Alex Vesia, one of the arbitration-eligible players tendered a contract by the Los Angeles Dodgers last November, remains under team control but failed to secure an agreement before the salary exchange deadline. The Dodgers took similar steps with Anthony Banda, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips, while successfully avoiding arbitration with Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May through one-year deals.
The Thursday 10 a.m. PT deadline for exchanging salary figures led to a flurry of activity. However, as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Vesia and the Dodgers could not reach a contract agreement, and the matter will proceed to an arbitration hearing.
This marks Vesia’s second year of arbitration eligibility. MLB Trade Rumors estimated his 2025 salary at approximately $1.9 million. The 28-year-old left-hander appeared in a career-high 67 games during the 2024 season, excelling in several key metrics. He became a reliable option for the Dodgers in high-pressure situations, beyond the traditional same-side matchups.
Vesia’s season was nearly derailed by an intercostal injury sustained during Game 5 of the National League Division Series, which kept him off the Dodgers’ roster for the NL Championship Series. However, he made a return for the World Series, where he pitched 2.2 scoreless innings across four games against the New York Yankees.
Alex Vesia’s Changeup Development
Vesia has primarily relied on an effective fastball-slider combination but has shown interest in adding a changeup to his repertoire. During the 2024 season, he experimented with the pitch, throwing it 57 times, but eventually abandoned it. This decision may have stemmed from the .313 batting average hitters managed against his changeup, compared to just .149 and .106 against his fastball and slider, respectively.
Despite the challenges, Vesia continues to explore ways to expand his pitch arsenal, aiming to enhance his overall effectiveness on the mound.
