Steve Webb
Looks like the Treinen Train will be headed for Chavez Ravine again this year. On Tuesday, the Dodgers announced that hard-throwing reliever Blake Treinen and the team have agreed on a two-year deal. According to a report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the deal will net Treinen somewhere around 17.5 million, with a $8 million club option for 2023 thrown on at the end of the deal.
Treinen definitely had his moments during the 2020 season. Early in the year, he seemed practically unhittable. In July and August, he gave up only two earned runs over 15 appearances. By the end of August Treinen’s ERA sat at a filthy 1.20. In addition, he improved his control considerably over his disappointing 2019 campaign, giving up only 7 walks during that stretch.
September and October were more of a mixed bag for Treinen last year. He seemed a lot more like the Blake Treinen that was DFA’ed by the A’s the year before. He had two or three real clunkers during September, including a couple of blown saves where he gave up three runs while recording only one out. By the end of the regular season, his ERA had jumped all the way up to 3.86. Not terrible, but not that scary, either.
Inconsistency followed him into the postseason as well. After solid outings in the first two rounds, Treinen was lit up by the Braves in Game 1, giving up three runs and wasting a solid Walker Buehler start in the 9th inning. However, he pitched two shutout innings in Game 5 and got the win. In the World Series, he wasn’t great either, but did step up in Game 5 with a critical save.
Treinen, a 7th round pick of the A’s out of South Dakota State, is in going into his 8th MLB season at age 32. This deal is more interesting in what it might hint about the Dodgers’ plans for the bullpen in 2021. Does this mean that the Dodgers WON’T be going hard after Liam Hendriks or Brad Hand? Does this mean they are looking at Treinen to step into more of a closer role as Kenley Jansen transitions into a different kind of tool for Dave Roberts? Stay tuned, Dodgers fans!
