Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberts Still Stacked with Pitching Depth

The Dodgers learned a season ago depth is an invaluable asset. They enter 2017 with depth being arguably their biggest strength.

In speaking with MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, Andrew Friedman said the organization’s pitching surplus made swapping Jose De Leon for Logan Forsythe.

“We feel we have a tremendous amount of depth on the prospect pitching side and it allowed us to address our most acute need,” Friedman said.

Friedman also hinted Minnesota’s asking price for Brian Dozier was counterintuitive to the franchise’s goals. Trading a single prospect, who at best would’ve been the team’s No. 5 starter entering Opening Day, was a marginal cost to address three needs: Second base, lead-off and a right-handed bat.

“We feel he will fit in incredibly well with the fabric of our group,” Friedman said of Forsythe. “On the field and off the field he’s a great fit in terms of the type of player he is — a grinder, a professional hitter, can really handle left-handed pitching as well as right, is a good base runner. The type of player we needed to be aggressive to add to our current group.”

De Leon said he was “shocked” by the trade, but maybe he shouldn’t have been. The fifth rotation spot will be a competition Scott Kazmir, Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart and Alex Wood. Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu are also in the mix. Los Angeles has Yadier Alvarez and Walker Buehler as top 100 prospects, among other pitchers.

The Dodgers are uniquely positioned to withstand injuries. Their hope will be that depth isn’t tested as it was in 2016.