Dodgers land Pollock on 4-year deal
The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed outfielder A.J. Pollock to a four-year contract with a player option for a fifth season, the team confirmed Saturday.
Pollock will earn $55 million in the first four seasons of the contract, and the fifth-year player option is worth $10 million with a $5-million buyout, reports ESPN's Buster Olney. He can also apparently opt out after the third year if he reaches a set number of plate appearances.
He'll also receive a $12-million signing bonus, reports Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, Pollock's former team, will apparently receive a draft pick for losing him to the Dodgers.
Underappreciated element of the Dodgers' impending A.J. Pollock deal: Because it was for more than $50 million, the Arizona Diamondbacks get another Comp A sandwich pick. As it stands, they have the Nos. 16, 26, 33, 34, 56, 75 and 78 selections. Should have most draft $ in 2019.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2019
After trading Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Cincinnati Reds in December, the Dodgers were on the hunt for help in the outfield and had been discussing a deal with Pollock.
The 31-year-old joins a versatile Dodgers outfield mix that includes Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernandez, and Alex Verdugo.
Pollock is effective when he's on the field but hasn't played a full season since 2015 because of injuries. In 2018, he missed time with a left thumb fracture.
He hit .257/.316/.484 with 21 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 13 steals last season. Defensively, he was worth plus-6 DRS, according to Fangraphs, spending most of his time in center field.
Over his career, Pollock owns a .281/.338/.467 slash line with 74 homers, 264 RBIs, and 103 steals. He won a Gold Glove in 2015.