Dodgers Still Showing Interest in Free Agent All-Star Closer

Will the Dodgers spend what it takes to upgrade the back end of their bullpen?

The middle of the offseason is here, and the Dodgers have, without a doubt, made the biggest moves of any MLB team. After signing Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, the front office has made more than $1.16 billion in contractual commitments this off-season alone.

Despite the big money, the team still has some holes that could use attention. As of right now, the team is still eyeing the market for an everyday corner outfielder and could benefit from one more starting pitcher. 

On top of that, the Dodgers have been linked to a few closers this offseason, including Josh Hader. Jim Bowden of The Athletic, in an interview on CBS, linked L.A. to Hader once again.

As one of the biggest spenders in baseball, the Dodgers get mentioned in contention with almost every free agent. This one, though, does not make a ton of sense.

The talent speaks for itself. Hader is one of the best closers in the game. He's made the All-Star team five times, even earning Cy Young votes. He's coming off one of his best seasons, in which he had 33 saves and a 1.28 ERA in 61 appearances with the San Diego Padres.

While nearly every bullpen could use a left-handed pitcher like Hader, he does not align with the Dodgers' recent approach to bullpen-building.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman hasn't historically issued big-money contracts to relievers. He re-signed Kenley Jansen to a five-year, $80 million contract in 2017, but that's the exception to the rule. The next-largest in terms of total value was Joe Kelly's three-year, $25 million pact.

Hader wants a larger contract than the 5-year $102 million the New York Mets gave reliever Edwin Diaz years ago.

Second, in each season since Jansen's departure, the team has favored a closer-by-committee approach. Evan Phillips is the team's de facto closer, but who pitches the ninth inning often comes down to matchups. Last year, Hader was steadfast in his desire to be used exclusively in save situations.

Last, the Dodgers frequently ask their relievers to get more than three outs or finish one inning, to then start the next. Hader never recorded more than three outs last year, let alone pitch across two innings. 

As a pure talent, the Dodgers could use someone like Hader. Philosophically speaking, it does not seem like a good fit.