.
During the early part of his seven-season run in Arizona, Hudson was primarily a starting pitcher, winning 16 games in 33 starts in 2011. But he underwent Tommy John surgery the following year, which led to his transition to the bullpen.
Hudson was a member of Washington's 2019 World Series squad, finishing off Game 7 against the Houston Astros to secure the Nationals' first championship in franchise history.
By keeping Hudson in the fold, the Dodgers are fortifying their bullpen for the future as they attempt to maintain their status as perennial World Series contenders.
Poking Holes Into Historically Great Dodgers' Chances of Winning World Series
Sep 21, 2022
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, front, cheers with the team in the background after the Dodgers' baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. The Dodgers won 4-0 and clinched the National League West. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
So you want to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs. That's going to be the extreme opposite of easy, what with their steady march toward historic greatness and all.
Still, there might be ways.
We'll get to those in a moment, but it's not a spoiler to admit up front that finding these "ways" involved picking so many nits. It's the best we could do under the circumstances, as these Dodgers just don't offer much in the way of vulnerable exhaust ports.
At 103-45, their .696 winning percentage is presently the 12th-best mark in Major League Baseball's modern history. Of the 11 teams ahead of the Dodgers on that list, nine made it to the Fall Classic, and six won it. Then there are the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates, who played before the modern conception of the World Series debuted in 1903.
The Dodgers' run differential paints a picture of an even more dominant team. At plus-330 with 14 games left to go, they're in position to slot in at third all-time behind the New York Yankees of 1927 (plus-377) and 1939 (plus-411), both of whom won the World Series.
It's a little weird, then, that it actually is possible to find odds that don't overwhelmingly favor the Dodgers to win it all for the second time in the last three years. FanGraphs, for example, sandwiches them in between the Houston Astros and New York Mets with a 28.1 percent chance of getting to the World Series. Of winning it? They're barely on top at 17.4 percent.
This alone makes it possible to imagine the downfall of the 2022 Dodgers in the abstract. As far as what, specifically, could trip them up in reality, let's discuss.
Psh, Their Offense Isn't So Tough
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 18: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a strike out during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on August 18, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
It is, of course, not true that the Dodgers offense isn't so tough.
At 5.44 runs per game, they lead the league in scoring by nearly half a run. They also rank fourth in the majors with 201 home runs, and they've more recently boosted themselves to a tie for first in that department since the All-Star break. Because home runs tend to correlate with success in October, this is a good omen for them.
As much as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner stand out, what really makes the Dodgers lineup so dangerous is the depth that manager Dave Roberts has to work with. They're the only NL team with as many as six hitters with a 120 OPS+ and 10-plus home runs.
But even if there aren't necessarily easy outs in the Dodgers lineup, there are a few...how to put this....let's say get-able outs.
There's Cody Bellinger, whose OPS+ has fallen about 100 points since his NL MVP-winning season in 2019. There's also Chris Taylor, Joey Gallo and Trayce Thompson, who have been among the most strikeout-prone hitters in the NL since the trade deadline. Gavin Lux is hitting .294, but he has the fewest extra-base hits of any NL hitter with at least 110 knocks.
And if all else fails, opposing pitchers can always try to take away the Dodgers' main power alley.
No offense is a monolith, but this one really, really, really likes to hit the ball to the pull side. Dodgers hitters have pulled 41 percent of their batted balls, placing them comfortably atop the field in that oddly specific obviously telling category.
Not unlike Sauron from The One Ring, pulled balls are where the Dodgers draw their power. They indulge in SLG like no other team when they pull the ball, whereas they're more ordinary when they go up the middle and the other way:
Ah, but is this exploitable? Maybe.
If a pitcher doesn't want a batter to pull the ball, it's considered a good idea for him not to give said batter anything to turn on. And while not a foolproof one, that is generally a good way to limit the damage against the Dodgers.
Whereas their right-handed hitters slug .522 against pitches on the inner half, they drop to .426 against pitches on the outer half. Their left-handed hitters experience a similar drop, from .486 to .406.
Psh, Their Starting Rotation Isn't So Tough
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw gets the ball back during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
This, also, is not true.
