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 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:

1. Burnes
2. Glasnow
3. Yamamoto
4. Miller
5. Buehler
6. Kershaw (in August)

Lineup:

1. Betts 2B
2. Ohtani DH
3. Freeman 1B
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 3B
6. Adames SS
7. Vargas LF
8. Heyward/Taylor or Pages/RF
9. Outman/Margot CF

Let’s Roll!

The Dodgers are “Turning Japanese”