Dodgers' $74M do-it-all veteran to undergo offseason surgery, Opening Day status uncertain

Hunter Cookston

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Dodgers' $74M do-it-all veteran to undergo offseason surgery, Opening Day status uncertain image

The Los Angeles Dodgers just did what no other team had done in 25 years — win the World Series in consecutive seasons. The Dodgers came back from a 3-2 series deficit on the road, and a big part of that turnaround was moving Andy Pages out of the starting lineup, even though Tommy Edman’s ankle limited him in center field.

“Edman in CF, Call in LF and Kiké at 2B makes way too much sense. I guess Edman's ankle must still be pretty bad if he can't be an option in CF,” Dodgers writer Blake Harris wrote.

Edman battled ankle issues throughout the year, landing on the injured list twice. Known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions, his injury limited him primarily to the infield. However, the Dodgers took their time bringing him back.

“Edman landed on the injured list with a sprained right ankle twice during the regular season. In his second IL stint in August, the Dodgers brought him back slowly to give his ankle as much time as possible to heal up,” MLB.com’s Sonja Chen wrote.

At the General Managers Meetings on Tuesday, it was announced that Edman will undergo surgery on his ankle.

“Hello from Las Vegas, where Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said at the General Managers Meetings today that Tommy Edman will be getting an ankle procedure next week to address the injury that nagged him all year. The goal is to have him ready for spring training, but they'll see how his recovery goes before putting a hard timeline on his return,” Dodgers beat writer Jack Harris wrote.

The surgery brings complications for how the Dodgers will approach the offseason. It also raises the possibility that Edman could miss the start of next season.

With no clear recovery timeline, Edman’s absence from Spring Training could very well mean he won’t be ready for Opening Day. The injury adds another wrinkle to the offseason, but the procedure was ultimately necessary for his long-term health.

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