At 2.68, Dodgers starters have the lowest ERA in the majors this year and indeed the lowest by any starting rotation since Houston Astros starters put up a 2.43 ERA in 1981.
And yet, there are cracks here. As in, real cracks. Not ones that can only be measured in angstroms, a la the ones in the offense.
They're specifically located in the right arms of All-Star right-handers Walker Buehler and Tony Gonsolin. The former underwent his second Tommy John surgery in August, while the latter is "doubtful" to return to the Dodgers rotation this season because of a forearm strain.
Without the two of them, left-handers Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urías are the default aces in the Dodgers rotation. Considering one is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and the other is one of the most purely electric pitchers in baseball right now, this is not a bad thing in the abstract.
Relative to other ace duos in the National League, however, Kershaw and Urías aren't necessarily a worst nightmare matchup for opposing hitters. They're very good without being overpowering, which shows best in how their combined strikeout rate compares to other playoff-bound ace duos in the NL:
Adam Wainwright and Jordan Montgomery, STL: 20.0 percent
If you're asking how much strikeouts really matter in October, the answer is a lot. Not unlike an offense winning the home run battle, a pitching staff winning the strikeout battle tends to portend victory in October.
There's also a relatively straightforward way for opposing hitters to avoid letting Kershaw and Urías rack up punchouts: just don't chase their pitches.
Put another way, any batter who doesn't grant Kershaw and Urías extra strikes stands to render them an even less effective strikeout machine.
Psh, Their Bullpen Definitely Isn't So Tough
Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, July 7, 2022 - Manager Dave Roberts takes the ball from pitcher Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
This should be yet another thing that's not true on the surface, as the Dodgers have gotten a 2.95 ERA and an MLB-high 7.3 fWAR out of their bullpen.
But for all the club's success, the bullpen has surely been the most bothersome thorn in Roberts' side.
This is as much because of the injury bug as anything else. The Dodgers lost a big piece when veteran righty Daniel Hudson tore his ACL in June. They've likewise been without fellow righties Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol and lefty Victor González for much of the season, including right now.
So even though there's still time for those three to get healthy for the postseason, the Dodgers are frankly advised not to count on it. If they're going to survive October and play into November, they may have to do it with the guys who have gotten this far.
It's a solid bunch overall, but the link that's supposed to be the strongest is unfortunately the one that's the weakest: Craig Kimbrel.
He may be an eight-time All-Star closer with 394 career saves, but he's also a 34-year-old who looks like, well, a 34-year-old. His 27.4 strikeout percentage is about half his career high of 50.2 from 2012. That tracks with how his fastball isn't a swing-and-miss magnet anymore, which likewise tracks with how rapidly it's losing its speed:
Though Kimbrel's 4.05 ERA is not the worst of his career, it's definitely not one of his best or, really, any kind of good by any kind of reasonable measure for a closer.
Kimbrel is thus far from blameless for the 4.04 ERA that the Dodgers have in the ninth inning. That's the only regulation inning in which they have an ERA in the 4.00s, and it barely puts them in the top 20 in the grand scheme of MLB. So unless he's going to turn back the clock a few years, the Dodgers' lack of a trustworthy closer may continue to haunt them in October.
Even with all this said, let it be understood that our original point about how beating the Dodgers in the playoffs will be the extreme opposite of easy still stands. It's no small deal that you arguably only need one hand to count all the teams that have ever been as good as them in the regular season.
They're not so much perfect, though, as less imperfect than everyone else in MLB right now. Perhaps that doesn't make them beatable, but they're definitely not unbeatable.
Dodgers Legend Maury Wills Dies at Age 89; 7-Time MLB All-Star Won 3 World Series
Sep 20, 2022
Baseball: NLDS Playoffs: Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Maury Wills throwing out ceremonial first pitch before game vs St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Game 2.
Los Angeles, CA 10/4/2014
CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X158774 TK1 )
Seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Maury Wills died on Tuesday at the age of 89.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Wills' team for 12 seasons as a player, issued a statement about their franchise legend:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are saddened by the passing of Dodger legend Maury Wills. Our thoughts are with Wills’ family, teammates and friends. pic.twitter.com/zCtmuSUB0o
Wills was originally signed by the Dodgers in 1951 and spent eight years in the minor leagues before getting called up midway through the 1959 season.
