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Dodgers Rumor Round-Up: Pollock, Pederson, Realmuto

By Jacob Rudner

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 13: Catcher J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins grounds out in the bottom of 3rd inning during the game four between Japan and MLB All Stars at Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium Hiroshima on November 13, 2018 in Hiroshima, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 13: Catcher J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins grounds out in the bottom of 3rd inning during the game four between Japan and MLB All Stars at Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium Hiroshima on November 13, 2018 in Hiroshima, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /
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Dodgers
PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 22: A.J. Pollock #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks is congratulated by third base coach Tony Perezchica #8 after hitting a home run against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning of an MLB game at Chase Field on September 22, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

The Dodgers have signed AJ Pollock to a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $55 million. The deal is loaded with incentives and comes with an opt-out after the third year of the deal and a player option for a fifth year with a $5 million buyout.

The move is really not bad. Pollock is a Dodger at an extremely team-friendly rate earning $13.75 million a year and only earning the ability to walk after three seasons should he see enough plate appearances.

For the Dodgers, having Pollock on the roster brings more offensive firepower as Pollock, when healthy, is one of the better bats among outfielders.

However, in there was the asterisk. “When healthy”.  Over the last three seasons combined, Pollock has played just 237 games. He is injury prone, to say the least.

At 31-years-old, Pollock will not get healthier as he goes and age is not on anyone’s side.

That may have been used to the Dodgers advantage in negotiations. Pollock has a knack for getting on the disabled list. The Dodgers have the depth to platoon him and in the worst case, replace him should he go down. They can afford to ink a player in Pollock that may not stay healthy to the team’s liking.

This move was a calculated risk. The Dodgers get an All-Star when healthy and have the depth to replace him when he’s not.

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