Dodgers: Brusdar Graterol Unlikely to Crack Opening Day Roster

The Dodgers are going to start making some more Spring Training roster cuts this week as confirmed by Dave Roberts. With less than 10 days until Opening Day, there are still a few roster spots left to get figured out. 

One area that might be opening up is in the bullpen. Dodgers relievers Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly have both been tracking well behind and have yet to get into a Spring game. Their status for Opening Day has been in doubt for a few weeks now. 

Roberts also confirmed on Monday night that Graterol would not make the Opening Day roster if he didn’t get into a Cactus League game. From the sound of it, it’s unlikely that he breaks camp with the team when they head to Colorado on April 1st. 

Yeah anything is possible, but if we don’t see him in a Cactus League game then it’s very unlikely that he’ll break camp with us…We’ll have our alternate site set up and a lot of players here. Pitchers facing hitters and hitters still taking at-bats. 

For the Dodgers, Graterol not being ready to go on Opening Day isn’t the worst-case scenario. Their incredible depth likely made it so that they were in no need to rush him to be ready to go. It also allows them some flexibility on when they rotate him back into the bullpen since he has option years left. 

Related: Dodgers Fall in Latest Farm System Rankings

The Dodgers could turn to a number of arms to fill his open spot in the bullpen. Guys like Garrett Cleavinger, Dennis Santana, and Alex Vesia could all get another look from the coaching staff. It could also create a situation where they use both Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May in relief. 

Dodgers: MLB Analyst Predicts a Very Down Season for Trevor Bauer