From players to the front office, the Dodgers have made significant contributions towards wildfire relief efforts during the month of January.
On Thursday, three Dodgers headlined by Shohei Ohtani traveled to Fire Station 69 in the Pacific Palisades. Ohtani, Emmet Sheehan, and Ben Casparius visited firefighters and signed autographs, which left a powerful impact on the Palisades crew, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“It means everything to these guys,” L.A. Fire Department Captain and Public Information Officer Adam Van Gerpen said of the visit. “This station specifically – there are a lot of Dodger fans here. So having them come here is really powerful.”
The Dodgers donated $10,000 towards Station 69 and the Dodgers Foundation donated $350,000 towards the LAFD Foundation.
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As it stands on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, the team has five infield and six outfield options on their depth chart. The team has checked off the majority of their to-do list boxes for the offseason, yet there is still speculation over whether or not free agent utility man Kiké Hernández will return for the 2025 season.
Bill Plunkett appeared on the Dodgers Territory podcast, where he noted that there is zero discussion between Hernández and the Dodgers on another potential reuinion.
“I am not hearing his name from the Dodgers at all… The roster is pretty full. I don’t know who you would bounce off to make room for Kiké.”
“I am not hearing his name from the Dodgers at all.” @billplunkettocr shared an update on the Dodgers interest in re-signing Kiké Hernandez. pic.twitter.com/7lsl6qjIZo
— Dodgers Territory (@LADTerritory) January 27, 2025
A duo of former Dodgers arms have found new homes for the 2025 season.
Future Hall of Fame starting pitcher Max Scherzer has signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one year deal worth $15.5 million, marking the seventh team of his big league career. Scherzer made just nine starts in an injury plagued 2024 season, and posted pedestrian numbers across 43 1⁄3 innings, including a 3.95 ERA, 4.18 FIP, 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 101 ERA+.
Reliever Tommy Kahnle will be joining his former Yankees teammate Gleyber Torres on the Detroit Tigers, signing a one year deal for $7.75 million. Kahnle was one of the Yankees’ top relief options in 2024 (2.11 ERA in 50 games), and will now be joining a bullpen-happy Tigers team that made a miraculous run to the postseason the season prior.