This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
LOS ANGELES — With the Dodgers beginning the season with two video games in Seoul, South Korea, in opposition to the Padres, they’re set to reach at Camelback Ranch in lower than three weeks to arrange for the much-anticipated 2024 season.
Earlier than that occurs, nonetheless, we’ll proceed to take an in-depth, position-by-position have a look at the Dodgers and the way they’ll look in ‘24. At present we shift our focus to the rotation.
The wholesome locks: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, extra signing
After a disappointing displaying from their rotation, the Dodgers got here into the winter realizing they wanted to make vital modifications to the beginning workers in an effort to actually contend for a World Collection in ‘24. They had been capable of do exactly that with the 2 largest splashes of the offseason.
The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal, making him the richest pitcher within the league, regardless that he’s by no means thrown a pitch within the Majors. Los Angeles had been scouting him for years, nonetheless, and believes he’s the kind of frontline starter it lacked final season. Then the Dodgers went out and traded for Glasnow, whereas they’re additionally anticipating one other leap within the improvement of Miller, who had a stable rookie season.
Even after signing Yamamoto and buying and selling for Glasnow, the Dodgers had been out there for an additional beginning pitcher. They wanted extra depth they usually’re getting it, as they’re nearing a one-year deal with veteran left-hander James Paxton. Paxton will slot into the rotation to start out the season, giving a few of the crew’s different pitchers some extra time to get again on the sphere.
The large reinforcement: Walker Buehler
You had been most likely questioning why Buehler, a Cy Younger candidate in 2022, wasn’t on the “wholesome locks” checklist. Sure, Buehler will probably be wholesome going into the ‘24 season after lacking the complete ’23 marketing campaign following his second Tommy John surgical procedure, however the Dodgers will take a really cautious strategy with the right-hander, together with not beginning his season proper on Opening Day.
Buehler may have an innings restriction this season, which is routine for somebody coming off a second main elbow surgical procedure. Due to that, each side must have some conversations this spring. The concept is to have Buehler prepared for October, which is when he shines brightest, even when it means him lacking the primary month of the season. That’s why the Dodgers prioritized a depth transfer like Paxton.
Dustin Might and Tony Gonsolin may be choices for the Dodgers later within the season, however that may stay unlikely till they make vital progress.
The Spring Coaching battles: Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Grove
The Dodgers have 4 spots within the rotation locked up heading into Spring Coaching, leaving one or most likely two openings for another choices.
Younger pitchers Stone, Sheehan and Grove all received a glance final season, and every of them had their ups and downs. Stone struggled mightily to start out his massive league profession, however his Minor League numbers earlier than this 12 months had been eye-popping. Most evaluators consider he’s a pitch away from changing into one other viable choice.
Sheehan can be one other spectacular younger arm who completed the season on a excessive word, principally in reduction. The proper-hander was known as up straight from Double-A Tulsa to make his debut final season, which tells you every thing it’s good to learn about how extremely the Dodgers view him.
Grove additionally struggled as a starter, however he might mission to be a very stable multi-inning reliever. That’ll be one thing the Dodgers proceed to discover this season, however Grove will start spring as one other beginning choice.
Then there’s Yarbrough, who has essentially the most expertise of the group and provides the Dodgers one other left-handed choice. Yarbrough had success with the Dodgers after being acquired on the Commerce Deadline from the Royals, and he additionally had a whole lot of success with Tampa Bay.
With Yamamoto getting adjusted to the Majors, Glasnow having an extended observe report of accidents and Miller making one other innings leap, it’s very attainable that the Dodgers will open the season with a six-man rotation, opening some alternatives for this group.
Who backs them up: Kyle Damage, Landon Knack, Nick Frasso, River Ryan
The Dodgers are going to want a few these pitchers to make a leap this season. Damage is the one one with a style of the Majors. He struck out the facet in his first massive league inning final season, and he would possible be the primary man up on this checklist. Knack has lengthy been on prospects lists, however that is the season when the Dodgers want to determine how a lot they’ll depend on him once they want innings.
Most groups use greater than 10 starters in a season, so you may count on at the least one or two of those extremely touted prospects to return up sooner or later.
