For years, the Los Angeles Dodgers quietly re-signed former outfielder Andrew Toles every spring, not because he was returning to the field, but to keep him on the books so he could maintain his health insurance. Toles, a promising outfielder who hit .462 in the 2016 NLCS, last played in the majors in 2018 before stepping away during spring training in 2019. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
In 2020, Toles was found sleeping outside the Key West International Airport in Florida. His father, Alvin Toles, a former NFL linebacker, gained legal guardianship and brought him home to Georgia, where he continues to care for him. Each year afterward, the Dodgers renewed Toles's contract for $0, keeping him an official member of the organization so his treatment, which has included stays in numerous mental health facilities, stayed covered. The team did this without publicity for years before it was reported.
A recent MLB rule change now prevents the Dodgers from renewing the contract solely for administrative reasons. The team and Toles's family say they are working together on alternative ways to ensure he keeps receiving care.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support.
Sources: CBS Sports, ABC7, Los Angeles Times.
For years, the Los Angeles Dodgers quietly re-signed former outfielder Andrew Toles every spring, not because he was returning to the field, but to keep him on the books so he could maintain his health insurance. Toles, a promising outfielder who hit .462 in the 2016 NLCS, last played in the majors in 2018 before stepping away during spring training in 2019. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
In 2020, Toles was found sleeping outside the Key West International Airport in Florida. His father, Alvin Toles, a former NFL linebacker, gained legal guardianship and brought him home to Georgia, where he continues to care for him. Each year afterward, the Dodgers renewed Toles's contract for $0, keeping him an official member of the organization so his treatment, which has included stays in numerous mental health facilities, stayed covered. The team did this without publicity for years before it was reported.
A recent MLB rule change now prevents the Dodgers from renewing the contract solely for administrative reasons. The team and Toles's family say they are working together on alternative ways to ensure he keeps receiving care.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support.
Sources: CBS Sports, ABC7, Los Angeles Times.
