Dodgers sign former NL West rival as surprise Miguel Rojas replacement

Veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed has played 106 games against the Dodgers. His professional career started in Atlanta, when the Braves took him in the second round, but he was traded to the Diamondbacks in 2014 and, from there, seemed destined to stay in the NL West. He was in Arizona for 10 seasons (a first for any Diamondback) and was a mainstay in 2018 and 2019, when he won two Gold Gloves.

However, both his health and performance declined, and after playing just 72 games in 2023, Arizona designated him for assignment on Sept. 6 to open a spot for their No. 1 prospect, Jordan Lawlar. He was released entirely on Sept. 9.

In February this year, he stayed in the division but headed north to San Francisco — kind of — on a minor-league deal with the Giants. He beat out Marco Luciano as starting shortstop on Opening Day, but poor play continued through 52 games (.232 average, .581 OPS) and he was DFA'ed and released in early July.

Like they did with Cavan Biggio back in June, the Dodgers saw a need that required fulfillment and didn't leave Ahmed to the purgatory of a DFA, release, and free agency for long. Miguel Rojas went onto the IL on Wednesday night with a right forearm strain, and Ahmed was there in the clubhouse to take his spot for the time being.

Dodgers sign Nick Ahmed as shortstop replacement as Miguel Rojas goes onto the IL

The timing of this couldn't have been funnier, because Ahmed's Dodgers debut came in the middle of their series against the club that had just dumped him. The Dodgers-Giants game on Wednesday was a bit of a tough watch; LA was getting no-hit by Robbie Ray and reliever Ryan Walker until the bottom of the seventh, when Chris Taylor knocked a double to center field. (Taylor is another concern for the Dodgers, as he was taken out after that double and replaced by Cavan Biggio with what was later identified as a groin strain.)

Ahmed, who was in the game as LA's starting shortstop, had struck out twice before he came to the plate in the eighth in what would be his last chance to get revenge on the Giants. Sure enough, he got his first Dodgers hit with a single and came in to score on a Freddie Freeman double for LA's second run of the night.

Dave Roberts "didn't make [Rojas' injury] sound overly serious," and said that the IL move wouldn't have much of an affect on the Dodgers' trade deadline goals, but that Ahmed would fill in for the interim. The revenge single was a great way to introduce himself to his new club, and despite the offensive shortcomings, Ahmed is still an elite defensive shortstop. That sounds a lot like Miguel Rojas. Hopefully Rojas will be able to send whatever good energy has led him to the best offensive season of his career to Ahmed.