The DFA for Brasier was somewhat a surprise. Ryan was the odd man out in the bullpen, so being moved to another team was logical. It was the DFA, and not a trade, that came as a surprise. It could be that the Dodgers were unwilling to trade Brasier until they learned of Kirby Yates’ physical. I do not think they will have a problem trading him, even with his $4.5MM contract. His cutter, which the Dodgers helped to develop after his release from Boston, is a huge pitch, and he will do well in relief this year…for someone other than LAD.
Apparently the Dodgers still want to see if they can resurrect Michael Grove, who was a clear DFA possibility. He will apparently look to harness all that positivity back in OKC to start the season (unless moved before then).
The Dodgers are unapologetically building a bullpen that should overtake the Guardians as the best in MLB. The Dodgers have five pitchers who could close: Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and Michael Kopech. The Dodgers even used Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda in high leverage situations last year. Every one of the projected LAD relievers had at least one save. The highest ERA for Dodger projected relievers was Evan Phillips at 3.62.
Tanner Scott (LHRP) is seen as the key bullpen acquisition, but Kirby Yates actually had a better season. Tanner Scott pitched in 72 games and 72.0 IP. He compiled a 1.75 ERA with a 2.92 FIP, and a 1.125 WHIP. He had 10.5 K/9 and a 2.33 K/BB. Scott had 22 saves with only 2 blown saves. Those save numbers have to be diminished due to pitching the first 4 months for Miami. For San Diego, Scott was used more as a setup guy for closer Robert Suarez. Coming in with inherited runners, he was automatic. In 19 inherited runners, 0 scored. The one negative for Scott is his control. His BB/9 last year was 12.2. After a BB/9 rate with Miami of 14.8, he improved greatly with San Diego with a 8.0 BB/9. While Ruben Niebla (San Diego’s pitching coach) is very good, I am surmising that the Dodger pitching gurus can reel that walk rate even more.
Kirby Yates (RHRP) was outstanding for Texas all year. He appeared in 61 games and 61.2 IP. He had a 1.17 ERA, 2.50 FIP, and a 0.827 WHIP. He compiled a 12.4 K/9 and a 3.04 K/BB. Yates had 33 saves and just a single blown save. His inherited runner metric was 4 out of 19 or 21%. That number should be tempered as 3 runners scored in one game.
I figure that both Scott and Yates will be the primary “closers” for LAD. Scott is LHRP and Yates is RHRP. Because LAD uses a more closer by committee approach, I am guessing that Doc will see who is coming up in the 8th to determine who pitches that inning.
Evan Phillips (RHRP) was the previous primary closer. He was not nearly as dominating as he has been since 2022. Phillips was off to a brilliant start when he was placed on the IL on May 5 – May 31 due to a hamstring injury. At the time, Phillips pitched in 14 games with 13.2 IP. His ERA was 0.66 with a FIP of 1.56. His slash line was .196/.255/.216/.470, so, yes, he was dominant up until that point. In his second game back, he gave up a 2 out, 8th inning, 3 run HR to Oneil Cruz. For the rest of June, Phillips pitched in 10 games, 9.0 IP, and allowed 1 run.
Evan seemed to crash and burn in July. In 10 games and 7.2 IP, his ERA was an astronomical 11.74, and his FIP was also ugly at 8.78. His slash line was .378/.425/.757/1.182. He allowed 4 HRs to the 40 batters he faced.
Evan returned to his normal dependable self in August. In 25 games, 22.1 IP, he compiled a 2.82 ERA, 2.18 FIP, and a slash line of .200/.258/.300/.558. He had 28 K vs 6 BB. This includes one horrendous relief appearance in September against Atlanta where he allowed 5 runs (all earned) in 0.1 IP. Otherwise he allowed 2 ER in 22.0 IP.
