Alex Vesia is staring down a lot more than just the final year of his Dodgers contract.
The veteran left-hander said he’s carrying a different perspective nearly a year after the tragedy that hit his family, and that shift is impossible to miss in the way he talks about this season.
“I sent a text in our family group chat that was like, ‘I potentially could have played my last home game as a Dodger, in the regular season,’” Vesia told the California Post. “And it was just like, damn.”
That reality sits alongside another painful marker: October 2026 will be a full calendar year since his newborn daughter, Sterling Sol, passed away, which led him to step away from the team.
“The way I view things are a little bit different. The way I go about my business is a little bit different. The way I’m motivated is a little bit different,” he added.
“Ultimately, I know the job that I have to do. But yeah, my motivation for this month is different.”
Vesia is on the last year of the two-year, $5.8 million deal he signed after the 2024 season. He’s spent six years with the Dodgers overall and has become one of their better developmental wins.
Los Angeles got him in a trade after his rookie season in 2020 with the Miami Marlins, and he’s been dependable ever since. Outside of 2023, every season of his Dodgers run has checked in at 0.7 bWAR or better, per Baseball Reference.
This year has been one of the best stretches of his career. Vesia has a 2.64 ERA across 58 innings with a 1.5 bWAR in 2026, numbers that put him near his peak and make this final year of club control feel especially significant.
For a pitcher known for his edge and intensity, Vesia has been a steady presence for the Dodgers through their current run, and his name has become part of the group that has powered the team’s success.
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Dodgers Braves NLDS Opens With One Huge Pitching Question
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Chris Sales status for the opener is the biggest pitching question hanging over the matchup, with his recent workload creating real uncertainty for the Braves. From the Dodgers side, the bye gives them some flexibility in how they line up their own rotation for Game 1, a small but meaningful advantage in a series where every decision around the mound could shape the tone early. [Read more 🡒]