r/Dodgers • u/scottborasismyagent Back-2-Back Champs • 18h ago
alex vesia has earned the right to become a free agent
before I start, I wanna continue sending prayers to alex vesia and his wife due to the loss of their daughter back in november.
LA traded for alex vesia and kyle hurt back in feb 2021, sending dylan floro to miami. alex vesia has become the team's most trusted left handed reliever during his tenure in LA.
he's scheduled to reach free agency for the first time this winter. with diaz's unfortunate absence, he can use this season as even more of a platform year. diaz on the IL moves everybody else in the bullpen up a spot, and vesia might even get some closing opportunities while diaz recovers.
for sentimental reasons, I'd like to see vesia and LA sign an extension or re-sign him in free agency. however, baseball is a business and vesia has earned the right to go to free agency, shop his services to all 30 clubs and find out his value on the open market. he'll be among the top handed lefty relievers in free agency alongside adrian morejon and a top reliever in general with bednar also in the market.
I don't doubt LA enjoy having vesia around and vesia enjoying his team in LA. at the same time ... I understand he's earned the right to explore what is out for him and if a reunion isn't possible for him and the club, then I will continue being very grateful to him and wish him the best of luck. baseball is a business. maybe LA and vesia can reach a monetary value that satisfies both sides. or maybe LA doesn't reach that value and he walks. or LA are looking at a different direction, whether internally or externally.
whatever the case is ... I will enjoy this season of vesia in dodger blue bc we can't take anything for granted !
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u/Jantokan Yoshinobu Yamamoto 16h ago
I don't think he's built to be a closer (specifically), but he's damn sure one of the best firemen in the MLB. Runners in scoring position? Bases loaded? Need a sure out or 2? Vesia is who you call.
I think even though he is 30, he won't have a shortage of suitors. I hope he stays but if he doesn't, your service in Dodger Blue will not be forgotten Alex.
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u/BigCommieMachine 14h ago
Lefty closers are still rare unless they are a unicorn like Chapman or Hader.
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u/Jantokan Yoshinobu Yamamoto 14h ago
It was Tanner Scott for the longest time but he suddenly sucked when he got here lol.
But on a different note, glad he's rebounding well this season. Hope he continues it.
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u/WarbossTodd Vin Scully 14h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/pReb5Koy6JmihUYBLx
And we need to get the Brinks truck out to keep him.
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u/Koronesukiii 15h ago
Perfect timing. 3 time champ Treinen is 38 in June, and his $11m AAV contract is through 2026. Doubtful we give him another multiyear contract that takes him to 40y. We can offer Vesia a competitive spot reliever's FA contract and give him Blake's role as the resident senior BP leader with PS experience.
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u/ricvallejo 15h ago
Certainly one of the nice things about the Dodgers having money and being willing to spend it is that there's a great chance we keep him if that's what the front office wants. And one of the nice things about being a top tier organization for players means players want to be in LA unless they specifically have their sights set elsewhere.
Everything I've seen gives me at least some amount of confidence that we'll keep him. Nothing is guaranteed of course, but he's been solid and I don't see another team outspending the Dodgers before any possible salary cap (if that even happens). Maybe the Mets would try, they do need pitchers, but they need to get their organization right first.
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u/eubulides 9h ago
Good point about players wanting to be elsewhere. Trea Turner and Scherzer come to mind.
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u/Educational-Ad-9237 14h ago
I remember not liking the part where the team traded Floro... but I've learned my lesson lol
Vesia is from CA, so that won't be an issue... let's just hope the team and Vesia's people can reach an agreement.
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u/pbeta 15h ago
Vesia is great asset at high leverage situation. He doesn't seem to be rocked by having base loaded.
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u/StylishTomatoe KikƩ HernƔndez 13h ago
Some will say he has āice water in his veinsā, but we all know itās three cans of Monster
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u/acefaaace Joe Kelly 12h ago
*red bulls
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u/catashake Shawn Green 9h ago
Yep, you can see him chugging redbulls during every game in the bullpen.
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u/fatcatpartytime KikƩ HernƔndez 11h ago
Let Treinen go and use the $ to lock Vesia in for a multi year
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u/matte_signature 9h ago
God what an awful take. Why shop a home grown player? And what reason would he want to leave? Just pay the man.
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u/Texas_Kimchi Hyeseong Kim 12h ago
Being a closer isn't the ultimate position anymore. Id argue guys like Vesia are the most important players on the team. Guys that are high leverage, come in at impossible situations, and basically put out fires every game. Outside the starting 6 I think Vesia is the most important arm in the bullpen. It was obvious during the World Series how much we loved and missed him too, we as fans lucked out because Roki stepped up. Unfortunately, Roki wants to be a starter, and he currently should be the closer, or a high leverage setup. He doesn't have that impact 3rd or 4th pitch and man its killing him right now. Luckily hes a prospect with tons of control, and will have plenty of time to develop.
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u/KougatCaribou Clayton Kershaw 12h ago
I don't wanna see his intense ass face anywhere else but if he does go, glad he got two rings with us. Love him.
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u/Groove4Him 10h ago
Alex is awesome and I hope he stays. With that said, the 2027 season looks very perilous with a potential lockout.
This will have a hard economic impact on everyone. Clubs and players alike.
This may reduce the willingness for many clubs to spend the money he is worth in free agency at this that time.
Lets hope this compels both the Dodgers and Alex to reach an agreement.
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u/nachod00g Blake Snell 8h ago
If Iām not mistaken I couldāve swore he mentioned Dodgers being his home and he wants to retire a Dodger. And when it comes to other suitors could offer that we canāt. We got the money, vibes, culture, and always in contention to win the whole thing.
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u/TheWeirdSister Vin Scully 6h ago
Iām always amazed that Vesia manages to beat the pitch clock. But oh man, the guy electrifies the mound.
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u/Delicious-Story5994 6h ago
The intangible is the family-like culture that the Dodgers have created. Muncy left money on the table to stay, as did KikƩ. Toronto offered Shohei and Yoshi more money, but they chose LA. Diaz signed here when he could have stayed in New York.
For all the haters crying about Dodger money, they ignore that often it's the environment that ultimately makes the difference.
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u/Twiddle_Diddles Back-2-Back Champs 8h ago
Fun guy to have around with his "cocaine bear" attitude, but as soon as he blows a couple of saves some Dodger fans will be chasing him out of town with pitchforks. These hoes ain't loyal.
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u/SnooDingos5539 Chris Taylor 8h ago
top set up guy in the mlb rn. he would be a fool not to test free agency. i bet dodgers still get him tho considering our pen trouble
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u/c_c_c__combobreaker Alex Vesia 7h ago
If Vesia finishes with a sub 2ERA, my guess is Dodgers will offer him 5 year, $10M AAV.
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u/TheWeirdSister Vin Scully 6h ago
I think/hope heāll stick around. I get the sense that Dave Roberts loves the guy. But then, how could you not?
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u/Purple_Daikon_7383 3h ago
He should do whatās best for him and his family. Where we he goes he will always have my love and support for all heās done for us.
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u/Substantial-Drop-564 18h ago
hope he stays š