What About the Bullpen… and More?
I was listening to MLB.Radio yesterday and Blake Treinen was a guest. He says he is 100% healthy, has no soreness, has his full range of motion back, and is eager to get back into action. He was obviously very excited about his health. They then asked if the Dodger players were…
I was listening to MLB.Radio yesterday and Blake Treinen was a guest. He says he is 100% healthy, has no soreness, has his full range of motion back, and is eager to get back into action. He was obviously very excited about his health. They then asked if the Dodger players were disappointed that even though the Dodgers had been to the playoffs the past ten years, they had only one championship.
His response was that “fans have no idea how hard it is because it takes three things to win a championship: (1) Talent, (2) Health, and (3) Luck… and maybe not in that order.” Ain’t that the truth! The fact of the matter is that the bullpen is pretty dang good as it is, and that does not even factor in the development of Hurt and Frasso. I believe that the Dodgers have already decided that Kyle Hurt is a high-leverage bullpen piece, and it’s not hard to see the same role with Frasso as he almost never pitches deep into games, and while he has a devastating fastball, he is somewhat physically frail so a bullpen role may be just what he needs.
The bullpen will be just fine with the following pieces:
- Almonte (Comeback year – this guy is up and down)
- Ferguson (maybe he can experience more growth?)
- Feyereisen (should be healthy and a setup man)
- Graterol (1.20 ERA)
- Grove (no longer a starter – I like him in this role)
- Bryan Hudson (likely gone, but he is LH)
- Daniel Hudson (the only question is: will his knee hold up?)
- Kelly (playoff experience and still hits 100 MPH)
- Phillips (2.05 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP, and fans want to replace him with someone who is worse – makes no sense to me)
- Treinen (if he’s back, he’s filthy, and he says he is healthy)
- Vanasco (watch this guy – he’s the next Ryan Brasier)
- Varland (more of a project or could be included in a trade)
- Vesia (another guy who can bounce back)
- Yarbrough (the Swiss Army Knife – the LH soft-tosser, and RH Powerball Staff)
Then there are:
- Gavin Stone
- Nick Frasso
- River Ryan
- Landon Knack
- Kyle Hurt
Most will be starters, but some (Hurt and maybe Frasso) may be closers. It’s possible the Dodgers see all five this year… unless some are traded.
I think the Dodgers are not done yet and am still hearing that AF still has interest in Burnes and Adames. On the BA Podcast Bluto posted yesterday (BTW – their podcasts are always excellent, and BA is a site I subscribe to) they talked about just that. They believe that Michael Busch will be a very good middle-of-the-order batter, but should play 1B… maybe 3B, but is blocked with the Dodgers. They suggested that the Dodgers trade Lux, Busch, the Brewers choice of a catcher, and a couple of arms for Burnes and Adames.
Some fans say “No way – they have only one year of control. They are only rentals.” And… that is exactly the point. Sign them for 2024 and let them walk! The Dodgers have Sweeney in the pipeline and there are other options. Ohtani, May, and Gonsolin are coming back in 2025, so let Burnes be a horse in 2024 and win a World Series and let him walk!
Problem solved! I do not see the Dodgers EVER signing Hader and I would not trade Clase even up for Phillips. “What, are you crazy?” I do think Burnes would make the Dodgers immediate World Series favorites and with that Talent, Health, and Luck, they would win the World Series in Burnes one year as a Dodger.
Rotation:
- Burnes
- Glasnow
- Yamamoto
- Miller
- Buehler
- Kershaw (in August)
Lineup:
- Betts 2B
- Ohtani DH
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Muncy 3B
- Adames SS
- Vargas LF
- Heyward/Taylor or Pages/RF
- Outman/Margot CF
Let’s Roll!
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Discussion (105)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Merry christmas to everyone on LADT from across the pond!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is Christmas morning. About 2 o’clock. Not tired, just watched a Garth Brooks mini concert on Prime then Kiss the Girls, a Morgan Freeman movie. Everyone is asleep and I am checking out the window for Santa. Might be a long night. Garver signs with the Mariners for 2 years. Nice Christmas gift for Seattle fans.
Thrilled about off-season, go Dodgers, go freedman
Great site, glad your enjoying time with your family Mark, still far and away the best site around.
Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Holiday’s
Beautiful granddaughter Mark. With grandchildren like that you should have a very merry Christmas. Hope all of the LADT family have the same.
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Mark, that picture captures what is all about. Congrats on the beautiful family!
Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2024 season to all!
Merry Christmas to everyone at LADT and their families. ❤️⚾️
Carry on… with me, it’s family all weekend… and we are having a blast! This is my youngest granddaughter, Violet Rey
Shohei Ohtani has gifted Ashley Kelly — Joe Kelly’s wife — a brand new Porsche. This comes after Ashley started the #Ohtake17 campaign, trying to convince Ohtani to sign with the Dodgers. Ashley said her husband, Joe, would give up his No. 17 jersey for Ohtani if he came to Los Angeles — and a few weeks later, Ohtani is a Dodger.
Merry XMAS and Happy Holidays to our Dodger family on this wonderful site! It’s going to be a fun 2024. Can’t wait.
Isn’t Eddie Rosario a free agent and left fielder and Adam Duval a left fielder and centerfield and Jorge Soler a left fielder to three free agents the dodgers could get with some thump and pitchers left say a Michael Lorenzen or a Marcus Stroman or a Carlos Quintana they need a left handed starter. These players could all help the dodgers now if they do trade with someone I see the Brewers for Burnes Addames and Yelich gets the dodgers a Leftfielder a shortstop and a starting pitcher. But that’s how I see it. Any other Leftfielder we would want or a left-handed stating pitcher to trade for. I hope JD Martinez and Jic Pederson go to the Angels and Snell that would be good to see the Angels get those guys.
