Dodgers extend NLCS MVP Tommy Edman through 2029

Edman, a key trade pickup at the deadline, will be guaranteed $74 million over the next 5 years

The Dodgers continue to be active in their offseason. They already signed two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a five-year deal earlier in the week and now they’ve extended infielder Tommy Edman $74 million over the next five years according to ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan.

Edman, 29, was already set to earn $9.5 million from a two-year deal he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2023 season. The new extension adds four more years of control for $64.5 million, or roughly $16 million per season.

Edman was a big pickup for the Dodgers at the trade deadline from the Cardinals, in a three-team trade that also included flamethrowing Michael Kopech going to Los Angeles. A super utility player who has extensive experience playing both the infield and outfield in his career, he helped stabilize the Dodgers at the shortstop position down the stretch. While his regular season numbers don’t jump off the page, as he missed most of the season with an injury, he slashed .237/.294/.411 (101 OPS+) and split most of his time between center field and shortstop.

His biggest contribution to the Dodgers came in the postseason. In 16 games, he hit .328 with 2 home runs and 13 RBI. Most of his damage came in the NLCS, where he hit .407 with a 1.023 OPS and 11 RBI as the Dodgers beat the Mets in six games, earning the series’ Most Valuable Player award.

With Edman now extended for the foreseeable future, he will be a heavy factor at the shortstop position for the defending World Champions, if not the everyday starter. Miguel Rojas is a free agent and will turn 36 in February and top infielder prospect Alex Freeland is unlikely to break camp with the big league club. The dynamic could change depending on what the Dodgers do next but given the money spent they anticipate Edman being their guy.

Michael McDermott has been writing about the Arizona Diamondbacks, and their minor league system, for 9 seasons for AZ Snake Pit, Diamondbacks on SI, and Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X at x.com/michaelmcdmlb or at Bluesky.