Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
A bit of a Dodgers news update here as I know you guys were waiting with bated breath after my extensive and serious breakdown of the existing contract options and qualifying offer candidates that the Dodgers had, so of course I had to update you that … nothing happened. That’s right, the November 2 deadline came and went without any news, as expected.
Moving on!
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In transaction news, prior to the 2027 international signing period opening up — scheduled for January 15, but with the lockout who knows — the Dodgers signed 6’5, 189-pound right-handed pitcher Alberto Santos (no age info) and 6’4, 185-pound 17-year-old right-handed pitcher Maikol Lora as late additions to their 2026 international free agent class. Couldn’t find any additional information on either player, but they are certainly sizable additions. #Analysis
Additionally, 13 players hit free agency in the minor leagues, adding to the cohort from the major leagues.
- RHP Yency Almonte (AAA)
- RHP Nick Robertson (AAA)
- RHP Jerming Rosario (AAA)
- RHP Ryder Ryan (AAA)
- LHP Charlie Barnes (AAA)
- LHP Cole Irvin (AAA)
- LHP Christian Suarez (AA)
- C Yeiner Fernandez (AA)
- C Nelson Quiroz (AA)
- C Chadwick Tromp (AAA)
- SS Ryan Fitzgerald (AAA)
- OF Matt Gorski (AAA)
- OF Jose Meza (A+)
Robertson was stellar in 2026 in his age-27 season, posting a 1.13 ERA between AA and AAA in 55.2 innings with a 68/18 K/BB rate. Kinda surprising he didn’t get called up at any point with all the shuffling of the season, and he should get another shot at the bigs elsewhere. Rosario has been a prospect for what feels like 15 years, and the conversion to relief has gone reasonably well. In his age-24 season, he put up a 3.17 ERA over 65.1 innings at AAA with an 80/36 K/BB rate. Irvin (32) did his job, eating 137.2 innings over 28 starts of 3.33 ERA ball in AAA and making one inning-eating Dodgers appearance for a six-inning pen saver in what marked his return to the majors. For Yeiner, he looked promising after his 2022 season, but basically just didn’t hit again as he was promoted. 2026 was his age-23 year, so there’s still some time, but it’s getting urgent. Over 613 PA in AAA, Fitzgerald (32) put up a .315/.375/.485/.861 line and starred in AAA. He can probably find a better shot at the majors elsewhere, but multiple teams have sorta put him in the org depth bucket already, and that’s not likely to change.
Speaking of Fitzgeralds, the Dodgers re-signed Tyler Fitzgerald to a one-year minor-league deal. He was traded to the Dodgers from the Blue Jays for cash considerations back in April of last year, but suffered an injury in June, was removed from the 40-man, and missed the rest of the year.
Fitzgerald is an interesting re-sign because of his utility, as he primarily handles all the up the middle positions at a solid-average rate, has played every position but catcher, and has a career .252/.309/.430/.739 line in 618 career MLB plate appearances across three seasons. Of course, that’s really buoyed by what seemed like a breakout 3-WAR year in 2024 for the Giants that was carried by batted ball luck, and he didn’t control the zone enough for that to ever be sustainable (7 BB%/30 K%). However, he did look great in his age-28 season over 100 PA in AAA with the Dodgers, posting a .293/.400/.598/.998 line without elevated batted ball luck and 14 walks to 22 strikeouts. The OPS was on pace to be a career-best, and both his walk rate and strikeout rate were his best since the pandemic. Basically, the team could do a lot worse for minor-league depth.
BEDLAM IN BRICKTOWN!
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) May 9, 2026
Tyler Fitzgerald hits a game-tying grand slam in the 9th inning! pic.twitter.com/XtoVwgoo2t
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The most consequential Dodgers news so far has been happening in the front office, at least on the business side, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Wolfe recently announced his retirement after 14 years with the team.
Wolfe has been Executive Vice President with the Dodgers for 14 years, serving as Chief Operating Officer for the past five. In his role, Wolfe has been responsible for carrying out the club’s day-to-day administrative and operational functions and advising and executing on business strategies across the organization. He has also served as the team’s liaison to MLB on a variety of matters and as a board member of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
The Dodgers presumably knew this was happening, as shortly after they announced Caroline Perry would be hired away from the Padres to be their new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
The highest-ranking female employee in Padres history, Perry is one of only three female COOs in Major League Baseball. The 2026 season was her 16th with the Padres, after originally joining the club as associate general counsel in April 2011. In San Diego, Perry oversaw the Padres’ ballpark operations, business strategy and analytics, legal, finance, government affairs and information technology operations. She participated in numerous large-scale projects for the Padres, including the Padres’ renovation of Gallagher Square, negotiations with the City of San Diego surrounding the All-Star Game and the management of Petco Park, and the sale of the team in 2012 and 2026.
Additionally, they promoted Royce Cohen to Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer.
Cohen joined the Dodgers in 2014, developing the club’s business strategy and analytics infrastructure and subsequently leading the creation of Dodgers 365, which manages the club’s non-baseball revenue streams. During his time with the Dodgers, Cohen has emphasized building and scaling core competencies, culminating earlier this year in the launch of RightsHelper, a ticket analytics and operations platform utilized by clubs in MLB, NFL, NBA and MLS.
More towards the baseball side of things, the Dodgers are losing Clayton Thompson (Coordinator Of Integrated Performance) to the Astros.
It’s a promotion at least.
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Less than a month before the lockout. Tick tock.
