A few old friends find new homes as the Dodgers are close to finishing their spring training. Plus a look at the World Series Game 1 injured-hero home run club.
While thinking about Monday night’s near tie in Anaheim, and looking ahead to Tuesday night’s exhibition finale, it’s still not too late for teams to add players. A couple of former Dodgers found new homes on Monday after opting out of minor league deals.
Ryan Yarbrough was with the Blue Jays this spring but after his release he signed a $2 million, big-league deal with the Yankees. Manuel Margot opted out of his minor-league Brewers pact and signed a split contract with the Tigers that will pay him $1.3 million in the majors or $200,000 in the minors.
Freddie Freeman has played both Freeway Series games so far after missing the two games against the Cubs with left rib discomfort. He looks in line to play once the regular season resumes on Thursday. The Dodger Stadium ovation for Freeman in his first at-bat on Sunday was a harbinger of things to come, after a World Series MVP award and the first walk-off grand slam in Fall Classic history.
Jack Harris at the Los Angeles Times talked to Freeman about the fan reaction he’s gotten since October, and also talked to Kirk Gibson about his decades of fan reception since his iconic 1988 World Series home run.
“It’s very humbling to this day for people to say, ‘Oh, he’s the guy who hit the home run,’” Gibson told Harris. “They start pumping their arm. It’s a little bit embarrassing; and that’s probably not a good word … But when they do that, they mean well.”
Kiké Hernández shot video during the Dodgers’ trip to Japan, and through The Players Tribune unveiled some behind-the-scenes footage on Monday.
Welcome to Tokyo — through the eyes of the one and only @kikehndez.
From the locker room to the batting cages to the diamond, go behind the scenes with the @Dodgers in Japan. pic.twitter.com/ivF0DdQWj1
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) March 24, 2025