Dodgers Rumors: LA has begun extension talks with surprise playoff hero

As is customary, Los Angeles Dodgers fans' attention is currently occupied with the free agent and trade markets (and with good reason). The Dodgers have become the envy of the rest of MLB with their financial ability to sign essentially any player they want, and to attract top talent thanks to the presence of stars on both sides of the ball. In short, it's a great time to be a Dodgers fan.

However, the offseason isn't all about bringing new players in and cutting the roster fat, as the Dodgers did at the non-tender deadline. LA also should be trying to lock up the players that helped them win a World Series in 2024 to try and, well, do so again in the years to come. Some of their bigger stars are around for the foreseeable future, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, but there is still work to do.

One name that is a pretty curious case is Tommy Edman. After acquiring Edman in a three-team deal ahead of the trade deadline this past season, he rewarded the Dodgers' faith by posting a .711 OPS (which is decidedly mediocre) before being a postseason hero for LA, especially in the NLCS.

Now, it sounds like the Dodgers have begun talks on extending Edman to keep him around for a while longer.

Dodgers have had early talks on giving Tommy Edman an extension

Is Edman likely to sustain his postseason performance throughout the regular season? Probably not. He has pretty consistently been a .700ish OPS hitter in his career and is best served as a defense-first utility player on a contender that values versatility and doesn't need him to carry an offense. Fortunately, that is exactly the type of team the Dodgers happen to be.

With all of the uncertainty in the Dodgers' infield, keeping Edman around has a ton of value. He has extensive experience at not only every position in the infield, but at all three outfield positions as well. Regardless of where LA lands in terms of roster additions this offseason, Edman could easily find playing time, especially with Chris Taylor turning into a spoiled pumpkin.

Putting an exact number and years on what an Edman extension should look like is a bit tougher, and there haven't been any leaks as to what the figures could look like. Edman is only 29 years old and is a free agent after the 2025 season, but his offensive limitations will also limit his earning power.

Something in the realm of $12-14 million a year for 3-to-4 years seems about right, although Edman's defensive excellence does make an argument for a bit more than that, if LA is feeling spendy.

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