NL West

Former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi is reportedly returning to the Dodgers' front office after his firing by the San Francisco Giants.

Zaidi will serve as a special advisor in his second stint with the team, The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reported Monday.

The Dodgers have hired Farhan Zaidi as a special advisor, source says. He will also be assisting owner Mark Walter in his other sports interests.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 10, 2025

Zaidi worked as the Dodgers' general manager from 2014 to 2018. He then served as president of baseball operations for the Giants from 2018 to 2024.

Dodgers owner Mark Walter, who also owns stakes in the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Sparks, PWHL and Chelsea FC, will receive assistance from Zaidi with "his other sports interests," according to Ardaya.

Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal first reported for The Athletic in December that the Dodgers were talking with Zaidi about a front office role.

In an interview with Foul Territory that month, Zaidi said it was "not important" to him to resume his former role as general manager.

"If it happens, great. I know there's so many different ways that anybody can help an organization," Zaidi said in December. "I have friends who are GMs, and the chance to be a special assistant, to be an advisor to one of them, I think not only would it be great personally, but it would be nice professionally, too."

The Dodgers developed players like Max Muncy and Chris Taylor under Zaidi's first tenure. The club made back-to-back World Series appearances in Zaidi's final two seasons as general manager, but lost to the Houston Astros in 2017 and the Boston Red Sox in 2018.

Zaidi then left to join the Giants. He named the 2021 MLB Executive of the Year after the club set a franchise record with 107 wins in his third season with the franchise.

But that season ended with a five-game NLDS loss to the Dodgers, and the Giants haven't finished a season with a winning record since.

Zaidi signed an extension with the Giants in 2023, reported by John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle as a two-year agreement with a club option. He ultimately served out just the first year of that deal before he and the club parted ways last September.

The Giants lost out to the Dodgers in signing star free agents like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto under Zaidi's tenure. The team almost signed star shortstop Carlos Correa to a 13-year, $350 million deal in 2022, but the agreement fell apart due to medical concerns. And even the biggest signings of Zaidi's tenure in San Francisco— the additions of Matt Chapman and Blake Snell in 2024— weren't enough to lift the Giants above .500 last season.

As noted by The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly, the Giants meanwhile struggled to develop internally-developed talent while missing out on major free agent signings, contributing to the organization's loss of faith in Zaidi.

Zaidi won't have to worry about attracting star free agents once he's back with the Dodgers, where Ohtani and Yamamoto have since been joined by Snell alongside other players like Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott.

Kiké Hernandez is coming back to Los Angeles.

Hernandez and the Dodgers have agreed to a new contract pending a physical, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

Source: Kiké Hernández in agreement to go back to LAD, pending physical. @kikehndez 1st on it. https://t.co/EQWFeriV8A

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 9, 2025

Hernandez hinted at the signing in a post on his Instagram:

Breaking: Kiké Hernandez has announced he’s coming back to the Dodgers pic.twitter.com/Pe6hnzjGdQ

— The Incline: Dodgers Podcast (@TheInclinePod) February 9, 2025

Hernandez, who was traded to the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox in July 2023, re-signed in Los Angeles last winter and went on to play a key role in the team's World Series win.

---

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app, homepage and social feeds—including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Manny Machado admitted Saturday he is "disappointed" the San Diego Padres haven't made any significant moves after losing players like Ha-Seong Kim and Tanner Scott to free agency this offseason.

"Are we disappointed we haven't made any moves? Yeah," Machado said (h/t Marty Caswell.) "I think as a team, you look up there, and you're a little disappointed that we let some of the guys that were a core group here go elsewhere."

Manny Machado "Are we disappointed we haven't made any moves? Yeah" pic.twitter.com/PxC5Y6afEf

— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) February 1, 2025

The Padres were reportedly a frontrunner to sign star Japanese free agent Rōki Sasaki this offseason. Like Scott, Sasaki ultimately decided to sign with the divisional rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kim left to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Padres lost another part of the 2024 team when Jurickson Profar left to join the Atlanta Braves.

Part of the reason the Padres have suffered so much roster turnover this offseason may be the highly-publicized legal dispute over the team's ownership.

Player agent Scott Boras told USA Today's Bob Nightengale in October he believed the death of late Padres owner Peter Seidler in 2023 contributed to the franchise's decision to trade Juan Soto. Seidler's passing also led to an ongoing legal dispute regarding ownership of the team.

Profar cited the Padres' "issue with the ownership" when talking about his decision to sign in Tampa, per Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Sasaki's agent meanwhile mentioned the dispute when discussing Sasaki's signing with the Dodgers, per The Athletic's Dennis Lin.

