LOS ANGELES In anticipation of Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed to a major-league contract on Wednesday after realizing they had a gap in their middle infield.
The need became apparent almost away when Miguel Rojas complained of pain in his right forearm during the All-Star break. An MRI revealed a flexor strain, and the player did not get better after resting for a few days. One of the 36-year-old’s best seasons was put on hold when he was added to the injured list.
After Ahmed was released by the San Francisco Giants 14 days prior, the Dodgers called him and reached an agreement. They scheduled the 34-year-old former Gold Glove winner for a Wednesday afternoon matchup against his former team after he arrived in Los Angeles at 11:30 a.m.
“I knew that the sign would come quick whenever it did come, so just had to figure out how to stay ready,” Ahmed said after introducing himself to Dodgers staff and going through some infield drills.
The eleven-year veteran claimed that prior to the Dodgers offering him a big-league berth, he was exercising at his Arizona home and taking calls from teams.
Dodgers moves:
– Nick Ahmed signed, Miguel Rojas on IL with right forearm tightness
– Tyler Glasnow active, Landon Knack optioned
– Ricky Vanasco DFA— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 24, 2024
Rojas’ return timeline is unclear, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Before starting up again, Rojas will need “a handful of days” at the very least without playing baseball. Though Roberts stated that Rojas “would be able to bounce back from,” the problem has already taken longer to resolve than anticipated. Rojas claimed that the cause of the problem was a one-handed bat workout he implemented during the All-Star break.
Ahmed will “lock down shortstop” in the interim, according to the manager, until Mookie Betts, who is on the injured list due to a fractured left hand, or Rojas return off the list. It is only lately that Betts has taken up a bat for dry swings.
Although there are not many possibilities, Roberts would not say whether this would compel the Dodgers to consider getting a shortstop before the deadline next week. Bo Bichette of Toronto will not be back until at least August. Although Willy Adames has long been desired, it is unlikely that the Milwaukee Brewers, who are now in first place, will move him. Even though Paul DeJong is having a strong season, the Chicago White Sox are in last place with an OPS of.688. The Chicago Cubs are open to trading for players, although infielder Nico Hoerner has a long-term contract already.
Rather than elevating Gavin Lux to shortstop for the most of the winter, the Dodgers now have Ahmed on their middle-infield depth chart. Lux has not recorded a start at shortstop and has only played 1 1/3 innings there. Rather than starting at shortstop, Betts, Rojas, and Kiké Hernández have been the Dodgers’ primary second basemen.
The team has done quite well. The Dodgers had the fifth-highest FanGraphs WAR at the position going into play on Wednesday, though a large portion of that was attributed to Betts’ MVP-caliber hitting before his injury.
Throughout the first ten years of his major league career, Ahmed was a mainstay with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were in the same division. Before the organization designated him for assignment during the final stretch of the previous season, he played shortstop in 854 games and won two Gold Gloves.
After signing a minor-league contract with the Giants in February, the veteran made the team’s Opening Day roster and played in 52 games with an OPS of.581 before being designated for assignment. When the Dodgers called to ask who Ahmed would play against in his first game, Ahmed quipped that he looked at their schedule. Robbie Ray, Ahmed’s former Diamondbacks teammate, is set to make his Giants debut on Wednesday night after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Ahmed will bat ninth against Ray.
“Saw it on the calendar and that’s pretty funny, how it came together like that,” Ahmed said. “God’s got a funny sense of humor sometimes.”
(Photo of Nick Ahmed from July 6: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
