Pitchers and catchers reported to Dodgers camp at Camelback Ranch in Arizona on Wednesday, marking the official begin of spring coaching. By subsequent Wednesday, the date of the primary full group exercise, there will likely be 63 gamers in massive league camp.
However what roster battles do the Dodgers actually have?
The place participant aspect appears fairly settled. Signing outfielder Teoscar Hernández to a one-year deal primarily stuffed the Dodgers' 13 spots on the energetic roster. Ten of these gamers can’t be despatched to the minors, and the three gamers with choices — catcher Will Smith, shortstop Gavin Lux and middle fielder James Outman — all have protected beginning spots.
Miguel Vargas is on the skin wanting in for now, although an harm might change the equation.
That leaves the pitching aspect if we're searching for any sort of competitors this spring. Walker Buehler will start the season on the injured listing as he’s on an innings restrict after getting back from a second Tommy John surgical procedure. However the Dodgers' rotation nonetheless has Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Bobby Miller atop the depth chart.
Veteran lefty James Paxton additionally has a rotation spot, however he has an extended historical past and his contract assure was diminished from $11 million to $7 million as a consequence of an unspecified well being concern. He has contract incentives to be energetic on opening day as a result of it's not protected.
Emmet Sheehan is a logical candidate to assert an open rotation spot, after impressing as a rookie in 2023, and has improved properly sufficient to earn a spot on the NLDS roster. Gavin Stone, Landon Knack and Kyle Harm have an opportunity to make a reputation for themselves throughout spring coaching, to a minimum of be within the dialog right here or later within the season.
Ryan Yarbrough has greater than 5 years of service time and can’t be despatched to minors with out his consent, so he will likely be on the energetic listing. It's only a matter of which position. He's an choice to make begins as properly, particularly if Paxton isn't prepared to start out the season. Final yr, Yarbrough began 9 occasions and threw 16 occasions. 9 of these reduction appearances lasted a minimum of three innings.
Within the bullpen, Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol are intertwined on the finish. Joe Kelly and Blake Treinen are off the listing, although each have sufficient of an harm historical past to lift an eyebrow. Returning Ryan Brasier can be a lock.
It's 10 pitching listing locks – once more, if wholesome – on the pitching workers: Yamamoto, Glasnow, Miller, Paxton, Yarbrough, Phillips, Graterol, Kelly, Brasier and Treinen. Three spots stay up for grabs, one in every of which is destined for Sheehan or one of many different younger starters, until Yarbrough opens the yr because the fifth starter.
The Dodgers nonetheless want some semblance of left-handed reduction exterior of Yarbrough and his position as a starter. Alex Vesia is the acquainted southpaw we all know, whereas Matt Gage is the brand new man. Among the many non-roster friends are two lefties: TJ McFarland is extra skilled than Stephen Gonsalves, having lived within the majors in every of the final 11 seasons.
Whether or not the Dodgers convey one or two short-inning lefties into the bullpen continues to be in query.
In order that leaves possibly yet another slot for one more right-handed reliever.
JP Feyereisen final allowed an earned run in 2021, however missed all of final season after shoulder surgical procedure; he’s wholesome now.
Michael Grove's greatest work within the majors got here as a reduction slightly than a begin.
Gus Varland has discovered success since his full-time swap to the minors in 2022, and he did properly in restricted obligation with the Dodgers final season.
Ricky Vanasco has but to make his main league debut, however he struck out 35 % of the batters he confronted at Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis after the Dodgers traded for him.
There are additionally non-roster friends to contemplate. Daniel Hudson if he’s wholesome will in all probability get a spot, however after a number of knee accidents the final two seasons that could be very a lot in query.
