Although Dodgers pitchers and catchers were not officially scheduled to report for Spring Training 2023 until yesterday, Thursday, February 16, most – if not all of them – have actually been at the Dodgers beautiful Spring Training facility at Camelback Ranch-Glendale for a week (or more) – including Dodgers two-time All-Star right-hander Walker Buehler.

As Dodgers fans know, the 28-year-old Lexington, KY native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2015 out of Vanderbilt University underwent his second Tommy John surgery on August 23, 2022, when doctors also repaired the flexor tendon in his right arm.

That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news, although entirely expected, is that the extremely popular Dodgers right-hander was transferred from the team’s 40-man roster to their 60-day injured list on Thursday, where he will (probably) spend most of – if not all of – the 2023 season.

Probably.

As anyone who has spent any time around the always humorous right-hander will tell you, Buehler does not like being on the shelf for any amount of time, let alone a full season. Then again, the mere fact that he is on the mend from his second TJ surgery is in and of itself on the miraculous side, so there’s that.

But wait, there’s more! (you knew there would be).

The Dodgers also announced on Thursday that they had signed 28-year-old All-Star right-hander Alex Reyes to a reported one-year/$1.1 million contract that includes a mutual option for 2024 (potentially) worth an additional $3 million. That said, Reyes was also immediately transferred to the Dodgers 60-day IL as he recovers from surgery and a stem-cell injection for a frayed labrum in his right shoulder – a procedure for which he missed the entire 2022 season while with the St. Louis Cardinals where he had previously served as the team’s closer.

Why on earth would Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman sign a guy who will more than likely spend (at least) the first few months of the 2023 season on the IL to a one-year/$1.1 million deal, you ask?

Because this is exactly the kind of low-risk/potentially high reward deal for which Andrew Friedman, considered by many to be among the very best in the business, is famous for. That’s why.

When you consider the fact that contracts in the tens (or hundreds) of millions of dollars are being handed out almost daily, this is very much a low-risk/potentially high reward deal for a guy who owns a five-year 16-11 record and a stellar career ERA of 2.86 with 31 career saves.

Joining Buehler and Reyes on the Dodgers 2023 Opening Day 60-day IL will be 33-year-old right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who the Dodgers re-signed to a one-year/$1.2 million deal (after declining his $1.1 million team option for 2023), and 30-year-old right-hander J.P. Feyereisen, who the Dodgers traded for on December 14, 2022 with the Tampa Bay Rays (in exchange for 25-year-old Minor League right-hander Jeff Belge), and who is recovering from right shoulder surgery performed on December 7, 2022.

Play Ball!

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