In his first full big-league season, Wills finished 17th in NL MVP voting. He led the league in stolen bases in each of his first six full seasons, including a career-high 104 in 1962. It remains the 15th-highest single-season total in MLB history.
Wills was named NL MVP for the 1962 season after posting a .299/.347/.373 slash line and league-leading 10 triples. He was the first Dodgers player to win MVP after the franchise moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles before the 1958 season.
The Dodgers won three World Series titles from 1959-65 with Wills. He hit .367/.387/.467 with three doubles and three stolen bases to help Los Angeles defeat the Minnesota Twins in the 1965 Fall Classic.
After the 1966 season, Wills was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent two years with the club. The Montreal Expos selected the Washington, D.C. native with the No. 21 overall pick in the expansion draft for the 1969 season.
The Expos traded Wills back to the Dodgers midway through the 1969 campaign. He played four seasons with Los Angeles before retiring after the 1972 season.
Following his retirement, Wills spent time working as a television broadcaster for NBC's Game of the Week coverage from 1973-77. He had a brief stint as manager of the Seattle Mariners late in the 1980 season and early in 1981, going 26-56 in 82 games.
Wills is the Dodgers' franchise leader with 490 stolen bases. His 586 career stolen bases rank 20th in MLB history.
Dodgers' David Price to Retire at End of Season: 'Everything on My Body Hurts'
Sep 18, 2022
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher David Price works against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price announced his retirement on Sunday after 14 MLB seasons.
Price told USA Today's Bob Nightengale (h/t Maury Ahram of MLB Trade Rumors) that "It's just time" for him to hang up the cleats and that "Everything on my body hurts."
MLB insider Peter Gammons reported near the start of the season that L.A. was looking to trade Price in hopes of finding him an opportunity where he would have the chance to be a starter again. However, he told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register later in the year that he was content in his role as a reliever, and he also indicated that he's leaning toward retirement at the end of the season.
The decision to stay in L.A. has paid off for the 37-year-old.
He has made 38 appearances out of the bullpen for Los Angeles so far this season and has posted a 2.58 ERA with 37 strikeouts. Price had missed a few weeks early the season after testing positive for COVID-19 and he was sidelined once again in September with a wrist injury.
The Dodgers acquired Price from the Boston Red Sox in February 2020. After opting out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he made 11 starts in 39 appearances in 2021 and went 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA.
The five-time All-Star is in the final year of a seven-year, $217 million contract he signed with the Red Sox in 2016 and has a base salary of $32 million in 2022, per Spotrac.
In his 14 seasons, Price has also pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays. He had a run of nine consecutive seasons with a sub-4.00 ERA and also won a World Series in 2018 with the Red Sox.
Price won the AL Cy Young Award in 2012 and was also named 2018 Comeback Player of the Year when he bounced back from an injury-riddled season in 2017.
TMZ: MLB Icon Jackie Robinson's Used Dodgers Glove Could Sell for $750K at Auction
Sep 18, 2022
FILE - This March 4, 1946, file photo shows Jackie Robinson of the Montreal Royals baseball team, in Sanford, Fla. Already at the forefront on the 75th anniversary of breaking baseball’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson’s life, legacy and impact is honored as part of the 2022 baseball All-Star Game in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Bill Chaplis, File)
A Wilson glove worn by Jackie Robinson during the 1955-56 season is up for auction at Goldin and could sell for as much as $750,000, per TMZ Sports.
Per Goldin: "This is only one of two Jackie Robinson-used gloves authenticated by PSA/DNA in their database. This offered glove, compared to the other authenticated glove by PSA/DNA, is in far superior condition. More importantly, this glove has the same '42' marking as other photographs of Robinson gloves."
The glove comes from the collection of Jack Semel, a longtime season-ticket holder for the Brooklyn Dodgers who had been gifted a number of mementos from players on the team, including Robinson, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella and Pee Wee Reese.
Back in 2013, a glove reportedly worn by Robinson in the 1955 and 1956 World Series sold for $373,002.
