LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers' 2024 season ended with a World Series celebration a few days ago. Now, the team is making roster changes by exercising options for both Austin Barnes and Miguel Rojas.
Clayton Kershaw has until Monday to decide if he will return for another year. Since the celebration, he has expressed his desire to be a Dodger for life.
Barnes is set to earn $3.5 million in 2025 as he prepares for his 11th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him the second-longest tenured player on the team behind Kershaw.
Over his career, he has maintained a batting average of .223 and has hit 35 home runs in 599 games. In the current season, Barnes played 54 games, posting a batting line of .264/.331/.307, which is his highest average since 2017. Despite a challenging start to the season, he finished strong and achieved a career-best 12-game hitting streak.
Barnes is a two-time champion with the Dodgers and has a postseason batting average of .206, with two home runs and 10 runs batted in over the course of 44 games. He will spend another year with the Dodgers as a backup to Will Smith, who signed a 10-year deal last season. Additionally, Barnes will serve as the battery mate for Kershaw, who may be entering his final season with the Dodgers.
Barnes has started 111 games behind the plate for Kershaw, with a record of 53 wins and 27 losses. He has maintained an ERA of 2.67 throughout his career with Barnes.
The Dodgers are picking up their $5 million club option for shortstop Miguel Rojas. After taking over the starting position, Rojas played tremendously well on both sides of the diamond.
Rojas realized that he would not be starting at shortstop since Mookie Betts had been moved from right field to the infield, placing Rojas as his backup to start the season. He accepted this situation and was determined to do whatever it took to help the team win. Throughout the season, Roberts praised Rojas for his leadership on and off the field. Betts also expressed his gratitude to Rojas for teaching him the fundamentals of playing the position.
“He's one of the best in the game. Having him give me all the knowledge he has is awesome,” Betts said during spring training. “I love learning. He's really kind of going a little bit too fast, but I would rather him be on me and stay on me and make sure I'm doing it right than not at all.”
Rojas patiently awaited his opportunity to play, which finally came mid-season.
Betts sustained a fractured hand after being hit by a pitch, which allowed Rojas to join the starting lineup. He held that position until he suffered a tear in his left adductor muscle in September.
Rojas has been receiving treatment over the past few weeks and has been diagnosed with a sports hernia that will require surgery. He struggled with this injury during the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, which impacted his ability to play effectively. As a result, he was not included on the NLCS roster.
However, he was later added to the World Series roster and returned to play in Game 2 against the New York Yankees. In his only appearance in the World Series, Rojas went 0 for 3.
In his first 11 seasons in the majors, Rojas has a batting average of .260, with 50 home runs and 176 doubles. By the time the Dodgers begin spring training in 2025, Rojas will be turning 36 and is uncertain about his ability to start the season as he’ll be recovering from surgery.
The Dodgers will be looking to strengthen their team in the offseason and there are several intriguing options at shortstop, including Willy Adames, who is considered the top shortstop available in free agency this winter.