Well, 2023 Spring Training is almost ready to start. Pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch in nine days on the 16th of February. The first full-squad workout is on February 20th. This spring will be different as there will also be the World Baseball Classic. Nine Dodgers are scheduled to play for different teams. Kershaw, Smith, Betts, and coach Dino Ebel will be with the American team. Austin Barnes and Julio Urias with team Mexico. Miguel Rojas and Brusdal Graterol will be with team Venezuela. Freeman will play for the Canadian team, and Trayce Thompson for the British.
There will be some new faces present and some old favorites gone. Martinez, Rojas, Syndergaard, and Miller are the newest members of the 40-man roster. There are 21 players coming in as non-roster invitees. Some are well-known, others not so much. Also present will be a large contingent of Dodger prospects. Cartaya, Miller, Vargas, Busch, Pages, Pepiot, Stone, Leonard, Knack, Nastrini, Outman, Vivas, Grove, DeLuca, and Ward, will all start spring in the big-league camp.
With the WBC going on, most of those kids are going to see a lot of action on the diamond. The biggest questions revolve around the makeup of the outfield, 2nd base, and the starting rotation. Positions that are pretty much set in stone are C. Smith and Barnes, 1B, Freddie Freeman, 3B, Max Muncy, SS, Gavin Lux, 2B, Miguel Vargas, and RF, Mookie Betts. The primary DH is going to be JD Martinez. So they need to settle Left field and center and pick their five or six primary starting pitchers. Locks are Syndergaard, Kersh, Urias, and Gonsolin, which is, of course, barring an unforeseen injury in spring. May is a lock as long as he stays healthy. Pepiot and Miller would probably be the first two up in case of injury, but that could change if they decide to keep Pepiot as a long reliever. Then my first guess after Miller would be Stone.
Roberts has said there would be no set closer to begin the year, so at least five are locks in pen, Miller, Graterol, Phillips, Hudson, and Vesia. The rest of the pen will be made up of pitchers who show the most in spring training, and there are a ton of candidates, including some who were pretty effective last season. Forget Treinen; he is going to miss most, if not all, of 2023. They will probably opt for a second lefty in pen, and my guess is that will be Ferguson.
Relievers on the 40-man roster I have not mentioned yet, are Almonte, Bruihl, Bickford, Feyerisen, Gonzalez, Andre Jackson, and Michael Grove. Jackson has some nasty stuff and could be considered at the back end of the pen. I personally believe only one non-roster position player has a chance of making the team, and that is the most experienced of the bunch, Jason Heyward. I know I will get a ton of blowback on that, and that is ok. I just believe the motivation he has to justify Freeman’s belief in his abilities will help him play at a higher level than he has in the past several years. The ability is there, and belief in oneself is also an asset. If you truly believe, you can do a whole lot more.
The only major coaching change is Geren is no longer the bench coach. Lehmann takes that job. Chris Woodward returns and is helping coach the infielders. He has been working out with Vargas for a while. So, who will be the centerfielder, and who is going to play left? Biggest questions of the spring.
So sit back, my friends, and enjoy the ride. It is going to be the most interesting Spring Training since the Guggenheim Group bought the team.
Discussion (19)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Well good hope angels keep him. I’m not a angels fan but would like to see Ohtani and Trout in postseason, also be good for baseball
Arte Moreno Reiterates Angels’ Desire To Keep Shohei Ohtani Past 2023 Season
Halos’ brass has unsurprisingly maintained on numerous occasions they’re hopeful of retaining the two-way superstar for the long haul. Owner Arte Moreno reiterated that goal in a recent interview with Jon Heyman of the New York Post. “I’d like to keep Ohtani. He’s one of a kind. He’s a great person,” the Angels owner told Heyman. “He’s obviously one of the most popular baseball players in the world, and he’s an international star. He’s a great teammate. He works hard. He’s a funny guy, and he has a really good rapport with fans.”
Lakers traded Russell Westbrook to the Jazz as part of a three-team trade. Adios Russell.
I don’t know about putting that much money into Ohtani. You could get 2 stars, not superstars for that price and I think that would be a better choice.
I don’t think he will end up with the Dodgers for that reason because I don’t think AF will do it.
