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Dodgers sign Olympic medalist in surprise MLB lockout move

By Adam Weinrib|
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: Infielder Eddy Alvarez #2 of Team United States hits a single in the third inning against Team Japan during the gold medal game between Team United States and Team Japan on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 07, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: Infielder Eddy Alvarez #2 of Team United States hits a single in the third inning against Team Japan during the gold medal game between Team United States and Team Japan on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 07, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Though MLB transactions are still frozen across the board, the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to sneak another addition in under the wire this weekend.

According to a primary source (the player himself on Instagram), the Dodgers have collected a bit of unique hardware with another minor-league deal to beef up their depth.

Sure, LA has Commissioner’s Trophies in the case from as recently as 2020, along with a series of MVPs, Cy Youngs, and Rookie of the Year hunks of metal (remember that mid-90s run?). But even though Tommy Lasorda has a Summer Olympics Gold Medal in the family, we highly doubt the Dodgers also had a coveted Winter Olympics medal until this week.

Taking a swing at improving their middle infield, the Dodgers have signed Eddy Alvarez, known as a Miami Marlins Quad-A prospect … but more prominently known as a USA Baseball silver medalist and a decorated speed skater from the 2014 Sochi games.

Alvarez is one of just six people to ever medal in both seasons, and surely he’s the only MLB player ever to accomplish that feat.

Dodgers sign Olympic speed skater and baseball player Eddy Alvarez

Though he took an extended summer break to, uh, travel overseas and make his nation proud, Alvarez also got his most extended big-league run with the Marlins during the 2021 season, too.

In 24 games, split between third and second base, Alvarez hit .188 while cracking his first home run at the MLB level. He doesn’t offer much on the defensive end, grading out as below-average at third, the spot he spent the majority of his reps.

Just getting to the big leagues is nothing to sneeze at, of course. Getting to the big leagues after winning silver on the rink? Now that’s really something.

No need to treat this as some sort of token reward, though. Alvarez mashed at the minor-league level last season, posting an .865 OPS in 31 games at Triple-A (.423 OBP). He earned his keep, and will now be getting a fresh chance in one of baseball’s model organizations.

The only question that still remains: would Alvarez thrive in a cold-weather April environment that evoked the ice? After seeing him in Miami and now preparing for his LA arrival, we may never know the answer to that extremely stupid question.

Welcome aboard.

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