Dodgers Insider Lists 5 Starting Pitchers LA Could Sign This Offseason

While the Dodgers are engaged in free-agent negotiations for some of the biggest names on the open market, the team also will need to explore some signings of a smaller magnitude. Their priority this offseason is adding to their starting rotation, and there are plenty of solid options for LA to look into.

Dodgers insider Jack Harris of The LA Times listed five starting pitchers that the Dodgers could go after to bolster the rotation depth after the big names have signed.

Lucas Giolito has emerged as one of the Dodgers’ targets, according to people with knowledge of the situation unauthorized to speak publicly. Jack Flaherty and Seth Lugo have also been linked with the team of late, while other veterans such as Michael Wacha and Marcus Stroman could also bolster the club’s pitching depth.

Per Jack Harris of The LA Times

Each of these names brings some intrigue and would provide the Dodgers with some extra depth in the rotation. But some are better choices than others, and LA won’t likely spend too much, especially if they were to land a top-tier free agent.

Marcus Stroman

Stroman is the biggest name among these players here, and he could make some sense if they strike out on the top targets. He put together a great first half of the season last year, where he was arguably the best pitcher on the planet.

But his second-half struggles showed who he really is, which could scare the Dodgers off. In the end, he put up an ERA of 3.95 and a WHIP of 1.26 over 27 games played. Stroman wouldn’t be the worst option, but his price tag may be the issue for LA.

Jack Flaherty

Flaherty would represent the Dodgers yearly reclamation project, and he is a hometown kid. Just a few seasons ago, he was thought of as one of the better, young pitchers in the game, but he has fallen off a little.

He split time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles last season, posting an ERA of 4.99 over 29 games played. Flaherty could be a low-risk, potentially high-reward type of starter in the LA system.

Seth Lugo

The Dodgers have already been linked to Lugo previously as well this offseason, so he is a good candidate for them to look at. He almost landed with the team last offseason before he decided to join the San Diego Padres.

Lugo had himself a very nice year in San Diego, posting an ERA of 3.57 in 26 starts. He could slot in toward the end of the rotation and give the Dodgers a very reliable high-value rotation piece.

Michael Wacha

At least to me, Wacha is the biggest wild card here. He has the most upside among any of these pitchers listed, and the Dodgers could very much use his skill set.

The biggest issue with him is that he has had some injury issues in the past, and his price tag may exceed what LA is trying to pay. But he had himself a solid season with the Padres, posting an ERA of 3.22 over 24 starts. The biggest plus for him is that pretty much each time he pitched, he gave the Padres a chance to win the game, which could see him get a nice payday this winter.

Lucas Giolito

At this point, Giolito just feels like he will be a member of the Dodgers next season. He is from Southern California and would give LA the reclamation project that we all know they will sign this offseason.

Before he was traded away from the Chicago White Sox, Giolito had a solid year. In 21 starts, he put up an ERA of 3.79 and a WHIP of 1.22. The right-hander has been linked to the Dodgers for a while now, and it likely happens this winter.

Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

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