Dodgers Reportedly Set Their Sites On Another Cy Young-Winning Pitcher
By Jovan Alford
After getting bounced by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS this past season, the Los Angeles Dodgers made it a point of emphasis to bolster their starting rotation, which was beleaguered by injury.
For starters, the Dodgers signed two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to a gigantic 10-year, $700 million contract. Then followed that up with the signing of Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-year, $325 million deal) and acquired All-Star starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers immediately gave Glasnow a five-year, $136.5 million contract extension.
Even though Ohtani won’t be on the mound this season, a rotation that features Yamamoto, Glasnow, Walker Buehler, Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller, etc., makes Los Angeles the team to beat in the National League and the majors.
Dodgers Rumors: Los Angeles Checks In On Bieber
However, the Dodgers aren’t resting on their offseason laurels as they have their eye potentially on another excellent starting pitcher. According to Juan Toribio, Los Angeles has “checked in” with the Cleveland Guardians about Shane Bieber, who will be a free agent at the end of this upcoming season.
The Dodgers beat writer adds that Cleveland is a tough team to deal with and doesn’t necessarily have to trade the former Cy Young Award winner. This latest tidbit of news corresponds with what ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote about earlier this week.
Passan said that the chances of Bieber getting traded in the coming months are “dwindling” and adds his upcoming free agency, along with the Guardians planning to contender for the AL Central, dampens his values.
In theory, it would be great for the Dodgers to add Bieber, who is coming off an okay 2023 season (6-6, 3.80 ERA). But when locked in and healthy, he is one of the better pitchers in the majors. That said, Los Angeles should have enough with Yamamoto, Glasnow, and their young arms to compete and win the NL West again.