Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the offseason with two club options to decide on after the 2024 World Series concluded.
The first club option, which was reported by multiple sources, involved veteran backup catcher Austin Barnes, which the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to exercise for the 2025 season with a base salary of $3.5 million.
However, the second club option, for veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas, for $5 million, has also been exercised by the club, as reported by Ari Alexander.
Miguel Rojas had a career year offensively after an atrocious first year back with the Dodgers in 2023. In back-to-back seasons, Rojas got more playing time than he and the Dodgers had hoped, as the team acquired him from the Miami Marlins two winters ago to be a plug-and-play utility infielder.
A season-ending leg/knee injury to Dodgers then shortstop Gavin Lux in spring training opened the door for an everyday role for Rojas, and in 2024, he would get the call again when Mookie Betts fractured his hand in mid-June.
What remained solid for Rojas was his defense. Despite being thirty-five, Rojas was one of the league’s best defensive players, ranking in the 96th percentile in OAA (Outs Above Average), 90th percentile in Fielding Run-Value, and elite .993 fielding percentage at shortstop.
However, the Dodgers got extra production this season with the bat. Rojas hit .283/.337/.410 with a .748 OPS and 111 wRC+ and was a key contributor at the bottom of the lineup, getting on base and setting up the big three (Ohtani, Betts, Freeman).
However, despite the leadership and defensive presence on the diamond, I am shocked that the Dodgers opted to bring back Rojas even at the price of five million dollars.
Rojas has already announced that he will undergo sports hernia surgery, a similar offseason surgery that fan favorite Kiké Hernández had last offseason.
The veteran shortstop should be ready by spring training, but with big-time free agent Willy Adames out there, it remains to be seen what the long-term plans are for the shortstop position in Los Angeles.
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