The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to spend.
ESPN's Jeff Passan first reported Friday that the Dodgers and the reigning NLCS MVP Tommy Edman have agreed to a five-year, $74 million extension. Passan added that the deal includes a team option for a sixth year, a $17 million signing bonus and deferred money.
The team confirmed the news shortly after.
Edman arrived in Los Angeles at the trade deadline as part of a three-way deal between the Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox. L.A. also acquired reliever Michael Kopech in the trade that saw starter Erick Fedde head to the Cardinals. The Dodgers sent future considerations, two minor leaguers and infielder Miguel Vargas to the White Sox to complete the trade.
The 29-year-old missed the first half of the season while recovering from wrist surgery and a sprained ankle in St. Louis, but once he arrived with the eventual World Series champion Dodgers, he made his mark.
In 37 regular season games, Edman slashed .237/.294/.417 with six home runs and six stolen bases. Then, in the post-season, the switch-hitting utilityman took his game to the next level.
Over 16 October contests, he posted an .862 OPS, had seven extra-base hits, drove in 13 runs and stole five bases.
Edman provided a spark in Los Angeles's six-game NLS victory over the New York Mets, going 11-for-27 (.407) with three doubles and one homer while driving in 11 runs to earn the honour as the Championship Series' top performer.
He particularly stepped up in the series-clinching Game 6 win. Batting cleanup for the just fifth time in his career, he ripped a two-run double down the line in the first inning to give the Dodgers the lead and added to that advantage just two innings later with a two-run blast to left.
Edman became just the 12th player to ever be named NLCS MVP after being acquired mid-season by their new club, according to MLB.com's Sarah Langs.
In the World Series, Edman continued to contribute. In Los Angeles's five-game victory over the New York Yankees, he went 5-for-17 with a home run.
With the Dodgers, Edman spent time defensively in centre field, at shortstop and at second base. He has been extremely effective as a left-handed hitter against righties in his career, slashing .284/.325/.506 in those matchups.
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, Edman spent the first five seasons of his MLB career in St. Louis and earned the NL second base Gold Glove Award in 2021.
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