3 Dodgers team options for 2023 fans may have forgotten about
![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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fdodgersway-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2022-2F10-2F1330811759-850x560-11c011e249b2871728fcaad42cea5eeb.jpg)
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.