Dodgers Reportedly ‘In Discussions’ with Free Agent OF AJ Pollock

The Los Angeles Dodgers are ‘in discussions’ with free agent outfielder AJ Pollock, reports Ken Rosenthal.

This may not be the outfielder that fans are expecting the team to be interested in but there hasn’t been much on the Bryce Harper front in recent weeks. Pollock is well-known in Los Angeles from his years with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 31-year-old is coming off a season in which he slashed .257/.316/.484 with 21 doubles, 21 home runs, 65 RBI and 2.5 WAR. He did receive and reject the qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, meaning the Dodgers would give up their second-highest draft pick and $500K in international bonus pool money.

Without knowing the terms of a potential deal, it’s hard to evaluate it properly; however, Pollock does come with some red flags. The former All-Star has played over 120 games just twice in his seven years in the majors. He also has just one major standout season (2015) and it’s hard to say he truly improves the team that much.

Pollock does provide the team a ‘true’ centerfielder and he hits right-handed, two things the team seemingly lacks. If healthy, he has the ability to be a game-changer but that hasn’t been the case for most of his career.

With Harper and Manny Machado still on the board, it would appear likely that a deal with Pollock may not come until after those two are signed.