Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia is now a free agent, and his end-of-season message to fans highlighted his uncertain future.
What is Vesia’s future with the Dodgers?
Vesia enters a market that needs high-leverage lefties, and he should benefit from the lack of options.
He’s been one of baseball’s most consistent relievers, reliable in the regular season and unafraid of big moments, whether in the middle of innings or with a clean slate.
Now, with plenty of questions about how the Dodgers get younger and where they invest resources out of the lockout, it’s unclear whether they can match what other teams offer.
Vesia, aware of what lies ahead, was blunt that he didn’t know what comes next for him.
“By far the hardest year of my career. It’s hard to put into words what this season was like. Personal battles with confidence, expectations, and highs and lows mentally,” Vesia wrote in his post on Instagram after the Dodgers season.
“I can’t thank my teammates enough for picking me up on down days and dealing with my crazy ass on my high ones.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I do want to say thank you to Dodger Nation for showing me so much love over the past 6 years, especially this year. I’m just a man on a mission!”
Why keeping Vesia would be a good idea
He has a 2.66 ERA over 367 games and 328 total innings with the Dodgers.
Vesia has racked up 6.3 bWAR with the Dodgers, posting only one season below replacement level. In the postseason, he has a 1.59 ERA over 31 appearances.
Overall, Vesia has built a strong resume, and the Dodgers haven’t paid him much.
He has just over $10 million in career earnings, and he signed a two-year, $5.8 million contract to buy out his final arbitration years.
Vesia is now positioned to earn at least eight figures over the next three years as a top reliever arm. Any team making a competitive push can use someone like Vesia.
The Dodgers are among the teams that would benefit from having Vesia on the staff, but with Evan Phillips and Tarik Skubal also hitting the market, it will be hard to afford another big contract from a 30-year-old.
Also, the Dodgers shine at finding hidden gems in the pitching department, and they could find the next Vesia.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if he comes back, but for the first time in his career, questions linger about his future with the Dodgers.