The Dodgers are completely loaded in the pitching department. They usually enter every season loaded, but injuries have thinned them out to the point that last post season, the starting rotation was not in good shape. In fact, due to health issues, it was a fairly glaring weakness that the “Dawgs” in the bullpen had to cover up for, requiring some decently miraculous work.
Once Fooled, Twice a Fool!
The Dodgers have acquired the most talented staff in baseball, I don’t think anyone would question that at this point. But, they’ve also held on to their depth and have done so with contracts on the margins that provide them the flexibility needed to be aggressive.
After the Dodgers make Scott and Yates official, the 40-man roster would sit at 41. So the Dodgers would have to make a corresponding move or wait to make either Scott or Yates official until the 60-day ILs are removed.
But, that’s the easy part of the equation.
If the Dodgers sign Kershaw, something we all want to happen, that would put them at 16 pitchers on the 26-man after everyone gets healthy. And, of those 16 pitchers, only 3 of them, Sasaki, Vesia, and Gonsolin have options, and none of them are good candidates to be optioned.
It appears the plan is to play it “day by day” and let things work themselves out. Michael Kopech is going to be out for a month or so, and situations like that are what would open the needed spots and make the math work.
It’s a great problem to have, trying to figure out how to use all of the accumulated talent. It’s better to have and not need, than need and not have.
That is, unless you are one of the younger pitchers and needing opportunity to get your MLB career started. The one aspect of the plan for the Dodgers that is, in my opinion, tough to get on board with, is that guys like Bobby Miller, Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski Ben Casparius and all the young guys have anywhere from no path to one that is massively limited.
Much more limited than they have earned, in my opinion.
That’s all part of doing business for an organization that is as “win-now” as the Dodgers, that much is understood. But, on a personal level, for those guys, it’s a tough situation. It’s frustrating to see them enter the backside of their 20s and still be given no path to the chance they deserve to have a long and prosperous Major League career.
The Dodgers view them as depth, and with all of the pitching injuries in the recent past that’s understandable. But, again, on a personal level, I would rather see these guys used, or see them moved for someone the Dodgers will eventually use for something more than depth.
That’s a personal rant though, and not meant to take away from the excitement of the roster the Dodgers have built, but just wanted to also cover that aspect of it.
On a similar note, another aspect to consider is that the Dodgers love using the up/down train from OKC to keep the club supplied with fresh arms. That being the case, it would benefit the Dodgers to keep that 14th spot open for the pitchers they keep in OKC as depth.
That would provide the path for some of these young guys to at least get some time with LA this year.
Stay tuned, because what has already been an incredible ride of an off season likely isn’t done.
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