In the span of two months, the Dodgers’ front office has managed to turn a weakness on the roster back into a strength. They have turned their starting rotation around with a few moves and feel good about things...
In the span of two months, the Dodgers’ front office has managed to turn a weakness on the roster back into a strength. They have turned their starting rotation around with a few moves and feel good about things heading into the new year.
As currently constructed, the Dodgers’ rotation includes Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan. They may look to incorporate someone like Ryan Yarbrough, or move to a six-man rotation full-time, but that remains to be seen.
Former MLB general manager Steve Phillips appeared on MLB Network Radio and expressed his concerns with the Dodgers’ rotation for next season.
“They probably need another starter. You know, because you don’t know what Buehler’s ability to go deep in innings during the course of the season, so they are gonna have to protect him. Miller’s young, they are gonna have to protect him. Emmet Sheehan’s young so they are gonna have to protect him.”
— Steve Phillips, former New York Mets general managerPhillips does have a point with the rotation. Glasnow has never pitched more than 156 innings throughout his career, and he is two years removed from an InternalBrace procedure. While both he and the front office aren’t worried about the future, the past offers little assurance of Glasnow’s durability.
Yamamoto will be coming from Japan and has never thrown a pitch in the big leagues. His stuff is expected to translate extremely well to MLB, but he remains a wildcard until he gets on the mound.
“They have a lot of unpredictability there, whether it’s health-related. Yamamoto should be predictable, but he’s probably a six-man rotation guy coming in, which is fine for them.”
— PhillipsBuehler is likely to be delayed to start the season after losing his 2023 season to Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers aren’t going to rush him back and will ease him into the rotation.
Both Miller and Sheehan will be entering their second seasons. Sophomore slumps are always possible as opposing hitters gain more sophisticated scouting reports on pitchers. The two right-handers showed they belong in the major leagues in 2023, but will have to prove themselves again.
“You start to look at it and think okay, they’ve got a lot of guys. It does scream six-man rotation.”
— PhillipsThe Dodgers could add at least one more arm to the rotation. They could use a pitcher with a track record of durability, and possibly a left-hander to complement the five right-handers already under contract. Adding a lefty could allow the front office more flexibility when building out their pitching staff.
Many have speculated the team could look to go with a six-man rotation for next season. It would help ease the number of innings on each individual starter throughout the season, and give them more time to ease players into their roles.
The Dodgers have had a great offseason so far, but they aren’t done yet. They still have a few moves left to make to make them the World Series favorites in 2024.
Photo Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
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