The Padres were one win away from eliminating the Dodgers and advancing to the NLCS when the team claimed a 6-5 win in Game 3 of the 2024 division series.

San Diego failed to score a run in Game 4 or in Game 5, during which the Dodgers came back to continue advancing toward an eventual World Series win.

The Padres' path to getting another chance to eliminate the Dodgers has gotten steeper this season, not just because of the quiet season in San Diego but because of the Dodgers brought not only Sasaki but Scott and Blake Snell into their pitching lineup.

Combined the pending pitching return of Shohei Ohtani, those offseason moves made the Dodgers the team to beat in the NL West. The Padres could consider turning to the trade market in an effort to raise Machado's confidence his team can contend with the defending World Series champions next fall.

Shohei Ohtani could be just four months away from his Los Angeles Dodgers pitching debut.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Ohtani returning to the mound in May "sounds about right," per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani pitching in May “sounds about right.” https://t.co/eAEvVKlMVA

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 1, 2025

According to Ardaya, Ohtani said his recovery from offseason surgery on his non-throwing left shoulder remains on schedule.

The Dodgers indicated after the November procedure that Ohtani would be ready for Spring Training, but potentially only as a hitter.

Shohei Ohtani added that everything appears to be on schedule after left shoulder (non-throwing) surgery this offseason. https://t.co/eAEvVKlMVA

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 1, 2025

Ohtani has not pitched since he was playing for the Los Angeles Angels in August 2023. He underwent surgery on a UCL tear in his right elbow the following September.

He threw off the mound for the first time undergoing the procedure last August, per CBS Sports' Mike Axisa.

According to the Los Angeles Times' Jack Harris, Ohtani had progressed to "throwing bullpen sessions regularly," but was waiting until the winter to face live batters, when he suffered the shoulder injury while sliding into a stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes told reporters on Dec. 9 during MLB Winter Meetings that Ohtani had resumed throwing again (h/t MLB.com's Sonja Chen.)

When asked how much the shoulder surgery had delayed Ohtani's return to the mound, Gomes answered, "Not that much, seemingly."

Gomes emphasized, however, that the Dodgers did not want to rush Ohtani's return, per Chen. Roberts meanwhile said it was "very unlikely" Ohtani would be ready to join the rotation by the time the Dodgers open the season in Tokyo on March 18.

Getting Ohtani on the mound for the first two months of the season won't be a priority for the defending World Series champions, who spent the offseason building the most star-studded rotation in MLB.

In addition to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers are anticipating the return of Clayton Kershaw alongside the additions of Blake Snell and highly-anticipated Japanese rookie Rōki Sasaki.

That rotation depth means the Dodgers can afford to take their time and make sure Ohtani is as ready as possible to pitch by the 2025 postseason.

Ohtani is expected to also play as designated hitter on his pitching days, per Chen. Dodgers fans could expect to see him take on that double workload as soon as the second month of the 2025 season.

The San Diego Padres and New York Mets have reportedly discussed a trade involving starting pitcher Dylan Cease.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets have "been trying" to acquire Cease from the Padres. The Chicago Cubs are also involved, but there's a belief that San Diego "may prefer" New York's trade package instead (via Heyman).

Cease and the Padres avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $13.75 million contract for the 2025 season on Jan. 9.

It marked the 29-year-old's final arbitration-eligible year, meaning that he's now set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.

Cease has seemingly been on the trade market throughout the offseason, with MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reporting that he was among the starting pitchers "potentially available" for trade on Dec. 9.

The Mets and Cubs aren't the only teams vying for Cease, though. Jon Morosi of MLB Network previously reported that the Boston Red Sox were also interested in the right-hander.

Heyman noted on Thursday that the Padres might be enticed by New York's prospect list, which includes pitcher Brandon Sproat, shortstop Jett Williams and infielder Luisangel Acuña. Sproat and Williams ranked No. 46 and No. 58 on MLB.com's list of the top 100 prospects for 2025, respectively.

Cease spent the first five seasons of his career with the Chicago White Sox before he was traded to San Diego in March 2024.

He was a key piece of the Padres' rotation following the move, finishing with a 14-11 record to go along with a 3.47 ERA and 1.067 WHIP during the 2024 season. He struck out 224 batters in 189.1 innings of work, earning the fourth-most National League Cy Young Award votes.

