Los Angeles Dodgers: How Kluber and Bumgarner affect the Dodgers
By Jason Reed
2. How the Madison Bumgarner signing impacts the Los Angeles Dodgers
It really seemed for a minute there that the Los Angeles Dodgers were going to sign Madison Bumgarner. In what started as reports that instantly surfaced after the team missed out on Gerrit Cole, the Bumgarner reports really picked up steam as it appeared as if there was legitimate mutual interest.
It obviously was not meant to be and now the Dodgers have to face Bumgarner several times a year with the Diamondbacks. But hey, now Max Muncy can tell Bumgarner to go get the ball out of the pool and Enrique Hernandez can continue to dominant the southpaw.
The Dodgers probably still need to add an experienced arm and this does not really hurt their chances. In fact, this only increases the chances that Hyun-Jin Ryu will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The important thing to note is that Ryu is reportedly only asking for a three or four-year deal, which is perfect for the Dodgers. With Bumgarner only getting an average of $17 million per season, with deferrals, the Dodgers likely can lock Ryu down on a three-four-year, $60-80 million contract.
The Dodgers would be fine without Ryu as they have five starting pitchers in Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias and Dustin May (plus Gonsolin and Stripling), but adding Ryu only adds more cushion if the team trades Maeda or the young arms don’t pan out.
Plus, based on how the Dodgers operate, chances are the team is going to want some sort of innings cap on the young arms and it becomes much easier to do that with Ryu back in the rotation.