Longtime Dodger Scott Elbert Signs With The Padres

The annoying Padres have picked up another former Dodger. This time there is another veteran Dodger going down south. One of the longest tenured Dodgers, left handed reliever Scott Elbert has signed with San Diego. According to a tweet from Baseball America’s Matt Eddy, who reported the move Saturday afternoon.

The 29-year old left hander was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round and as the seventeenth overall pick in the 2004 amateur draft. Elbert made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2008, and has played his entire career with the Dodgers ever since. During his career with the Dodgers, Elbert held left handed hitters to a .682 OPS against.

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

In his six MLB seasons with the Dodgers from 2008-2014, Elbert posted a 3.54 ERA, and an 8.8 strikeout per nine rate in 96.2 innings pitched. Elbert pitched in 127 games, also posting a 3.9 walks per nine rate, and a 3.87 FIP.

Elbert had his best years from 2011-2012 in which he was one of the Dodger’s most consistent relievers. In 2011 he posted a 2.43 ERA in 47 games, recording two saves. He put up a 2.72 FIP year in 2011, with a very good 7.2 hits per nine rate. In 2012 Elbert had a 2.20 ERA in 43 games, and posted a 3.80 FIP in a little over 32 frames.

Elbert missed all of 2013 and most of 2014 after he had to have Tommy John surgery. Elbert has had a long and established history of elbow problems, and multiple surgeries over the last few years. He did however make a comeback late in the 2014 season in his final go round with the club.

Elbert appeared in seven games in 2014 for the Dodgers, and posted a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings of work. He made two appearances in the NLDS against the Cardinals, but one of those appearances came in game 3 in which he allowed a double to Yadier Molina, and a go-ahead two-run home run to Kolten Wong. That ended up becoming the game winning home run.

If you remember the Dodgers outrighted him in early November, and he then became a free agent. We do not know what the financial terms of the contract are yet. However Elbert made 575,000 dollars last year, and would be under team control until 2017.