LA reliever signs for $5.2 million in 2025, the final season for the right-hander before free agency
Michael Kopech thrived after joining the Dodgers at the trade deadline, and was one of the key pieces of the team’s championship bullpen puzzle in 2024. On Thursday the team agreed to terms with the right-hander on a one-year, $5.2 million per multiple reports, avoiding salary arbitration.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post was first to report the pact. Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic also had the Kopech deal.
Kopech has five years, 41 days of major league service time, and will be eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. His salary this year represents a 73.3-percent raise over the $3 million he earned last season.
The Dodgers acquired Kopech from the White Sox on July 29 as part of a three-team trade that also involved Tommy Edman coming to Los Angeles from the Cardinals.
After a 4.74 ERA and 4.84 FIP in 43 games with the White Sox, Kopech had a minuscule 1.13 ERA and 2.54 FIP in 24 regular season games with the Dodgers. On the season, Kopech saved 15 games, six with Los Angeles.
Kopech had a 3.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts and seven walks in nine innings in October, pitching in 10 of the Dodgers’ 16 postseason games en route to winning the World Series.
MLB Trade Rumors projected Kopech to earn $5.2 million in 2025, and Cot’s Baseball Contracts predicted the right-hander to earn $5 million this season. I had Kopech at $5.15 million.
Kopech missed the entire 2019 season after Tommy John surgery and opted out of the 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic. He pitched in relief in 2021 and then started in 2022-23 with Chicago before moving back to the bullpen in 2024. In his five major league seasons, Kopech has a 4.19 ERA and 101 ERA+ in 400 innings, with 445 strikeouts and 208 walks. He turns 29 in April.