Kershaw has bounced back to become an All-Star. The Dodgers used the occasional "opener" last postseason out of necessity after Clayton Kershaw's early October elbow injury. Barlow is enjoying his best major-league season (1.93 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 16 saves). While he doesn't rack up a ton of strikeouts, he doesn't get hit hard and has a high chase rate, thanks to a particularly effective slider and curveball.
If the Dodgers are willing to part with high-level prospects, that opens the possibility for Detroit's two-time All-Star closer Gregory Soto (arbitration-eligible in 2023), Pittsburgh All-Star closer David Bednar (arbitration-eligible in 2024) or Kansas City closer Scott Barlow, who's not a free agent until after the 2024 season.īarlow is a Southern California native who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2011 but didn't make it to the majors until 2018 in Kansas City. The Dodgers have plenty of experience against him from his first six-plus years in the majors with Arizona.
While Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia has handled lefties well, Tigers southpaw Andrew Chafin, who has an opt-out after this season, would offer a more neutral option. The rest of the Tigers' staff is apparently also for sale. Robertson, Colorado's Daniel Bard or Detroit's Michael Fulmer could help carry out the year for a contending team without costing a bevy of prospects. Robertson has bounced back from Tommy John surgery and has thrived as Chicago's closer, with a 1.83 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while holding both righties and lefties to an OPS under. That could make a rental, such as the Cubs' David Robertson, an attractive option. Given the variability of reliever success from year to year, Friedman hasn't been one to spend significant prospect capital for bullpen arms. With Treinen and Brusdar Graterol still on the mend, it's an area the Dodgers could decide to shore up. Evan Phillips and Yency Almonte have been revelations this year, but they've thrown a combined three postseason innings in their careers. They have a knack for finding the upside in low-risk, high-reward acquisitions and signings. Yet the Dodgers still boast the top pitching staff in baseball, with a formidable bullpen that ranks in the top two in the NL in ERA (3.36), WHIP (1.13), opponents' batting average (.222) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.47). Phil Bickford, who starred after getting picked up off waivers last May, has a 5.51 ERA this season. Closer Craig Kimbrel has a career-high 1.44 WHIP, allowing a baserunner in 28 of his 36 outings. Daniel Hudson, who helped fill the late-inning duties, tore his ACL on June 24.
High-leverage reliever Blake Treinen has been sidelined most of the year due to a shoulder injury. I'm just happy it's not my job."īeyond Soto, there are other ways Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman could bolster his first-place club. "That's what makes this whole thing dynamic and fun. "I think it's relative to what you potentially have to give up," Roberts said. But it's not every day that a player of Soto's stature becomes available.
Manager Dave Roberts has said the Dodgers don't need to add anything to their championship-caliber roster. Trayce Thompson has filled in admirably in left field with Chris Taylor injured, and Taylor - an All-Star last season - should be going on a rehab assignment soon. Cody Bellinger hasn't displayed the offensive punch that earned him MVP honors in 2019, but he's one of the top defensive center fielders in the game and will remain an every-day player.
The Dodgers, of course, already have a superstar right fielder in Betts. Extension or not, a nucleus of Soto, Betts and Freddie Freeman for at least three years would rival any top trio in the game. After dealing for Betts, the Dodgers extended the outfielder for 12 years and $365 million before he played a game for them. They've also proven capable of locking up the generational talents they covet.