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Former Dodger Tony Gonsolin has signed a major-league deal with the Kansas City Royals, per Fabian Ardaya at The New York Times. The right-hander, who made the All-Star team as a Dodger in 2022, moves to Kansas City as he continues his comeback from the Tommy John surgery that derailed what was shaping up to be a brilliant career in Los Angeles.

Gonsolin’s 2022 season was something special. He went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA across 24 starts, earning his first All-Star nod and establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in the National League. His ability to mix a splitter, slider, and cutter with deceptive arm action made him a nightmare for opposing lineups. But arm trouble had been lurking. He dealt with forearm tightness late in that 2022 campaign, and after battling injuries through 2023, he ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery that cost him significant time. The road back has been long, and it’s clear the Dodgers — with the pitching depth they’ve assembled — weren’t the landing spot for his next chapter.

For Gonsolin personally, this is a fresh start. He’s 32 now, and the major-league deal (as opposed to a minor-league contract) signals that Kansas City sees him as someone who can contribute at the big-league level relatively soon. The Royals have been aggressive in adding pitching this year, and Gonsolin’s pedigree — a career 3.27 ERA across parts of five seasons with the Dodgers — makes him a worthwhile bet if his arm is healthy. He was never a high-velocity guy, so the surgery shouldn’t rob him of what made him effective. If his feel for his secondary stuff is still there, he could be a useful mid-rotation arm.

It’s a little bittersweet watching Gonsolin go. He was a homegrown arm who came up through our system, made his debut in 2020, contributed to a World Series title, and then put together one of the best single seasons any Dodger pitcher has had in recent memory. The cat-loving, unassuming right-hander was easy to root for. But the Dodgers’ rotation picture has evolved dramatically since his peak — between the return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound, the presence of Blake Snell, and the depth pieces the front office has stockpiled, there simply wasn’t a clear path back for Gonsolin here.

I’m genuinely glad he got a major-league deal rather than having to prove himself in the minors first. He earned that. The timing is interesting too — this comes right as the Royals just got swept by us, so Gonsolin will be joining a team that just saw our lineup up close. Kansas City is trying to stay competitive, and adding a pitcher with Gonsolin’s track record is a smart, low-risk move for them. For us, this is a non-event roster-wise. We moved on from Gonsolin a while ago. But it’s worth a tip of the cap to a guy who gave us some really good years and one truly elite season. Hope he stays healthy over there.

Source(s): Fabian Ardaya (The New York Times) | First reported: August 14, 2026 12:03 AM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers