A contract impasse ends four seasons in L.A.
Aaron Bates is leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers after both sides failed to agree on a new contract. A team source confirmed his departure Friday, November 6, following 12 years with the organization.
The 42-year-old spent the past four seasons sharing the hitting coach position with Robert Van Scoyoc. Although president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman had expected the coaching staff to remain largely unchanged, the Dodgers reportedly offered Bates a multiyear deal before negotiations broke down.
His exit comes after a postseason in which Los Angeles' offense struggled and the club was eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. That finish followed a productive regular season, with the Dodgers ranking second in batting average at .257 and OPS at .762, third in on-base percentage at .338 and tied for seventh with 204 home runs.
Despite the playoff disappointment, the team's regular-season production received individual recognition. Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy were named Silver Slugger Award finalists, while Los Angeles also earned consideration for the team award.
Bates' departure leaves a coaching vacancy as the Dodgers look toward another season. After a dozen years in the organization, his next move comes following a contract disagreement rather than a reported public announcement of a performance-related dismissal.