The Los Angeles Dodgers will arrive at Opening Day as one of the top favorites to win the World Series. The bar is set extremely high, and the main goal is to secure a third straight title-knowing full well it will be anything but easy unless they reinforce the roster with pieces that truly address their needs.
The reigning champions have been linked to several players this winter, especially closers, yet other franchises have won the race for some of the best names on the market, leaving the Dodgers looking slow to act.
Just to name a few: All-Star closer Ryan Helsley, one of the most coveted pitchers available, is headed to the Baltimore Orioles, while the New York Mets signed Devin Williams to bolster their bullpen. The big question is: Why haven’t the Dodgers been more aggressive?
These signings happened within a 48-hour span, and two of the most sought-after relievers still on the board-Edwin Díaz and Robert Suárez-are expected to land massive contracts very soon. Both have been connected to the Dodgers, though it’s known that Suárez may have some lingering issues with the organization from his time with the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers’ stance on the matter
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes has spoken about the state of the bullpen and revealed that the team is still evaluating its options. The overall feeling inside the organization, however, is that they don’t view it as an urgent need.
“We have a ton of options,” Gomes told the Orange County Register. “Obviously, as we saw as the season played out, different guys emerge. We have a lot of guys that we trust at the back end. So what that all looks like I think will kind of come out of who’s available and what makes sense for us.”
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It’s no secret that the Dodgers‘ bullpen was their biggest weakness for much of the regular season, and in the postseason they had to improvise because the relievers they signed didn’t perform up to par.
Kirby Yates, who signed a one-year, $13 million deal, finished the year with a 5.23 ERA and suffered a late-season injury. Tanner Scott, who received $72 million over four years, led MLB with 10 blown saves and didn’t pitch at all in the postseason due to injury.
The Dodgers surely have their reasons for moving so cautiously with bullpen acquisitions, but the reality is that this unit has been a constant headache and is absolutely critical to competing in MLB. If they want to repeat as champions, they’re going to have to make some bold moves.
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