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However because the clock struck midnight and the calendar flipped over to 2024, the Dodgers’ focus remained the identical: proceed to enhance the star-studded roster with a purpose to win the World Sequence subsequent season.
With pitchers and catchers reporting in a bit greater than a month, how precisely can the Dodgers get even higher?
Do they want extra pitching?
Coming into the offseason, the Dodgers knew they wanted to improve their beginning pitching. It wasn’t adequate within the postseason and it obtained uncovered by the D-backs’ offense.
With the additions of Yamamoto and Glasnow and Walker Buehler coming again sooner or later within the early months of the season, the Dodgers, no less than on paper, must be significantly better. You add in guys like Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller, Landon Knack and others, and the Dodgers are in a great place with the rotation.
Nonetheless, Los Angeles might nonetheless profit from including another starter. That will give the Dodgers some insurance coverage for the slight uncertainty surrounding Yamamoto, who will probably be pitching in a giant league season for the primary time in his profession. It might additionally defend them towards accidents to Glasnow, Miller and Buehler.
In an ideal world, the Dodgers can purchase Corbin Burnes from the Brewers or Dylan Stop from the White Sox. However at this level within the offseason, it’s unlikely the Dodgers land both of them. Los Angeles has checked in with the Guardians on Shane Bieber, who will probably be a free agent on the finish of the ‘24 season. The Guardians are a troublesome group to cope with, nevertheless, and don’t essentially have to maneuver the right-hander.
The Dodgers have additionally been actually good at signing a mid-level free-agent starter and turning that participant right into a key piece of their roster. (Hi there, Tyler Anderson). There’s additionally some danger in doing that. (Hi there, Noah Syndergaard). Both method, the Dodgers are in a great place with the rotation, however you may by no means have sufficient pitching.
After sitting behind Corey Seager and Trea Turner, Gavin Lux was decided to show he was able to being the Dodgers’ on a regular basis shortstop final season. A devastating proper knee damage in a Cactus League recreation finally ended Lux’s season.
This offseason, the Dodgers have kicked round some names to attempt to enhance at shortstop. Miguel Rojas continues to be on the roster and is an elite defender, however he leaves lots to be desired within the batter’s field. Lux might undoubtedly assist enhance the offense, and he’ll as soon as once more get each alternative to show he might be the shortstop this spring.
Lux is feeling more healthy and has been figuring out at Dodger Stadium all winter. The important thing for him this spring will probably be displaying that he can transfer laterally into the holes to make performs on the surgically repaired knee. It’ll be a giant spring for Lux, because the Dodgers will seemingly go into the season with the 26-year-old as their beginning shortstop.
If there’s one space the place the Dodgers might nonetheless enhance, it’s within the outfield. With Mookie Betts slated to play lots of second base subsequent season, the Dodgers might use one other right-handed-hitting outfielder. Chris Taylor ought to get loads of seems within the outfield, however his worth comes from having the ability to swing between the outfield and infield. Manuel Margot may also play towards left-handed pitching.
The Dodgers have been out there for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, and a few of these choices might embrace Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Pham, in line with sources. Giving Miguel Vargas extra reps in left subject may also be one thing Los Angeles tries this spring. Vargas struggled offensively in his first prolonged style of the Majors final season, however the Dodgers nonetheless consider the previous prime prospect is usually a key contributor on the large league stage.
