Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: Bronson Arroyo Says Dodgers Among Teams Interested

With the pending decision on whether Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will be posted, the Dodgers may have to switch their search to another starting pitcher this off-season.

The Dodgers have been rumored to be pursuing a trade for the Rays’ David Price, but it was recently speculated that the team would like to pursue players via free agency rather than deplete the farm system.

According to Jim Bowden of SiriusXM’s Inside Pitch, free agent pitcher Bronson Arroyo mentioned some teams that are in play for his services:

It’s unknown the extent of the Dodgers’ interest for the 36-year-old starting pitcher, but it seems that the team has had some contact with Arroyo. Arroyo is coming off a season in which he went 14-12 with a 3.79 ERA in 32 starts for the Cincinnati Reds.

He’s spent the last eight seasons with the Reds and has started at least 30 games every season. The right-hander has thrown at least 200 innings in every season since 2005, except for 199 innings in 2011 and has won at least 10 games in eight of the past 10 seasons.

The Reds seem to be parting ways with their longtime starter, leaving him available to any team with a need for a starting pitcher. Arroyo is no longer an ace, but is a durable, inning-eater that can fill out the back end of a rotation. He relies on control and mixing speeds to get through games.

Arroyo says he wants a team to come forward and offer him a three-year deal, but the Dodgers might only be willing to go to two years as it was reported last week.

If the Dodgers aren’t willing to go after Price and Tanaka isn’t posted, the Dodgers may turn to Arroyo for rotation depth. While he may not be the big name that fans crave, Arroyo is still a serviceable starting pitcher that will take the ball every fifth day.

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