The Los Angeles Dodgers can officially enjoy their weekend, thanks to a productive Friday.
They’re still celebrating a World Series championship, so one could forgive the Dodgers if they decided to take a half-day. But instead, they made sure to knock one item off their 2025 to-do list, locking in one of their expected starting pitchers on a new salary.
Tony Gonsolin, a former National League All-Star who missed the entire 2024 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, could be an under-the-radar addition to the Dodgers’ star-studded rotation, which will be headlined by Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani.
On Friday, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Dodgers and Gonsolin agreed upon a $5.4 million salary for 2025, avoiding arbitration. Gonsolin had played out the previous two seasons on a two-year, $6.5 million extension, and is once again arb-eligible for 2026.
In 2022, his last semi-full season at the big-league level, Gonsolin was sensational. He made his first All-Star team, went 16-1 to lead the majors in winning percentage (.941), and finished the year with a 2.14 ERA in 24 starts.
Gonsolin briefly returned to pitch in Triple-A in September, but he’ll be making his first big-league appearance since August 2023 when he takes the hill this spring. The Dodgers have plenty of other rotation options, but there should be a spot for the 30-year-old as long as he looks like his old self.
Having Gonsolin locked into a deal before the holidays should help the veteran focus on what matters most–his performance on the mound. If he can contribute to the rotation in a meaningful way, the Dodgers might be truly unstoppable next season.
More MLB: Dodgers $85 million fan-favorite could soon betray LA in favor of Braves
