Yates can make another million if he pitches in 55 games. The deal also comes on the heels of the Dodgers signing Tanner Scott on a 4-year, $72 million contract.
It is a signing likely to excite Dodgers fans who have become accustomed to their side bringing in the best in the business. And after Yates set a career-low 0.827 WHIP last season, the hype around the signing is easily justified.
The Dodgers will mark Yates' eighth team of his career and third in the past three seasons. The two-time All-Star spent the first two seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays before being traded to the then Cleveland Indians, who designated him for assignment before they eventually traded him to the New York Yankees in 2016.
He signed with the Los Angeles Angeles in 2017 but was let go mid-season and signed with the San Diego Padres where he spent the next four seasons.
Yates is coming off an All-Star season for the Texas Rangers. The 10-year veteran threw a 1.17 ERA last season in 61 games and even finished eighth in the AL Cy Young voting.
Yates gave up 23 hits in 63.1 innings pitched, striking out 85 batters while walking just 28. His 33 saves last season was the seventh-most in all of baseball and just nine short of setting a career-high.