Dodgers Rumors: Three Last Minute Moves to Make
By Jason Reed
Deal a Starting Pitcher
I know, the biggest focus right now for the Los Angeles Dodgers is to keep their deep pitching staff in order to pad the potential losses to injury. However, there are so many cooks in the kitchen that it seems almost unwise to deal some of these arms to either free of salary space or bring in another area of need.
The first guy that comes to my mind is Scott Kazmir. Nothing against Kazmir, as he served a good purpose last season, but I do not see him as a Dodger in 2017. His constant injuries and alarmingly low fastball velocity do not fit into the Dodgers pitching staff in 2017. Heck, even if two of the top five pitchers got hurt Kazmir would still find himself out of the rotation.
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Other guys like Brandon McCarthy, Alex Wood, or Hyun Jin-Ryu could all be dealt if the price is right. It would definitely take more for these guys than Kazmir, but coud clear up more roster space. The Dodgers would not be hard pressed in dealing McCarthy, and if they get return could also deal Ryu or Wood.
Yes, it is great to have the pitching depth that they have especially after the disaster that was last season’s injuries, but there are so many options that quite frankly could perform better than Kazmir or McCarthy.
Julio Urias of couse will likely start in the minors or the bullpen to limit his innings, we will see him as the season unfolds. Los Angeles also has Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling to step up if needed from the big league bullpen, and have promising arm Trevor Oaks in AAA who has thrived during spring.
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Overall, the Dodgers seem foolish to not trade one of these established big league arms, even if the return is not much, this freed roster space and salart will certainly aid the boys in blue in other, more needed, departments.