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LA Dodgers: Off-Season Accomplished?

By Aaron Valencia

Jan 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the jerseys of retired Los Angeles Dodgers players Jackie Robinson (42), Roy Campanella (39), Sandy Koufax (32), Walter Alston (24), Jim Gilliam (19), Duke Snider (4), Don Drysdale (53), Pee Wee Reese (1), Tommy Lasorda (2) and Don Sutton (20) at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the jerseys of retired Los Angeles Dodgers players Jackie Robinson (42), Roy Campanella (39), Sandy Koufax (32), Walter Alston (24), Jim Gilliam (19), Duke Snider (4), Don Drysdale (53), Pee Wee Reese (1), Tommy Lasorda (2) and Don Sutton (20) at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The MLB offseason is coming towards an end, and the 2016 MLB regular season is quickly approaching — but are the LA Dodgers ready?

Spring Training is not far away for some teams, with the pitchers and catchers reporting to camp on February 17.

The pitchers and catchers won’t report until February 19 for the Dodgers, and the team as a whole will workout on February 25.

In regards to the results of the Dodgers’ off-season, it was a complete bust compared to other teams around the league, especially for teams in the NL West; as the Giants and Diamondbacks basically stole away all the Dodgers players they were targeting.

For the Dodgers right now, it’s not looking very pretty or likely that the Dodgers will win the NL West for the fourth straight year.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto's rumored contract should convince Dodgers to spend elsewhere /

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    • With the NL West having the looks of being one of the toughest division this year in the MLB, it’s hard to say they’re the favorites anymore.

    I wouldn’t, on the other hand, count the Dodgers out of the playoffs this season nor count them out of their division!

    Now, earlier I said the Dodgers off-season was a bust, but I didn’t say it was a disaster.

    In reality, the Dodgers off-season didn’t go as bad as everybody thinks it did.

    It’s just that this off-season for the Dodgers wasn’t like past years with the big splashes.

    It was more of an off-season that consisted of getting key players to join and fill big holes in the pitching rotation, bullpen, and to the lineup.

    The Dodgers indeed filled the holes in the pitching rotation with Scott Kazmir as probably the second arm behind Clayton Kershaw, and Kenta Maeda behind or maybe in front of Brett Anderson and Hyun-jin Ryu.

    As of right now, the Dodgers rotation looks good enough to get them through the season, and maybe through the playoffs.

    I just can’t say that it looks as strong as the Kershaw and Greinke combination a year ago.

    Looking at the bullpen, the Dodgers added Joe Blanton, which could turn out being a great pickup for the Dodgers.

    Since they need extra arms to help turn this bullpen in the right direction, as it may still be the Dodgers weakness heading into Spring Training again.

    Yes I know, the Dodgers have plenty of talent to abandon the thought that this bullpen could be there strength, but until I see it, then I’ll believe it.

    To bolster the Dodgers lineup!

    The Dodgers front office decided to go out of there way to re-sign Chase Utley and Howie Kendrick, who both play second base.

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    In the case of Utley, it’s a hit or miss commitment worth $7 million.

    That I’m hoping the Dodgers front office see’s something that we don’t, because for $7 million.

    I need to get a Chase Utley bobble head, and a better understanding of why the Dodgers paid so much.

    Utley is 37-years old, and doesn’t look like the Utley of the past, as he gave the Dodgers decent play on the field with some occasionally glorious, and breathtaking plays as a boy in blue last season.

    Utley won’t be the Dodgers everyday second baseman — I think.

    Instead, he’ll supply the Dodgers with a reliable choice at second base when Howie Kendrick needs a day off, or when Kike Hernandez is needed in the outfield.

    For Howie Kendrick there is no case to present, because the Dodgers need Kendrick’s offense and defense from last season.

    Kendrick is going to be the Dodgers everyday second baseman, alongside Corey Seager at shortstop, Adrian Gonzalez at first base, and Justin Turner at third base.

    Which could turn out to be a gold mine for defensive plays.

    I also want to mention that the Dodgers will have Alex Guerrero, and Micah Johnson who could as well play second base.

    When looking back at the off-season, most Dodgers fans never expected Greinke to leave Hollywood, nor did they expect for the Dodgers front office to miss out on so many key free agents.

    In truth, the Dodgers stunk this offseason.

    On the contrary, the Dodgers still have a solid winning team with a bright 2016 season.

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