Dodgers: Why a rare free agent splurge on Gerrit Cole makes sense

The Dodgers have paid their own stars when they reach free agency but it remains rare that they sign a star impact free agent from outside the organization.

The Dodgers have not been shy to keep their own free-agent stars, dishing out money to Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen, and Clayton Kershaw in recent seasons.  It has been a while since the Dodgers signed one of the premier free-agents on the market.  You have to go way back to 2012 when the Dodgers signed Zack Greinke for their last impact free-agent signing.  That came before the Andrew Friedman era.

While the blue did go out and sign Joe Kelly and A.J. Pollock last winter, neither player is a star and were lower-tier free-agent signings.  It’s time for Andrew Friedman to go outside his comfort zone and spend big on a marquee player in free agency.  Not only could the Dodgers use a pitcher of Cole’s caliber but they actually have a need for it.  Here are several reasons why the Dodgers should buck the trend and splurge on Gerrit Cole.