A one-time rival is making his case to join the defending champions in free agency.
Veteran closer Paul Sewald appeared this week on the “Foul Territory” podcast. During the episode, Sewald said that, while he would like to remain in a ninth-inning role, he would also be open to joining the Los Angeles Dodgers as a non-closer.
“The most important thing that I want is to go to a situation where I’m going to be comfortable and that I can pitch my best,” said Sewald of his free agency. “If that’s the eighth inning in LA, then that’s the eighth inning in LA. If it’s the ninth inning somewhere else, then that’s where I’m going to take.”
The righty Sewald, 34, was previously the closer for the NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks, logging 29 saves for them over the last one-and-a-half seasons (plus an additional six playoff saves when the Dbacks went to the World Series in 2023). But Sewald struggled last season, posting 4.31 ERA with four blown saves before losing his closer job in early August.
As for the Dodgers, they are in an interesting bullpen situation with right-handers Joe Kelly and Blake Treinen hitting free agency themselves. Sewald recognizes that he would likely not get the ninth inning for the Dodgers. But his interest does give the team something else to think about as they try to navigate other difficult free agent pitching decisions.
