The Dodgers have executed nearly all the pieces that could possibly be anticipated of a membership within the offseason. The amount and high quality of enterprise signings and acquisitions are off the charts. Nonetheless, there’s all the time room for extra, and the work isn’t executed. The bullpen particularly might use an addition, or two.
Evaluating the present choices, the bullpen isn't in unhealthy form. You may have Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol who make up one of many high one-two punches within the Nationwide League and past them a flurry of intriguing names.
Joe Kelly will return along with his nasty however risky stuff, Alex Vesia and Caleb Ferguson each appear to be high quality lefties, one thing to bear in mind, particularly with the departure of Victor González.
Nonetheless, if there’s a place that may nonetheless be improved with relative ease, it’s the bullpen, and regardless of being near February, there are various thrilling names out there.
Adam Ottavino rhp
2023 stats: 3.21 ERA, 3.55 xERA, 61⅔ IP. 62K
2024 age: 38
Ottavino is a really acquainted face to Dodger followers, spending most of his profession at Coors Area. The veteran right-hander left Colorado with a really respectable 3.41 ERA in almost 400 innings and spent the previous 5 seasons transferring between New York groups and the Crimson Sox.
Earlier than the present season, the right-hander declined a participant possibility with the Mets price $6.75 million which provides a good line of his expectation for the market.
2023 wasn't precisely Ottavino's finest marketing campaign, however he nonetheless confirmed he has quite a bit within the tank. When you rely his two seasons with the Mets, Ottavino pitched 127⅓ innings and posted a 2.62 ERA, particularly on the again of an outstanding 2022 marketing campaign, which isn't to say that 2023 isn't something however strong.
Jake Diekman lhp
2023 Stats: 3.34 ERA, 3.33 xERA, 56⅔ IP, 64K
2024 age: 37
Tampa has grow to be the group that when it claims a participant with an ERA shut to eight.00 for a significant league place, nobody bats a watch.
Diekman was off to an atrocious begin to 2023 with the White Sox, however the Rays noticed one thing in him and turned the lefty into one of the dependable aid choices within the AL East. He posted a 2.18 ERA with Tampa Bay, reduce his stroll fee almost in half, and struck out 28.6 p.c of batters confronted for the Rays.
The southpaw was dominant towards either side of the plate, holding righties to a .524 OPS, and sure gained't price that a lot, given his volatility in current seasons.
Liam Hendriks rhp
2023 stats: 5 video games, 5 IP, 3 R
2024 age: 35
The Dodgers have made it a behavior with guys like Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson and others, to search for worth offers with relievers who’re at present coping with accidents. Hendriks, when wholesome, is without doubt one of the most dominant closers within the sport, however the veteran will doubtless miss all of 2024 whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure.
The veteran nearer missed most of final season after enduring a profitable battle towards non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
MLB Commerce Rumors in November projected Hendriks to a two-year deal price $12 million. It is a Dodgers transfer if I ever noticed one, a affected person gamble on a possible low cost possibility in 2025 (suppose Tommy Kahnle from 2021-22 right here).
