6 ‘Buy Low’ Pitching Options for the Dodgers This Offseason
The Dodgers biggest need with the offseason starting is extremely clear: Starting pitching. The team is expected to be active on the free agent front and will be looking to heavily upgrade their rotation from a year ago.
In addition to the team being aggressive with the top talents available on the market, the Dodgers are also expected to look at some of the more valued guys as well. LA loves their bargain bin signings, and it seems that it will happen again this year.
“The Dodgers, as they usually are, will be looking for some buy-low candidates, as well. Jack Flaherty, Lucas Giolito, Corey Kluber, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Hyun Jin Ryu fit that description.”
Per Juan Toribo of MLB.com
Between the list, any of these would serve the Dodgers well. Both Flaherty and Giolito would be hometown kids coming home with the chance to prove themselves after tough 2023 seasons.
Flaherty split time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles this past year, posting an ERA of 4.99 combined. He was one of the top pitchers in baseball just a few years ago, so maybe he could rekindle that fire with LA.
Giolito struggled for most of the year, but extremely so once he was traded from the Chicago White Sox. He posted an ERA of 3.89 while with Chicago, but it ballooned to 6.89 after being acquired by the Los Angeles Angels. He was then claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians, and his ERA went up even more, getting to 7.04 in six starts.
Kluber didn’t fare well at all during his time with the Boston Red Sox this season, posting an ERA of 7.04 over 15 games. He seems like an unlikely fit with the Dodgers for next season given his issues and age.
Both Lugo and Wacha were solid for the San Diego Padres last season, even if the team didn’t fair too well. Lugo chose San Diego over LA last offseason, so the Dodgers could explore him once again. He posted an ERA of 3.57 in 26 games for the Padres and could slot in as a good back-end option.
Wacha was one of the better pitchers for the Padres, and he will likely command much more than anyone else on this list. He played in 24 games for San Diego, posting a 3.22 ERA, but he gave the Padres a chance to win each time he started.
And finally, the one that many fans would love to see is a reunion with Hyun Jin Ryu. Ryu was beloved by Dodgers fans during his time in LA, and he could give them a nice left-handed option in the rotation. He only started 11 games a year ago after coming back from Tommy John Surgery but was solid in the limited time. Ryu put up an ERA of 3.46 for the Toronto Blue Jays.
LA has plenty of options this offseason to upgrade the starting pitching, and hopefully, they spend their money effectively. They can’t enter the year without some major upgrades, and it seems the front office plans to do their best to field a strong rotation next season.
Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
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If we can get Ryu, Wacca and the two Japanese pitchers we’d be set. I’m happy with resigning Turner and Jd if we don’t get Otani. Personally sign snell or trade for Burnes. Pull of those moves we won’t need Otani.
I agree, concentrate on getting the Japanese starters coming over, sign Blake Snell or trade for Dylan Cease or Corbin Burnes, and resign JD Martinez. Resign Kike and Jason Heyward if possible! Starting Pitching is our top priority for next season to go along with Walker Beuhler, and the kids!
It’s time for the Dodger’s to step up and acquire top tier players.
All talk and no action
Need to sign atleast two top tier starters and maybe two for the pen, also re sign JD , Kiki ,Hayward and possibly Turner, please Dodgers pull the trigger this time
With Friedman behind the wheel always looking for cheap deals what we got in 2023 expect more in 2024. All talk and the no action. They act as if they are broke.