As the Mets look to build upon their NLCS appearance in 2024, they're reportedly discussing a deal with the Padres involving Cease.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rōki Sasaki received a basketball-related question from teams throughout his free agency, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Passan reported Thursday that some organizations asked Sasaki if he was interested in following the career path of Kevin Durant or Michael Jordan, wanting to figure out if he was attempting to "join a superteam or help build one."

Durant started his career as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the superstar forward left as a free agent to join a Golden State Warriors team that finished with a 73-9 record and made an NBA Finals appearance the year before signed with the team.

As for Jordan, the legendary shooting guard won six championships on the Chicago Bulls after the Bulls selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Chicago owned a 27-55 record the year before drafting Jordan.

There's no doubt that Sasaki will be a key contributor for the Dodgers in 2025, but they still would have been viewed as a contender even if they weren't able to land him. Los Angeles won 98 games and secured a World Series victory last season, boasting superstars such as Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.

The Dodgers have been active throughout the offseason, signing starter Blake Snell and reliever Tanner Scott in addition to Sasaki.

The New York Yankees, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays all reportedly held meetings with Sasaki during his free agency.

He ended up choosing to sign with the reigning World Series champions, strengthening the Dodgers' rotation as they prepare for a title defense in 2025.

It turns out the Los Angeles Dodgers aren't the only team in the NL West permitted to make offseason moves.

According to Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, "The Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres have spoken about a potential trade that would send veteran catcher Christian Vázquez to San Diego... No deal was considered imminent Wednesday, but there appeared to be motivation on both sides to continue talking."

Vázquez, 34, hit .221 with seven homers, 27 RBI and 29 runs last season. So no, he's not exactly an impact player on par with Rōki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tanner Scott or Teoscar Hernández, but he does fill a need for a Padres team looking for a potential upgrade at the catcher position over the incumbent, Luis Campusano (.227 with eight homers and 40 RBI).

In fact, the only signing or trade the Padres have made all winter is the signing of veteran catcher Martín Maldonado to a minor-league contract. For a Padres team that has been incredibly active on the free agency and trade market in recent years, the current offseason has been something of a dud.

Granted, the Padres will return the bones of a team that won 93 games last season, eliminated the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card Round and took the eventual champion Dodgers to Game 5 of the NLDS.

But the Padres haven't gained any ground on their rivals to the north.

As for Vázquez, Hayes and Lin reported that a "key sticking point in talks between the teams is believed to be how much of Vázquez's contract San Diego would absorb in a possible exchange. The Padres, who still have multiple needs after missing out on a potential ace in Roki Sasaki, are currently projected to be over the luxury tax threshold."

In other words, the splashy moves aren't coming this winter. But Vázquez could still be a potential upgrade at a position of need.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' newest headline starting pitcher believes he chose the place that can maximize his talent the most.

During an introductory press conference Wednesday, Rōki Sasaki told reporters his decision to sign with the Dodgers was "purely based on where I can grow as a player the most."

The newest Dodger Roki Sasaki, No. 11. pic.twitter.com/4vJRedo5ay

— MLB (@MLB) January 22, 2025

Sasaki added, via ESPN's Alden Gonzalez:

"I spent the past month both embracing and reflecting on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to choose a place purely based on where I can grow as a player the most. Every organization helped me in its own way, and it was an incredibly difficult decision to choose just one. I am fully aware that there are many different opinions out there. But now that I have decided to come here, I want to move forward with the belief that the decision I made is the best one, trust in those who believed in my potential and conviction in the goals that I set for myself."

Los Angeles was far from the only team to pursue Sasaki, and the Toronto Blue Jays might have been its biggest threat. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reported shortstop Bo Bichette, outfielder Daulton Varsho and reliever Chad Green were all included in the American League East team's meeting with the right-hander and attempted to pitch him on the club.

Sasaki's agent, Joel Wolfe, also spoke with reporters and denied rumors his client had an agreement in place with the Dodgers while speaking with other teams about a contract.

"I've tried to be an open book and as transparent as possible with all the teams in the league," said Wolfe, who has vehemently denied claims of a pre-determined deal from the onset. "I answer every phone call, I answer every question. This goes back to before the process even started. Every team I think would tell you that I told each one of them where they stood throughout the entire process, why they got a meeting, why they didn't get a meeting, why other teams got a meeting. I tried to do my best to do that. He was only going to be able to pick one."

Yet a report from The Athletic highlighted how Toronto advancing as far as it did in the sweepstakes "puzzled executives throughout the sport" in part because "the Blue Jays are not regarded within the industry as a team that excels at pitching development."

