Dodgers sign Scott Kazmir to three-year deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the signing of Scott Kazmir to a three-year deal on Wednesday. 

Kazmir will make $48 million over the life of the deal and has an opt-out after one season, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The total will be deferred out over a six year period, the New York Post's Joel Sherman reported. 

The addition of Kazmir is definitely what the Dodgers needed. 

They lost Zack Greinke in free agency and have really tried hard to add another starting pitcher. They missed out on David Price, Hisashi Iwakuma, and every other starter they had interest in. They even had a deal done with Iwakuma, though it fell through due to an unclear physical. 

There are downsides to adding Kazmir as well. 

Los Angeles' rotation now includes only left-handed pitchers, with Kazmir sliding into a staff with the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, Hyun-jin Ryu, and Alex Wood. Only Brandon McCarthy, who is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, is right-handed. This unbalance is definitely an interesting one, though it remains to be seen whether it will have negative effects. 

As for Kazmir, the Nationals, Orioles, Royals, and Astros (as well as the Dodgers) were connected to him throughout the offseason. 

At $16 million per season, Kazmir will make the same on an annual basis as fellow starter Mike Leake. Kazmir, at almost age 32, is four years younger than Leake, thus he received fewer guaranteed seasons. Regardless, $48 million is plenty for a pitcher that has only made $50.897 million in his eleven-year career thus far (via BaseballReference.com).

Last season, Kazmir went 7-11 with a 3.10 ERA and a 155 to 59 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 183 innings pitched with the Athletics and the Astros. 

It has definitely been a long road back for Kazmir, who was a first round pick in 2002 by the Mets, but out of affiliated baseball in 2012. He made a resurgence in 2014 and has kept it going ever since. Now, he gets his first big payday with the Dodgers. 

The opt-out clause in Kazmir's deal is just another example of how the provision has really become popular this offseason. David Price, Johnny Cueto, and Jason Heyward have all received it. Kazmir can choose to become a free agent next offseason if he feels he can earn more money. This could be key in a starting pitching class that is extremely weak behind Stephen Strasburg. 

The Dodgers will not lose a draft pick with the signing of Kazmir, as he was not eligible for a qualifying offer. 

​--Devan Fink

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