In August, Dave Roberts announced that Kenta Maeda would be shifted to the Dodgers’ bullpen along with Alex Wood. This move was made to try to fill the hole left by Kenley Jansen, who was sidelined when his heart condition resurfaced. It was a decision that was needed to be made at the time, but it was also one that that hurt Maeda financially.
One of the first decisions the Dodgers had to make this offseason was working on a new deal to keep Clayton Kershaw in Dodger Blue, and rightfully so.