Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Dave Roberts Discusses Impact of Shortened Spring Training

The never-ending CBA negotiations will likely impact the regular season, but they’ve already affected spring training. Normally, MLB players would be in Arizona and Florida preparing for a 162-game season. Once (if?) a new CBA is agreed upon, a shortened spring training will commence. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is weary of the ramifications of a contracted spring training according to an article by The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. Especially since the meat of free agency will be layered right on top.

“Now you’re trying to look at all these players that don’t have jobs right now and to sign guys [free agents] to fill out rosters and … for trades to go through, to assimilate with a new ballclub – all this stuff takes time.”



Roberts also brought up a curious example considering the current state of the Dodgers starting rotation.

“And obviously, when you trade for a pitcher, that’s going to take time to build them up because you want to put eyes on them. When are they going to be able to pitch valuable innings for you once the season does start? These are questions that are going to have to be answered at some point.”

Roberts’ current starting staff features two aces, Julio Urías and Walker Buehler, and a few question marks: Tony Gonsolin, Andrew Jackson, and Andrew Heaney. The idea of the Dodgers using their quality prospect depth to acquire an established, frontline starter has been a topic of discussion this offseason.

Roberts’ comment likely means nothing, but there’s a small chance it points to the Dodgers internal desires to trade for a starter once the lockout is over.

History has proven that if Andrew Friedman wants to make a trade, he makes the trade.

On the other hand, the Dodgers could re-sign Clayton Kershaw in addition to another veteran starter, and roll the dice on the back-end of the rotation.

Before any of that happens, the MLB lockout needs to end.

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Eric Eulau

Born and raised in Ventura, not "Ven-CH-ura", California. Favorite Dodger Stadium food is the old school chocolate malt with the wooden spoon. Host of the Dodgers Nation 3 Up, 3 Down Podcast.

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