We're lower than three weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to the Dodgers' camp at Camelback Ranch, however the query now could be whether or not all of the pitchers anticipated to report back to Arizona are presently on the roster, or there Are there a number of tweaks nonetheless to be made to the listing?
The signing of Teoscar Hernández basically completes the Dodgers' lively roster spot, and whereas it's potential one other hitter may very well be added, it appears extra seemingly it might be extra for depth, and maybe somebody with minor league choices. like Yonny Hernández. final 12 months, for instance. Combing the waiver wire whereas gamers are designated for project may very well be the way in which for an addition to this queue.
Pitching seems to be the place the Dodgers' subsequent addition may come from, and with 39 gamers on the 40-man roster, they’ve room to take action.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow have been added to a rotation with Bobby Miller and a returning Walker Buehler. There’s a secure of younger weapons behind that group, akin to Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and others. Swingman Ryan Yarbrough may see some begins as the one lefty non-reliever on the roster.
Let's give attention to the bullpen for a second. Josh Hader (Astros) and Robert Stephenson (Angels) have been changed by the big-ticket over the weekend, so if the Dodgers add one other arm to the bullpen, it most likely gained't break the financial institution, even when they did within the 110 for 100. tax for every extra wage in 2024.
Then once more, with a wage already of about $ 300 million for fiscal functions of aggressive stability, the fragments of mentioned financial institution are already scattered on the bottom.
“We be ok with our staff proper now. If spring coaching began tomorrow, now we have expertise and depth in most areas,” basic supervisor Brandon Gomes instructed Zoom final week. “It's simply persevering with to judge the place alternatives current themselves for us to turn into even higher. We'll strive to try this, however we don't really feel pressured to do something in any method.”
The Dodgers presently have Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol on the finish of the bullpen, together with Joe Kelly, who signed a one-year deal to return to Los Angeles.
Not that the Dodgers would ship Phillips, their greatest reliever, to the minors, however even when they wished to, it's not an choice. Caleb Ferguson has 5 years of service time and can’t be despatched with out his consent. The identical for Kelly and Blake Treinen, who if wholesome — a giant query mark after shoulder surgical procedure and solely six video games pitched up to now two seasons, none in 2023 — would want to remain on the lively roster s He’s nonetheless employed by the Dodgers.
Dodgers 2024 bullpen
| Pitcher | Elective? |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | Elective? |
| Evan Phillips | No |
| Brusdar Graterol | Sure |
| Joe Kelly | No |
| Caleb Ferguson* | No |
| Blake Treinen | No |
| Ryan Yarbrough* | No |
| Alex Vesia* | Sure |
| Michael Grove | Sure |
| JP Feyereisen | Sure |
| Ricky Vanasco | Sure |
| Gus Varland | Sure |
Yarbrough nonetheless has 5 years to serve, and he can’t be despatched to minors with out his consent.
A typical five-man rotation leaves room for eight relievers. At the moment, the Dodgers bullpen has 4 pitchers (Phillips, Kelly, Ferguson, Treinen), perhaps 5 (with Yarbrough) who can’t be despatched down.
It's potential that Treinen will open the season on the injured listing, and Kelly had three stints on the injured listing final season, however both method there isn't a ton of roster flexibility within the bullpen.
The group's efficiency might be ok to beat that lack of flexibility. Graterol could also be an choice, however most likely not, and with him and Phillips within the again finish it's one thing to construct on. Among the younger, overachieving starters — Stone, Kyle Harm, Nick Frasso, Landon Knack — may additionally doubtlessly be utilized in aid.
Final 12 months, 10 completely different Dodgers pitched a minimum of 20 video games in aid. Twelve pitchers pitched in 2022, and 11 pitched in 2021 (plus 4 extra pitchers that 12 months with between 16-19 aid appearances). Exterior of beginning pitchers, the Dodgers' 40-man roster presently has simply 11 relievers, together with swingman Yarbrough. Is it potential one or two of the non-roster friends within the camp – Daniel Hudson? Nabil Crismatt? – makes the staff.
But it surely wouldn't be shocking to see the Dodgers add much more aid, to extend the depth.
Whether or not it's a Ryan Brasier – Fabian Ardaya assembly at The Athletic and Jon Heyman of the New York Post have signaled curiosity from the Dodgers this offseason — another righty, or including one other expert left-hander to Ferguson, Alex Vesia and Yarbrough, one other aid pitcher appears the more than likely method for the Dodgers to fill that open spot . on the 40 man roster.
