After a quick stop in Philadelphia, Noah Syndergaard is heading back to Los Angeles.
The Phillies’ top trade-deadline acquisition this season in a deal with the Angels, Syndergaard will sign a free-agent deal with the Dodgers, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Passan. He’ll make $13 million for one year, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported.
The right-hander had a 4.12 ERA in 10 regular-season outings and a 3.24 ERA in four postseason appearances for the National League champions.
Rising to stardom with the New York Mets in 2015, Syndergaard’s career path has been altered by injury in the last few seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2020, causing him to miss that entire year and limiting him to just two innings in 2021. The right-hander then signed one-year contract with the Angels, who allowed him extra rest before each start as part of a six-man rotation.
On Aug. 2, the Phillies traded for Syndergaard in exchange for outfielder Mickey Moniak and minor-leaguer Jadiel Sanchez in a move for pitching depth. Due to his limitations coming off his injury, Philadelphia used him in a hybrid role in both the regular season and the playoffs, letting him make short starts or occasionally come out of the bullpen.
Syndergaard was on the mound at Citizens Bank Park to start Game 4 of the NL Division Series, throwing three innings of one-run ball against the Atlanta Braves and striking out leadoff batter Ronald Acuña Jr. twice as the Phillies clinched the series. He earned a hold in relief in Game 4 of the NL Championship series against the Padres, but took the World Series Game 5 loss against the Houston Astros after giving up a go-ahead home run to Jeremy Peña in the fourth inning.
After a decent season — but one nowhere close to his peak production — the 30-year-old Syndergaard will join the Dodgers to see if his stuff can return to form and try again in free agency next year.