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2025 and Beyond – The Dodgers New 6-Man Rotation

The LA Dodgers will carry fourteen pitchers next year because they have the advantage of listing one as a position player. This will enable them to use the same number of bullpen pitchers as this season as Shohei Ohtani joins the Dodgers rotation. Clayton says he will be back…

By Mark Timmons3 min readJump to 78 comments

The LA Dodgers will carry fourteen pitchers next year because they have the advantage of listing one as a position player. This will enable them to use the same number of bullpen pitchers as this season as Shohei Ohtani joins the Dodgers rotation. Clayton says he will be back, although I doubt that he will be ready to start the season after toe and knee surgery this offseason. Maybe the All-Star Break is a reasonable expectation.

As it stands right about now, the rotation looks like this:

  • Tyler Glasnow (I know some think he will need Tommy John, but that would be really dumb of the Dodgers to put that off – If you think that, you are really dumb)
  • Yoshi Yamamoto
  • Shohei Ohtani
  • Tony Gonsolin
  • Walker Buehler (I think the Dodgers will give him the QO)
  • Bobby Miller (way too early to write him off)
  • Emmet Sheehan (Probably back around July)
  • Clayton Kershaw (Sometime Mid-Season)
  • Nick Frasso (He should be ready before the All-Star Break)
  • Landon Knack (This guy is solid)
  • Dustin May (I think they should convert him to a reliever)

Gavin Stone, River Ryan, and Kyle Hurt will likely miss the season. Jack Flaherty would be nice, but unless the Dodgers can steal him, they already have too many RHP. Kershaw is the only Lefty. I know fans will try to package Sheehan, Miller, Knack, Frasso, and Gonsolin (pick ’em) for Garrett Crochet, but I don’t see that happening. OTOH, the White Sox have lots of needs, and I think there is a decent chance Gavin Lux will get traded, especially after the Dodgers picked up Miggy Ro’s option. That gives the Dodgers a lot of options with Freeland, Kim (the free agent who wants to get away from the Clowns in SD), and maybe Adames. The thing is: they don’t have to do anything.

You can never have too much starting pitching, and I suppose that going to a six-man rotation will help reduce injuries. On a team that was devoid of starters last season, the Dodgers should have an abundance next year… especially if they go with a six-man rotation.

The Dodgers have already picked Austin Barnes 2025 Option, so it seems unlikely that Rushing is on the radar in 2025… unless there is an injury. I think it is very likely that the Dodgers reach a deal with Teoscar Hernandez and Walker Buehler, and I believe both will get the Qualifying offer. Then there is the Rule 5 Draft. The Dodgers have 10-12 players who are Rule 5 Eligible but I think the only players some team might consider taking are IF Austin Gauthier and LHP Jack Dreyer. Ben Harris, Damon Keith, and Ryan Sublette are also all good prospects but likely would not stick on an MLB Roster. If I had to guess, I would say that the Dodgers protect both Gauthier and Dreyer.

In the AFL, Zyhir Hope is sinking like a rock in the water. His OPS has dropped to .766, and he is hitting .233; Sean McLain continues to shine (.306 BA/.968OPS). Jake Gelof sits at .200. Eriq Swan has a 5.19 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP and has struck out 14 batters in 8.2 IP. Swan has a lot of potential in a back-of-the-bullpen role.

X-CITES

https://twitter.com/LAtweets22/status/1852508273338974597
He opted out of the Freak Show. Hummm…
https://twitter.com/mlbelites_/status/1852758662063824966
NO, F___ Y____ Austin Wells! And you will like it!
https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1852460112213852331
https://twitter.com/LAtweets22/status/1852475209343017400
https://twitter.com/ABC7/status/1852440093614649497
https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1852465517556089054

Discussion (78)

Disagree, not disagreeable

Be civil — moderation is real. Links may need a moment of review.

  1. dodgerdadNovember 5, 2024

    you’re probably right about anthony s. mark. Although 44 and 102 are pretty good numbers, that .244 average would scare off potential suitors. God knows the dodgers have enough .244 and below batters! (max) (taylor) ( lux) (barnes) etc. but if Teo signs elsewhere? …. With the stars they have, can’t afford to go cheap. freddie, mookie, teo, (assuming he resigns) aren’t getting younger. i don’t believe James Outman is the answer in center. i’m not 100% convinced Pages is the answer in right. Plus, as good a nlcs as max had, he was pathetic in the world series! would love to acquire mcmahon from the rox, but that won’t happen. don’t really want soto, but a couple of strong hitters would make 2025 even more exciting!

  2. NorthmsdodgerNovember 5, 2024

    Well I don’t know where I came up with that.I guess that must have been a dream. I don’t try to misprint anything on purpose. I am writing about Mr.Kastin .I apologize.

  3. Mark TimmonsNovember 5, 2024

    Rumors flying that Sasaki will be posted.

  4. Mark TimmonsNovember 5, 2024

    Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Dave Parker, Vic Harris, Tommy John and Luis Tiant were revealed today by the Hall of Fame as this year’s candidates on the Era Committee ballot. Most commonly known as the “veterans committee,” a panel of 16 people (comprised of former players, executives, sportswriters, and historians) will meet during the Winter Meetings to vote on whether or not any of these eight candidates will be elected to Cooperstown. At least 12 of 16 votes are needed for induction, and the results of the balloting will be revealed on December 8.

  5. DavidNovember 5, 2024

    If you have a surgery named after you, definitely should be in HOF

  6. dodgerdadNovember 5, 2024

    tiant and tommy john get in

  7. DanoNovember 5, 2024

    You know, I kinda don’t think any of the free agents fit the Dodger mold , and or needs. Except for Striker and Teoscar. And maybe an early innings eater al a Paxton. I anticipate another Busch trade. And maybe another trade……hmmm . But other than that, let’s get younger!

    Book em

  8. Andrew Vincent ForteNovember 6, 2024

    BREAKING NEWS

    The Dodgers announced today that Shohei Ohtani underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder that resulted from a dislocation. The club added that the two-way star is expected to be ready for spring training.

  9. Duke Not SniderNovember 6, 2024

    A popular YouTuber has made this prediction:

    The Dodgers offer Teo about $75m over 3 years, but he decides to take bigger money over 4-5 years from another team. (Seems reasonable to me.)

    So the Dodgers pivot to Plan B: A trade for Luis Robert Jr.

    Yes, Robert is injury prone and had a weak ’24. But at 27, he is five years younger than Teo–and he also plays a high quality CF. The White Sox would be dealing Robert’s team-friendly contract, which would increase the cost in terms of prospects.

    Not likely, but plausible.

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