Although Tommy Edman’s extension from the Los Angeles Dodgers has seemingly taken a backseat to the Blake Snell signing, it still remains an important part of the team roster foundation in 2025 and beyond.
Edman’s solid defensive versatility in both the outfield and infield gives the Dodgers incredible flexibility in their defensive alignments and late-game substitutions. His switch-hitting ability and speed on the basepaths add another dynamic element to an already potent lineup.
The New Deal
The 29-year-old Edman agreed to a five-year $74 million extension at the end of November that runs through the 2029 season with a club option for 2030. The option is worth $13 million and comes with a $3 million buyout.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Michigan native will receive a $17 million signing bonus. However, $25 million of the contract’s total value will be deferred and paid out over a span of ten years, starting five years after the deal is complete. Since Edman was already under contract for the 2025 season, the new deal is essentially a four-year extension.
Closing Out the 2024 Season Strongly
The three-team deal that brought Edman to Los Angeles from the St. Louis Cardinals — with the inclusion of righty reliever Michael Kopech from the Chicago White Sox — proved to be critical in the team’s World Championship run last season. At the time of the trade, Edman hadn’t appeared in a major league game following a setback from wrist surgery he underwent during the 2023 offseason.
Although he slashed just .237/.294/.417 over the final few months of the regular season, his defense proved to be crucial since the team had several holes, particularly with Miguel Rojas at shortstop. Despite the subpar offensive numbers, Edman became a critical contributor in the NLCS against the Mets once he shifted his bat into high gear, going an impressive 11-for-27 with three doubles and a long ball, eventually earning him the series MVP honor.
Looking Ahead
To guess where Edman primarily plays in 2025 is purely speculation at this point and depends on whether the team adds any more position players over the winter. Right now, it looks like the club is leaning toward Mookie Betts playing in the infield, which leaves a lot of open space in the outfield.
Gavin Lux and Rojas add infield depth, potentially opening the door for Edman to be the team’s regular center fielder. Of course, the Dodgers could end up trading Lux or someone else in a package that brings a more proven shortstop to the organization. The were a few whispers about the team being interested in Willy Adames before he landed a seven-year, $182 million contract with division rival San Francisco.
Still, if Betts does indeed move to second base, it leaves the outfield barren, even if Edman plays in center field every day. Without any additions — or without re-signing someone like Teoscar Hernandez or Enrique Hernandez — the club may need to turn to Andy Pages, Chris Taylor or even James Outman to fill in the gaps.