That is absolutely correct.
He talks to none of us dumbasses!
I am sure glad that AF does not consult the bloggers when considering a trade. The farm would be nothing but weeds.
Unfortunately, Dodgfan makes sense with his take that because the Dodgers successfully acquired BOTH of the Japanese stars this off-season, the other (sore-loser) MLB owners may “peer pressure” the less wealthy ones into avoiding any trade that would substantially help LAD, at least for the rest of this winter. So the earliest any attempt by AF for a “blockbuster” may not be until the mid-season trade deadline, and he’ll be forced to stand pat for awhile.
I really want to take the time to wish all of you a absolutely wonderful holiday season. I hope you are blessed with peace, love and family. God bless all of you and our Dodger extended family.
The OF is a weakness.
Mark mentioned “favorite player” and how he doesn’t have one. I’ve also never really had once since my first ever one (Pedro Guerrero in 1983 when I first started watching baseball). Kirk Gibson doesn’t count as he was everyone’s favorite player back in 1988!
However, how Mark likes guys with nice stories (like Alex Freeland) , my “favorites” tend to be the young kids coming up and hoping they make it or non-hyped guys trying to make it. Last year it was Outman, Vargas, Gavin Stone, and DeLuca. In the early 2000’s, Dave Roberts was on that list, as he just played hard every time and reminded me of a Brett Butler type.
This year, my “favorite” players will be guys like Emmett Sheehan, Kyle Hurt, whichever of Vargas/Busch gets a shot, and of course Gavin Lux to prove he still is a big time talent. Of course, should Pages prove he’s healthy, maybe add him to the list!
I wonder if there is a team that has very little chance at the playoffs that has a star not superstar outfielder that would like to dump salary and would take any of Vargas, Pages, Cartaya, Busch and I’d add Grove too since he’s controlable for awhile and might be appealing and none of the top pitching prospects?
I agree with you Mark. I don’t think they would put him in LF because of the chance of him injuring his arm. As a matter of fact, the Dodgers will have to decide whether it is indeed ok for him to swing a bat as DH come this spring.
Been nice reading all the comments and differing opinions thus far. One thing I’m sure of – AF is plotting to make moves this winter that (I believe) will significantly change the line-up for the positional players on this team. So until he finishes doing his thing, we’re all just guesstimating what we think the positional players and line-ups will be by opening day.
But it’s still interesting to see our “fantasies.”
I had a very small baseball epiphany. I was thinking of Muncy, who is a likeable guy, and has had some great moments here, but who I did not want them to re-sign, as he hit .205, and he either makes an out four out of five official at-bats, or walks, or hits a home run. And batting fifth or sixth, or even fourth, as they did sometimes, does not often add to a rally, because there is little behind him.
And then I thought, why not bat him ninth? Oh, he would probably not like it, but consider that if he can get a walk in that spot, he sets the table for the Big 3. A Muncy walk from the sixth spot, does little, but getting on base for our best hitters and RBI men, is a big deal. With this lineup, Muncy becomes like a lead-off man, albeit with less at-bats. Actually, I think it is a great use for him; would the Dodgers be inventive enough to do it? Roberts would not, probably, but maybe Friedman would? Just a thought. Teams are going to do everything they can to pitch around our three stars, make it difficult for them. Or bat someone ninth who hits .280, at least.
Unless they get another full time outfielder Mookie needs to be in RF with Rojas at SS, Lux at 2B & Vargas in LF or visa versa. Lux could play LF as well (might be easier on his repaired knee). Better defense this way; good defense wins, too. My opinion.
If memory doesn’t fail me, didn’t Roberts recently state that Ohtani has made himself available to play LF once he’s medically cleared?
Given the amount of influence Ohtani has had in the Glasnow acquisition and subsequent extension, as well as the recruitment of Yamamoto, would anyone be shocked if the Dodgers went into the season with a temporary solution in LF under the guise that Ohtani will eventually take over for the remainder of the season?
Since he is not going to pitch in 24’ I can see the Dodgers committing Ohtani to LF through the end of the season. Opening the DH spot to Busch or a platoon of Busch/Vargas in that role.
Ohtani is a gifted athlete, a freak for lack of a better term. Given what we’ve learned from this special young man I can see him taking a page out of Mookie’s book and diversifying his positional portfolio. At least this season when he knows he doesn’t have to worry about pitching.
ok gentleman, i think we all agree the bench is fairly weak. so can we all agree if barnes is hitting almost next to nothing in spring training-and Hunter F is tearing it up , it’s time to make a change ? that bench is weak, though AF might not be finished.
I don’t know why we can’t just give Vargas/Busch first shot at LF next year. It’s not like we need either guy to get to the playoffs. And LF is not a big defensive position. It’s all about October. If they don’t deliver then there is always the deadline. I’m betting one of them will produce
Mark, I liked your piece until the MIL trade.
We have stunned the baseball world with two massive FA deals. We made a risk/reward trade in which an extension factored in heavily. Now we still have some gaps to fill but the heavy lifting is over.
The rotation, which was a massive problem, has been overhauled with two new TOR guys; we could probably use another back-end FA option.
The lineup still has some issues in the OF; we either need to commit to an internal option in LF [CT3, Vargas or Busch] or add a RH bat to play there.
The bullpen looks deep, but it always does. I bet you we add a high-end guy there to round out the squad.
So sit back and wait. Let the market come to you. Three big strikes are enough. The rest is patchwork. Giolito is the level of talent we should be looking at.