Destiny's Dodgers?

Andrew Friedman said he was not going to be forced to make trades at the deadline because it results in dope-fiend moves that frequently don’t give excellent results. SD gutted their farm, and they have not really flourished. What is happening with the Dodgers’ bullpen would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic. I disagree with Duke that AF should have gutted the farm for more closers. How many is the right number? Three, Seven?

The Dodgers had Treinen, Scott, Kopech, Yates, and Vesia. Only Vesia has been reliable. Dreyer has been reliable, but may be getting fatigued. Banda is worthy, and they will find out about Sasaki today. If he is healthy, he could be a HUGE difference maker out of the bullpen. There is no room for him as a starter, but there could be as a closer. Sounds crazy, right? There are also Wrobleski, Casparius, and maybe Kyle Hurt. Will Klein could be incredible… if he can get near the strike zone. Edgardo Henriquez may be in over his head right now. Michael Kopech? Will he be back? Who knows? If healthy, Brock Stewart is solid.

What do you do? Leave Yates, Treinen, and Scott off the playoff roster? That’s a consideration, but then you have to consider what happened to Josh Sborz in the 2023 playoffs – he had a 5.50 ERA during the season and almost 15.00 ERA in September. Then he had a 0.75 ERA in the playoffs.

Remember this: Relievers are fickle. They can look like world beaters one day and cannon fodder the next. I don’t think it should have ever been a consideration to trade for more relievers at the deadline. Somebody has to step up – The Dodgers are in much better shape than in the 2025 playoffs. The staff is loaded – they just have to pitch like it.

For starters, you have Ohtani, Snell, and Yamamoto… maybe even Glasnow (if he doesn’t have his control, you yank him quickly. Then, you have Sheehan and Kershaw as bulk guys who can pitch 3-5 innings.

Mason Miller would have been nice, but the Dodgers did not have the package to get him and he has demanded that he be a starter next season.

There comes a time when you have to say, “We have enough players – they have to produce.” I don’t know what the Dodgers will do, but here’s what I would do:

I would tell the team that it makes no difference what your baseball card says. We are taking pitchers who can pitch to the playoffs. Treinen, Yates, and Scott would be left off the roster. We cannot trust you any longer. That tactic has a downside as well. It’s what I would do, but maybe not what the Dodgers will do.

Yamamoto, Snell, and Ohtani would be the starters, with Kershaw, Glasnow, and Sheehan being the bulk relievers. That’s a whole lot better than last year. What it boils down to is: “Are these Destiny’s Dodgers?“

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