FanSided

3 Dodgers team options for 2023 fans may have forgotten about

By Thomas Carannante |
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 25: Jimmy Nelson #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on July 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 25: Jimmy Nelson #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on July 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
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With a busy offseason ahead, many Los Angeles Dodgers fans are zoned in on what’s going to happen with guys like Trea Turner, Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and Tyler Anderson. All of those players were among the most important pieces on this 111-win squad.

If not for some maneuvering during the season in the form of multiple contract extensions for Max Muncy, Blake Treinen, Austin Barnes and Daniel Hudson, the Dodgers would’ve had a lot more on their plate.

But perhaps those dealings and the more important names have overshadowed some other housekeeping moves Andrew Friedman and the front office need to make. There are a few other free agents, yes, like Tommy Kahnle, Joey Gallo, David Price and Craig Kimbrel, but those guys probably aren’t coming back.

As for a few others that carry team options you might’ve forgotten about? It’s quite possible one or two are retained to help fill roles on a roster that’s going to need cost-effective contributors.

You saw one of them this year. The other two didn’t step foot on the field due to injuries. Will the Dodgers risk it and take a chance one last time?

3 Dodgers team options for 2023 fans may have forgotten about

Hanser Alberto #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Hanser Alberto #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

3. Hanser Alberto

The Dodgers hype man! And emergency reliever! And pepper grinder extraordinaire! Hanser Alberto was left off the NLDS roster because he wasn’t exactly a high-level bench player, but he brought the energy to the Dodgers clubhouse and kept the vibes in check.

The veteran has a $2 million team option with a $250K buyout for the 2023 season after earning $1.35 million in 2022. Might the Dodgers deem his versatility, personality, and ability to eat useless innings and save the bullpen valuable enough to bring back?

The average fan might say no, but you’re not going to find many more capable “last guys off the bench” who actually thoroughly enjoy their roles. It’s a thankless and borderline meaningless job, but somebody has to do it.

Alberto does it with great affability and was of the few emotional guys in that clubhouse. There’s a good argument to bring him back for a measly $2 million.

Danny Duffy #30 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Danny Duffy #30 of the Kansas City Royals (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2. Danny Duffy

My goodness, what a waste. For two years, too! The Dodgers acquired Danny Duffy from the Kansas City Royals at least year’s trade deadline and paid him $5 million to never return from a flexor strain … which eventually required offseason surgery.

Then came 2022. The Dodgers re-signed him to a one-year, $3 million contract that carried a $7 million team option for 2023. Duffy was eyeing a midsummer return to “take care of unfinished business,” but suffered a setback in August and never stepped foot on the field.

That’s $8 million for zero innings of Duffy. Do the Dodgers even bother attempting this dance on last time? That would run them the risk of investing $15 million in the veteran left-hander with the fear of his injury issues lingering as he enters his age-34 season.

Then again … he could be worth $7 million if he can give you a 20+ starts or long relief out of the bullpen. Before getting injured in 2021, Duffy had a renaissance of sorts, and maintained a 2.51 ERA, 3.40 FIP and 1.21 WHIP with 65 strikeouts in 13 games (12 starts), totaling 61 innings.

We’d vote “no” here because watching this backfire for a third time would be devastating, but the Dodgers do need a lot of pitching, so stay tuned.

Jimmy Nelson #40 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Jimmy Nelson #40 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

1. Jimmy Nelson

Forget about this guy?! Friedman continued his trend of signing injured pitchers, having them rehab with the team, and ensuring they’d stay for the following year. Really, a shrewd way to pay a little to potentially get a lot more.

Nelson underwent Tommy John surgery late in 2021, and not long after the Dodgers re-signed him to a one year, $700K deal with a $1.1 million team option for the 2023 season. 

Nelson, like Duffy, will be entering his age-34 season and has only pitched in a grand total of 67 games since the start of 2017. However, he was a reliable and valuable bullpen piece for the Dodgers in 2021. He appeared in 28 games (29 innings) and finished with a 1.86 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 0.93 WHIP and 44 strikeouts.

The Dodgers had him emphasize his curveball, which worked wonders. The right-hander finished that year in the 99th percentile for fastball since and the 94th percentile for curveball spin. Opponents had a .139 expected batting average and .198 expected slugging percentage against him.

Reconstructive elbow surgery this late in the game is tough — on top of the fact Nelson is no stranger to injuries derailing his career — but he could potentially save the Dodgers a ton of money if he’s even a semblance of his 2021 self at just $1.1 million.

Really feels like we’ll see Alberto and Nelson back, since that’ll be two players costing a grand total of $3.1 million. Not going to find much better value than that.

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