Something clicked for Michael Kopech (RHRP) once the Dodgers acquired him from CWS. 2024 was his first full season as a reliever since 2021 when he returned after not pitching for 2 years. As a Dodger, in 24 games he accumulated 24.0 IP, and compiled a 1.13 ERA, 2.54 FIP, and 0.792 WHIP. With the Dodgers, Kopech had 6 saves and 8 holds, with 0 blown saves. Kopech inherited 3 runners and none scored. His slash line was .118/.216/.197/.413, allowing only 1 HR. He allowed 1 run in 3 of the 24 games. Michael Kopech was one of the Dodgers most reliable pitchers.
Alex Vesia (LHRP) has been as dependable pitcher as the Dodgers have had since they acquired him in a trade with Miami (along with Kyle Hurt) for RHRP Dylan Floro. Vesia had a rough 2023, but the other three years he has been excellent. His best year was 2024. Alex appeared in 67 games with 66.1 IP. His ERA was 1.76, his FIP was 3.45, and his WHIP was 0.995. Vesia is a big strikeout pitcher with 11.8 K/9, and a 2.64 K/BB. Vesia is primarily a LH setup guy. His slash line was an excellent .148/.260/.252/.551. Although he did have 5 saves, 3 blown saves, and 13 hold. Vesia is usually the pitcher who comes in with runners on. He inherited 32 runners and 8 scored (25%), with 3 coming in 1 game.
Anthony Banda is the third LHRP for the projected LAD bullpen. Banda is another of the scrapheap pitchers that the Dodgers somehow turn around to be not just good, but very good. At 30, Banda had his best season. In 48 games, 49.2 IP, Banda compiled a 3.08 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 1.248 WHIP. Not as much of a strikeout pitcher as the other LAD relievers, but his 9.1 K/9 is respectable. Banda had 2 saves, 2 blown saves and 9 holds. Banda credits the LAD coaches with the change in his slider to become one of the most unhittable sliders in the game has unlocked everything else. Among pitchers who have thrown at least 200 sliders this season, only three — Josh Hader, Andrew Chafin and Michel Otañez — have gotten a higher rate of swings-and-misses on a pitch that Banda didn’t even throw before landing in Los Angeles. to become a big time pitch.
If the Dodgers roll out a 6-man rotation in March/April, I suspect Dustin May will get that opportunity. May has no options, while Bobby Miller, Justin Wrobleski, Landon Knack, and Ben Casparius all have remaining options. Once Shohei Ohtani joins the rotation in May, I suspect either May or Gonsolin will join the bullpen, and will be more the capable of dominating in high leverage situations.
Brusdar Graterol will rejoin the team some time after the trade deadline. There will undoubtedly be injuries at that point. But the current bullpen is certainly going to block Edgardo Henriquez and Jack Dreyer.
The Dodgers have 9 MiLB relievers invited to ST.
- Giovanny Gallegos (R) – Free agent (Min)
- Joe Jacques (L) – Free agent (AZ)
- Jose E. Hernandez (L) – Purchased (PIT)
- Julian Fernandez (R) – Free agent (Indy League)
- Matt Sauer (R) – Free Agent (NYY)
- Jack Little (R) – Drafted
- Sam Carlson (R) – Free Agent (MIL)
- Jose Rodriguez (R) – Drafted
What does this do to the 4 relievers also slated for AAA being LAD draft picks?
- Antonio Knowles (R)
- Alec Gamboa (L)
- Ryan Sublette (R)
- Ben Harris (L)
Are the Dodgers done? There is a lot of smoke that the Dodgers are interested in another LHRP, Tim Hill, who was excellent once he was traded to NYY. I do not expect AF/BG to sign Hill, but at this point, I have no clue what they are planning.
The Dodgers had an outstanding bullpen in 2024 and went a long way to bring the Dodgers a World Championship. 2025 figures to be even better, and more LHRP will certainly come in handy for the playoffs to marginalize LH sluggers the Dodgers could face in the playoffs:
- Juan Soto
- Bryce Harper
- Kyle Schwarber
- Max Kepler
- Matt Olson
- Corbin Carroll
- Josh Naylor
- Kyle Tucker
- Christian Yelich
There are several other strong LH hitters that the Dodgers could face in the playoffs.
