Tommy Edman enjoyed a successful debut season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team is working to secure a few additional ones.
The versatile player has signed a five-year, $74 million contract extension with an option for a sixth year, as announced by the Dodgers on Friday. According to Jeff Passan from ESPN, the agreement features a $17 million signing bonus along with deferred payments.
Edman was originally scheduled to enter free agency following the 2025 season. He is now part of a group that includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Will Smith, all of whom are signed with the Dodgers until 2029.
The arrangement resembles the Dodgers’ other major transaction of the offseason to date, with Snell’s five-year, $182 million contract featuring a notable signing bonus and deferred payments. The arrangement benefits the Dodgers in terms of CBT calculations, incurring minimal expense for the player due to the initial payment.
Edman joined the Dodgers during this year’s trade deadline, part of a three-team deal that also sent reliever Michael Kopech to Los Angeles. The trade proved crucial for the Dodgers’ playoff journey, as Kopech swiftly emerged as a key bullpen asset, while Edman earned NLCS MVP accolades, showcasing versatility and making standout defensive plays.
Edman stands out as a unique player capable of delivering exceptional defense at shortstop, center field, and second base, showcasing his skills in the first two positions during the Dodgers’ World Series journey. The Dodgers focus on versatility, and Edman provides that at three key defensive spots.
He also provides them with a sturdy bat, along with a catch. Edman is a switch-hitter with a noticeable advantage, posting a .181/.256/.267 line against right-handed pitchers while excelling with a .412/.417/.882 line against left-handed pitchers. He can also be on fire at times, like when he posted a .407/.393/.630 in the NLCS against the New York Mets.
The Dodgers have faced challenges at shortstop since Trea Turner departed in free agency, leading them to experiment with Mookie Betts in that role this season. Center field also poses a challenge, as a combination of Andy Pages and James Outman is expected for 2025. Edman is expected to have ample opportunities at both positions in 2025.
Securing that player for the next five years is important for the Dodgers, who came into the offseason with a long list of tasks to tackle, even after winning the Commissioner’s Trophy. One focus was extending Edman, while another was acquiring a starting pitcher like Snell.
The Dodgers are still in need of a starting pitcher, a corner outfielder—consider options like Juan Soto or Teoscar Hernández—and possibly a couple of bullpen arms, especially with Blake Treinen hitting free agency. The team has already invested $256 million this offseason, and they are far from done.
