Days after reports broke regarding a rumored deal, it became official on January 28. The Dodgers officially signed Kirby Yates, adding another All-Star to their hefty bullpen. Yates joins the reigning champions after a strong 2024, one that saw him return to a familiar role.
A Look at Yates
A year ago, Kirby Yates signed with the Rangers after a strong 2023, one that saw him work as a setup man to Raisel Iglesias. However, Yates moved back into the closer’s role, after Jose Leclerc falted early on in the year wirh Texas.
It was the first time in four years Yates was called upon to be a team’s top reliever — and the right-hander answered the call. The 37-year-old struck out 85 over 61.2 IP with the Rangers, notching 33 saves and pitching in the All-Star Game. Yates finished eighth in the AL Cy Young vote.
When Yates was close to the zone, he was nearly unhittable last season. The veteran reliever relied heavily on two pitches, a four-seamer that sat primarily in the low-90s, coupled with a plus splitter. Opposing batters hit .113 off the fastball, and .114 off the splitter.
Yates’ fastball doesn’t have a lot of heat to it but he pitches from a low arm slot, giving that pitch deception when commanded up, simply because it looks like it’s rising. On top of that. Yates’ fastball has significant arm-side run (6.2” more than league-average), mirroring movement of a two-seamer.
His other primary pitch is the aforementioned splitter, which has earned him a lot of strikeouts over the years. The splitter sits in the mid-80s, has above-average drop and run, and makes it a difficult weapon against hitters sitting on the fastball.
And if contact was made, ground balls were expected. His GB% rate was 45.5% in 2024, above the league-average.
Command has been a problem for Yates, as his delivery can get out of whack at times and is prone to overthrowing. Yates sported an 11.8% BB% rate in 2024, above the league-average. But, it was down almost three percentage points from what it was in 2023 (14.6%).
And if there’s one positive with Yates, he usually missed out of the zone, as opposed it in.
Per ESPN, the Dodgers have signed Kirby Yates to a one-year deal worth $13MM. Yates can reportedly make another $1MM if he pitches in 55 games this season.
Analysis
When the Dodgers won the World Series last October, the bullpen played such a vital role in their success. Los Angeles had only three reliable & healthy starters, meaning Dave Roberts had to get creative at times. The Dodgers had several bullpen games, between the NLDS through World Series.
Los Angeles’ rotation woes should be less prevalant in 2025, thanks to the additions of Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell. But what more, the Dodgers have an even more impressive bullpen.
The Dodgers added left-hander Tanner Scott a few weeks ago, and now have another talented arm in Kirby Yates. Add those two to a group that already included Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, Ryan Brasier, and Blake Treinen, and…you get the idea.
What’s even more impressive about the bullpen is not so much how much the Dodgers are willing to spend to improve it; per Spotrac, the addition of Yates gets the Dodgers past $380MM in luxury tax obligations. But as noted when the Dodgers signed Scott, their bullpen includes arms that are not similar to one another.
Which, gives Roberts not just plenty of options but also can ensure that each arm gives each hitter a different look.
Now, the Dodgers can add a strong right-handed reliever with one of the best splitters in the game, coupled with a running fastball that comes from a low arm slot.