Pitching is always subject to injury, but the Dodgers depth is more than enough to offset that risk.
So many arms, so few openings
On paper it looks like a very dominant season awaits us. However in other season’s that we wrapped up early, we got our ass kicked in the first round. This last season we had a fight to the end of the season and shazaam, we win a WS. So how do the Dodgers manage to keep that winning edge if we have wrapped up the season in May (that’s sarcasm Bear). Seriously, how can the Dodgers dominate and yet keep that edge thru the end of the WS? That will be the biggest issue they face, it appears at least on paper.
Get well and do what the Docs tell you to do, Bear (that was not sarcasm Bear)
Could Miller become an obvious trade piece? Same could be said of May. And Jeff, you forgot the return of Kershaw around mid-season. I think the pen is loaded, but there will always be injury’s. Hopefully the pen is not hit too hard.
Brasier’s performance in this postseason is probably why he was considered expendable. In 9 innings of postseason pitching, he gave up 4 homers. During the season he gave up only 3.
Wonderful summary of our bullpen and yes, indeed we are overwhelmingly talented. With Shohei joining the rotation, I’m betting Dustin May goes to the bullpen… But what happens when Clayton is ready to pitch ? Would it be safe to assume that most probably someone will be dealt or released ? We are sooooo blessed to have as many big time arms on our team. Just think of our injured and waiting til next year crowd of starting pitchers : Stone, Ryan and Hurt. Plus healthy and already some MLB success : Miller, Sheehan, Knack, Wrobleski etc. All very capable and itching to make their mark…Even though we have 5 top.notch starters signed for at least 5 plus years…A true embarrassment of riches.
Dodgers rubbing it in the Padres noses a little. When SD comes to Dodger Stadium on the 15th of June, fans at the game will receive a replica World Series trophy. The next night, June 16th, the fans will receive a Blake Snell bobblehead. Ohtani is scheduled to have four bobbleheads next year. Has to be a record. One for his MVP, one for his 50 homers, one for his 50 stolen bases and one just for the hell of it. Edman and Teo also get bobbleheads as does Joe Davis. Ron Cey will be inducted into the Legends of Dodger baseball on the 18th of July. Sasaki, Glasnow and Fernando also getting honored with bobbleheads. Oh yeah, Ice Cube, and Koby Bryant will also be honored with bobbles.
Andrew says he hates to make trades in July because everything/everyone is overpriced. Well, what if you’re the seller instead of the buyer? That means you’re able to overcharge. If our guys stay reasonably healthy AF might have a few pitchers he could sell and get back really good prospects in return.
We’ve been discussing how a lot of the younger Dodger pitchers are going to be blocked because the rotation is pretty much set for quite a while. Since we always say Andrew plays chess while everyone else plays checkers, he’s probably already calculating some contending teams who might be short on pitching come July and have strong farm systems.
So, although we may not see many new faces on the major league roster come the deadline, it still may prove to be an interesting time.
Brasier did not have any Minor League options remaining, which presumably was a factor behind the Dodgers’ decision to let him go.
After reading everything…Are the Dodgers the only team trying to win the west next year?
I wonder how all these closers will like pitching in the 5, 6 or 7 inning.
Hard to believe that Bregman and Alonso are still on the market. Mets offer is about 3/70. That is a slap in the face to a guy who has done for the team what he has. Bregman is supposed to have a six year offer on the table. Flaherty is still out there too. Angels interested in him.
Here is a glimpse as to why Roki Sasaki has been so good.
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1679481856012550149
Gomes said today that the door was open for the return of Kike. In order to accomplish that, someone has to be optioned or released. The only two position players with options will be Kim and Pages. Taylor coming off of his worst season as a Dodger could be DFA’d, but LA would have to eat 15 million. Would they do that? Or would they even consider releasing Miguel Rojas? Only time will tell. Kike has garnered a lot of interest from the Yankees.