A little premature to know if AF is finished yet, but the Dodger bullpen has already been overhauled some. Knebel, Cleavenger, Kahnle, the new kids on the block. Kahnle will not pitch this season, and Cleavenger has never pitched above AA. Wood and Baez have gone to SF and Houston respectively, and McGee so far has not been signed anywhere.
And the roster sits at 40. There are all sorts of rumors floating around including the rumor that they are on Kirby Yates list as one of the remaining teams left on his list of suitors. (EDIT UPDATE – Yates signed with Toronto). And the Justin Turner question persists.
Likely scenario is they try for at least one more solid back of the pen arm. Yates fits that need nicely. In order to sign Yates, they need to open a roster spot, which means since Ferguson and Kahnle cannot be placed on the IL until spring training, they would have to DFA someone. There are a few candidates I would consider who would be first on the list to be moved. Josh Sborz would be one of those guys. Limited innings, Not a top prospect anymore, and now 27 years old.
Dennis Santana would be another candidate, 25 years old, limited success at the major league level. But it could also end up being a position player. Reks is 26 and Raley is 27. Little long in the tooth to be considered prospects. Raley has had limited MLB time, and Reks none. But I doubt either is high on the Dodger depth chart. Both are LH hitters, and the Dodgers are loaded with those.
As it stands right now the candidates for the pen are Knebel, Alexander, Cleavenger, Floro, Gonzalez, Graterol, Jansen, Kelly, Kolarek, Santana, Sborz, Treinen, and whoever does not make the rotation. That is 12 and counting. Now, with a 26 man roster, they will carry no more than 13 pitchers I would think. Especially with the 3rd base and 2nd base positions under some clouds as to who will end up being the starter.
Is AF through? He does not have much wiggle room financially unless they go over the limit and also dump a few players. A trade maybe”? Seems more likely at the deadline. With the actual rules they will play under this season still under discussion, will they increase the rosters again because of Covid concerns?
As of right now, nobody really knows. The free agent market is opening up. More and more signings are happening each day.
None of the major guys yet, and 3 former Dodgers have yet to find new homes. McGee, Kike and Joc. It does not surprise me much that AF did not go after one of the bigger free agent names. Like I have said before, he signs usually for depth and need. We all knew the bullpen needed some help. I think Knebel will help, but they could always use more. Ferguson and Kahnle most likely will not pitch. Nelson, who is not on the MLB roster is also an unknown. But if he is really healthy this time, he could turn into a real weapon.
As the JT drama keeps dragging on, I think a part of me believes AF feels Rios can handle the position full time. I honestly believed Turner would have a contract with someone by now. He is not even being mentioned by the Jays anymore.
I like the talent of some of the Dodgers kids. I think Urias is going to be a monster no matter where he ends up, the pen or the rotation. I trust Gonsolin as a starter more than a reliever. But not sure where the team values him the most. May is still a kid learning. And I think his stuff plays out of the pen better at this point in time.
I would love to see them get Yates, or even Hand for that matter. Rosenthal is talking to the Padres. I think the Dodger pen is better right now, but the Pads have shown a willingness to spend, and get what they need. They do not have the Dodgers organizational depth, but they are closing the gap.
Now with close to 4 weeks remaining until pitchers and catchers report, it would be nice to know just who is going to be where. I trust AF a lot more than I did a few years ago. But sometimes it still seems as though he moves at a snail’s pace. But what he has done has worked so far. We can only hope it continues to do so.
At any rate, Kershaw, Kelly, Seager, Taylor, all could be playing their last seasons in blue. I saw a list on MLB.com today that had the most logical candidates for extensions at the end of 2021. The Dodger they felt most likely to be extended was Kersh. I think everyone expects him to end his career as a Dodger.
I do not think he would merit another 30 million a year type deal. But then again, if he has a monster Kershaw type year, management might feel different. It would seem to me that what he gets depends on what they feel it would cost to replace him.
Dodgers have for most of their history depended on pitching when they have won. This season was a little different as they had an offense that just bludgeoned the opposition most of the time. The pitching was good enough to win. The offense was good enough to overcome any mistakes the pitching made.
And they showed huge grit coming back from being down 3-1 to the Braves. I still think they are the class of the National League, but as Satchel Paige once said, don’t look back, someone might be gaining on you. They have a target on their back, and the entire league is trying to catch up.
Discussion (51)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Got my Dodgers World Series blu ray today, Love it, narrated by the great Vin Scully and it has some extras.
Happ to the Twins, and Davis resigns with the Royals, noise from the Dodgers??? Crickets.
Toronto and the Angels are the new front runners for Brad Hand. I doubt the Dodgers were ever in on him and the Mets might have some internal management issues. They were given a very short time to respond to the Blue Jays offer for Springer and they couldn’t respond quick enough. Hand does not represent a significant commitment, so maybe they will get back into it.
Remember earlier today when the Jays denied signing Brantley?
Well…………………………..he just resigned with the Astros.
If Mets were in on Springer and JDLM then they are probably in on Turner.
If Dodgers lose Turner to Mets a trade is likely. Gleyber? Story? Or a free agent like Semien.
A rumor that was dismissed said Yankees would trade Gleyber to Reds for Castillo. Castillo and Kluber could round out Yanks rotation and put them in the pool chasing one of this year’s free agent shortstops.
So far, the Dodgers’ pen is weaker now than it was at the end of 2020. Here’s what I thought on 1/7:
*Brandon Morrow last threw a pitch in a MLB game in 2018 and broke down by mid-season. The odds that he will ever do so again are not good.