The Dodgers also have far more recent success they can point to after their second World Series title in five years. They have been in the playoffs in each of the last 12 seasons, and anything less than another deep run in 2025 would be a stunning development.

There is also some familiarity in place, as Sasaki was teammates with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Team Japan.

Jack Harris of Yahoo Sports reported Ohtani and Yamamoto met with Sasaki and helped pitch him on choosing the Dodgers. Mookie Betts, Will Smith and Tyler Glasnow were also among those who pushed for his signing.

"They wanted him to know how much they were looking forward to having him join them. They wanted him to hear the message," one person familiar with the process said, per Harris. "The players caring that much, I think that was meaningful to him. He didn't have to worry about how he would be perceived. He would be perceived great. And they all wanted him here."

From a baseball perspective, this is a case of the rich getting richer.

Los Angeles had enough talent to win a World Series even if Sasaki signed elsewhere, but he gives the team another weapon in a starting rotation that also features Blake Snell, Yamamoto and Glasnow.

Throw in the possibility of Ohtani returning to the mound during the upcoming season, and opposing teams will not be looking forward to facing the Dodgers.

With his decision, Sasaki can be a meaningful part of a realistic World Series chase.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are "shopping" players including veteran relief pitcher Ryan Brasier in order to make room on their roster for offseason additions, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who need to clear space on their 40-man roster for their new and pending additions, are shopping some of their surplus to teams, including veteran Ryan Brasier, who is owed $4.5 million this year.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 22, 2025

The news comes after the Dodgers signed star Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki to a star-studded rotation already staffed by Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani.

Brasier made 29 regular-season appearances in 2024, recording a 3.54 ERA through 28.0 innings pitched. He has one season and $4.5 remaining on his contract.

He originally joined the Dodgers organization after being released by the Boston Red Sox midway through the 2023 season.

After multiple dominant seasons as a key part of the Red Sox bullpen, Brasier struggled later in his Boston career and was eventually let go by the organization.

The Dodgers picked him up on a minor-league deal and revitalized his career by improving his pitching repertoire.

The Red Sox "never recommended" he throw a cutter, according to The Athletic's Chad Jennings. The Dodgers added it to his playbook, and his improved numbers led him to re-sign on a two-year deal with Los Angeles ahead of the 2024 season.

Should Brasier head elsewhere before the start of the 2025 season, he will finish his Dodgers career with a regular-season career 1.89 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched.

The Dodgers, who just added the top relief pitcher available in free agency by signing former San Diego Padres hurler Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal, can afford to move on from Brasier. He could still be a quality pickup for other teams in need of bullpen depth.

Although his name wasn't mentioned by Nightengale, starting pitcher Dustin May could be another trade candidate as the Dodgers look to clear space on the 40-man roster. May, who has undergone two Tommy John procedures since the team's 2020 title run, agreed to a one-year, $2.14 million deal with the Dodgers in November. The additions the Dodgers have made to their pitching staff since then may have pushed him out of the rotation.

Rōki Sasaki is already getting used to Los Angeles life.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' newest starting pitcher attended Tuesday's game between the L.A. Lakers and Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena. He also got to meet Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, who further endeared him to Los Angeles fans:

Rōki Sasaki is here at the Lakers game tonight pic.twitter.com/WwPCmDcgC2

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 22, 2025

Rui Hachimura just taught Roki Sasaki how to make the LA hand symbol! pic.twitter.com/A1S7SnxYZ8

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) January 22, 2025

There are far worse ways to spend time in one's new city than going to see LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers playing under the famous Purple and Gold banners.

And a matchup against the 6-35 Washington Wizards means Sasaki is likely going to see a win as well, which will be much needed for the Lakers. After all, they are coming off a loss to the L.A. Clippers and are just 2-4 in their last six games.

They also have a difficult stretch coming up with a Thursday home game against the reigning-champion Boston Celtics before a six-game road trip. Every win is magnified for the team as it fights to avoid falling into the Western Conference play-in tournament.

As for Sasaki, his Dodgers likely won't be fighting to avoid a wild-card spot.

They are the reigning World Series champions and have added other players such as Blake Snell, Tanner Scott and Michael Conforto in addition to Sasaki this offseason. As if that wasn't enough, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Tuesday that they are in "serious discussions" with Kirby Yates as well.

Anything but another deep playoff run and potential championship would be a surprise, and Sasaki is a major reason for that reality. He provides even more star power to the starting rotation and will surely be counted on in critical situations this season.

Maybe LeBron and Co. will come see him pitch as well after he attended Tuesday's game for the Lakers.