There were times last year Bickford looked pretty good to and ate up some important innings, if he can find some consistently, not a bad piece to have especially to call up or sent down when needed , what is it five times they can do that now. I give him some slack since we were born in the same town. I kept hoping Kimbrel would find his past grove but to no avail. Be interesting to see what he does in Philly this year
What makes a ideal pen for me is when real confident other team isn’t gonna score in the last three innings. It’s amazing last year how many times pen kept em from scoring for three innings or more to win games. Huge reason they reached 111 wins and even with Kimbrel not doing his part very well and so many on offense with high K rates hitting around Mendoza line. Gets me to wondering what if. Look out for Muncy this year. Sounding like he’s ready to get it
Former Dodger prospect, DJ Peters signed a minor league deal with the Tigers. Previously played for the Rangers and spent some time in the KBO.
Don’t you guys think that with the 3 batter minimum it’s better to build a bullpen with guys that are good/excellent/dominate against both sides of the plate no matter which arm they use?
I still keep hearing about 2 lefties in the pen, like it’s a must have. I know the Dodgers don’t have what I think is the ideal bullpen like I described, but it still sounds like 2 lefties in the pen is a must have.
Just a question I thought I’d ask in the first paragraph.
What does poor Caleb Ferguson have to do to get a mention? Only a 1.82 era last year!
I am telling you guys and you should listen, if Ohtani is put on the market and traded, there is absolutely no way Moreno lets his GM trade him to the Dodgers. And there is no way the Dodgers are going to pay the price he would command without a guarantee that he would sign a long-term deal. So as the Mob would say, fuhgeddaboudit.
There’s no doubt Otani is a very gifted player but he is noy needed to put butts in seats at Dodger Stadium. It’s very novel having a pitcher that can hit bombs but with the NL having DHs it doesn’t seem the wisest way to invest at what he’ll likely get. I’m pretty certain other clubs have more interest in order to fill their parks. Who wants the cost of viewing to increase?
I sure hope dodger brass isn’t so fixated on getting Ohtani as most fans and some analysts are. I’m one who thinks can do much better with that money and or loss of prospects in other ways but being that he’d create so much revenue and buzz around the city they probably are
As I recall it, both Outman and Busch started 2022 in Tulsa. Busch was called up to OKC first, and Outman maybe a month later–and then Outman had his ML debut.
If DeLuca or Pages perform, they could move up to OKC pretty soon.
They (or Outman) could also be part of the midseason Ohtani package–especially since Hunter Renfroe is in the last year of his contract. If the Mets or Padres or ?? engage the Angels, I don’t think the Dodgers stand idly by.
AF may be averse to long-term contracts for pitchers, but of course Ohtani is a special case. And he’d be quite the consolation prize if Julio seeks greener pastures.
Was reading Pages & DeLuca might begin season at AA. Why?
I agree that Almonte should be on the OD roster. Last season, I think onlyonly Phillips had a better season out of the bullpen.
Almonte said he came to the Dodgers on the advice of his former teammate Jake McGee, who just announced his retirement. It’s great how the reputation of the Dodgers coaching staffs have attracted talent. I’ve read that Syndergaard had bigger offers, but figured he’d get better with guidance from Prior and his staff. Even if Thor has a strong year, Dodgers may let him walk knowing that Buhler is coming back and Bobby Miller and Stone should be ready. (But I hope Julio stays.)
I’m also rooting for Victor Gonzalez to bounce back. He had almost quit before he became a key part of the 2020 championship.
JDM looks like a guy you don’t mess with.
He looks to be in mid-season form, and his reputation as a clubhouse leader is unparalleled… even by Justin Turner. No loss of leadership here!
I totally agree.Miller needs more seasoning.Ithink Grove and Pepiot gets their shots before Miller.Well Pepiot already has.Sorry i have misspoken,not the last time I hope.I got my My Miller time confused.
Is Feyerisen healthy?
I find it interesting that you include Miller in your 5 locks for the bullpen but omit Almonte.
Unless he is injured, I think Yency is as big a lock as any of the other guys and more likely than Miller who hasn’t been good for a long while. Hopefully, the Dodgers can fix him and have another success story, but Almonte is on the opening day roster if he’s healthy.