Editorials

Dodgers News: Zaidi Indicates Focused Search For Starting Pitcher Is On

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As a team with World Series aspirations it’s been no secret the Los Angeles Dodgers figure to be buyers in a market that’s expected to be flush with starting pitchers. Given season-ending injuries to Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Dodgers are in need of more than a Kevin Correia or Roberto Hernandez-type acquisition if they hope to make a deep postseason run.

The expectation is multiple aces are, or will become available, prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. After the Dodgers suffered a second straight loss to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, general manager Farhan Zaidi indicated the club has aggressively scoured the market, via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:

Zaidi acknowledged Brett Anderson’s injury places more of an emphasis on acquiring a pitcher in a timely manner:

Anderson was removed in the third inning of Tuesday’s loss and diagnosed with irritation in his left Achilles tendon. It was reported he didn’t tear the tendon, but he’s scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday. The Dodgers were already staring down the barrel of needing to find a replacement for Brandon Beachy’s scheduled start on Saturday against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Beachy threw four innings Monday and was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City so that Carl Crawford could be activated from the 60-day disabled list. If Anderson is to miss a start or multiple starts, it places more stress on a Dodgers starting rotation that is currently composed of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and whoever is healthy down in the Minors.

While there figures to be multiple arms available, the Dodgers find themselves tasked with needing to upgrade without parting ways with top prospects Corey Seager or Julio Urias.

Moreover, several of the pitchers expected to be placed on the trading block are in the final year of their respective contract — meaning the Dodgers run the risk of possibly mortgaging some of the future for nothing more than a rental.

Of course one pitcher who doesn’t fit that bill is Cole Hamels, someone the Dodgers have regularly been linked to. However, the reported issue with trading for Hamels in the past has been the haul the Philadelphia Phillies expect in return for their ace.

So while the Dodgers may not be able to conduct a more intensive search for a starting pitcher, their need has certainly increased.

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3 Comments

  1. “…on a Dodgers starting rotation that is currently composed of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and whoever is healthy down in the Minors.”

    This is why I take these editorials with a grain of salt. Is Mike Bolsinger, the winner of today’s game, no longer a part of the ‘starting rotation’?

  2. Forget Hamels, Cueto, or Price. The Dodgers should focus on Kazmir and Jesse Chaves from the A’s. Can get both of them for cheaper than the others asking price, and both should be solid. Especially Chavez, he would be a steal

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