*Garrett Cleavenger has never been a good pitcher. He is, at this point, a 26 year old with 1 MLB appearance. In 5 minor league seasons, he has never pitched above AA. His career MILB stats? 4.08 ERA, 1.389 WHIP, 5.3BB/9 IP.
*Corey Knebel has had 1 good season – in 2017, he had a 1.78 ERA, 39 saves, 1.158 WHIP and 14.9 K/9. If you back out his 2017 numbers, he has a career 4.04 ERA, career WHIP of 1.281, 11.8 K/9. His 2018 numbers were not nearly as good as 2017, then he missed 2019 with Tommy John. Hardly a sure thing at this point.
*Tommy Kahnle will likely not pitch in 2021. His career numbers aren’t good either – ERA 3.82, WHIP 1.286, 4.3 BB/9.
What did they lose from last year’s ‘pen?
*Pedro Baez has a career 3.03 ERA, 1.096 WHIP, 9.03 K/9 vs 3.0 BB/9 and his 2020 numbers are similar to his career numbers.
*Jake McGee has a career 3.59 ERA, 1.154 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 vs. 2.5 BB/9 but had 2.66 ERA, .0836 WHIP, 14.6 K/9 vs 1.3 BB/9 last year.
Yeah, I know, relievers are inconsistent from year to year (sometimes) and one or more of the kids may turn out to be this year’s Victor Gonzalez. But all in all, the ‘pen is weaker than it was.
I’m in on Bauer if $$s, term are right. Just like I’m sure AF is . See if he REALLY wants to be Doyer
Here is a shocker that Rosenthal is pushing. The Dodgers are monitoring Trevor Bauer’s market. And there is a belief that they would jump in if it drops into a range they feel comfortable with.
Kudos to Jays and Padres. Two smaller market teams going for it. It’s good for baseball. Boston is down, the Astros are weaker and the Yankees scaling back. The AL is wide open. If Arte wants a title now is the time to strike. Bauer would give them a shot next year. He owes it to Trout!
Brantley to the Jays.
Now the Jays deny it!
A big advantage next playoffs is the one team of those three that doesn’t have to play each. So maybe it’s an advantage if Atlanta has the best record, we win the west and Braves play Padres. We get weak central division winner
Toronto making moves ! need some pitching now. So rumor we sign both JT and Siemen ? JT to DH and Siemen at 3B. How does that affect contract negotiations with Corey ? about to get interesting.
AF is always looking for relievers, but he learned his lesson on Jansen and Kelly – big contracts to relievers are not wise!
I am sure he is looking, but there’s no way he is paying big bucks.
The Dodgers have so many arms in the Farm System, that at some point, you either have to trade some or convert them to relievers:
White
Uceta
Carrillo
Beeter
Knack
Williams
Pepiot
Grove
Ortiz
Jackson
Lewis
Many good relievers are failed starters. I think that has to be part of the plan. Maybe they need to teach a class on how to erase the mindset of a starter and develop a relievrs mindset!
For what it’s worth, Bill Plunkett of the LA Daily News and OC Register believes the Dodgers will re-sign Justin Turner by next week.
As to the bullpen, the Dodgers are apparently still trying to add relievers so it’s too early to say. But it will be pretty good, maybe with a break or two, very good. Good article in the LA Times today on Corey Knebel. Obviously the Dodgers think he could be exceptional. His velocity improved late last season and he’s back on a regular throwing program. Has some of the nastiest stuff in baseball.
I think Blake Treinen will take a big jump forward. So at this point, I would say better.
You never know about Joe Kelly. But I’m guessing the Dodgers won’t just release him unless he’s downright awful, which I don’t think he will be. His problem has always been control, not velocity or movement.
I agree with what Plunkett said. The only real need for the Dodgers is third base and a right handed bat. Turner seems to solve that issue, the alternatives not great. Gavin Lux and Chris Taylor will handle second.
Even with all the Padres moves, the Dodgers are still considered the best team in baseball with the Padres and Braves a close second and third.
Every offseason I start out hopeful and end up disappointed then turn to optimistic before Spring Training. I’m not perfectly objective, but not as much of a homer as some (MT). 😉 I have a level of trust towards AF, but the 2019 trade deadline prevents me from having complete trust when our biggest need of bullpen help was unfulfilled.
We started the offseason having few needs, so it’s no surprise there’s been little action. But, now people are coming off the big board and that hasn’t translated to any Dodgers news. We had some steady news a few weeks ago, but most of that seems to be players that may not help the 2021 Dodgers. Kahnle, Cleavenger, Morrow and Nelson and a slew of less known non-roster invite types is hardly “being pigs”. Another reason to be less trusting.
There’s still some very good bullpen arms out there and it sure looks like JT is coming back. I agree that there are some redundant pieces on the roster, you pointed out the obvious in Recks and Raley. But, even more obvious is the three headed monster of Muncy, Beaty and Rios.
I certainly don’t feel like this 40 man roster will be intact at the end of Spring.
Some of those players you mentioned would make great trade chips. I’d like to see AF make a trade for a rh 1b platoon player al la Freese using some of that depth and maybe Kelly.
Yates and Springer both signed by the Jays, I would say that reduces JT’s suitors by at least one. They gave Springer 6/150. JT was at Lasorda’s memorial at the Stadium yesterday, along with Hatcher, Garvey, the Penguin and Karros.
Bear,
Do you know if MLB will allow opt outs this season?
So that’s 12 relievers and 7 spots left. If Kelly starts out terrible do you think he gets waived?