Dodgers Rumors: MLB Insider Links LA to Standout Free Agent Reliever
The offseason is finally here, and the Dodgers have a ton of needs all around their roster. One of their least pressing needs comes from the bullpen surprisingly, and we will likely see the team prioritize their starting rotation.
While the Dodgers may not look to upgrade their bullpen too much this winter, they still will be looking at different ways to improve. It would be a disservice to themselves if they didn’t, and that isn’t how the front office typically operates.
Early on in the season, the bullpen was a real problem for LA. But to their credit, the bullpen did get much better over the second half of the season, and they became a strength for the Dodgers.
MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic has linked the Dodgers with one of the better free-agent relief pitchers on the market. Former St. Louis Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks is set to hit free agency and LA could very well be interested in him.
“Jordan Hicks was finally healthy this season and back to throwing in the triple digits. The Blue Jays acquired him from the Cardinals at the trade deadline and he pitched well for them, posting a 2.63 ERA over 25 appearances including four saves. Overall, he made 66 appearances and registered 12 saves, putting up a 3.29 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings.”
Per Jim Bowden of The Athletic
Hicks would be an instant upgrade for the LA bullpen, and it would give them a legitimate option to be a closer. Having Hicks and Evan Phillips on the roster could give the Dodgers a strong one-two punch that they could use in the late innings of the games.
He showed that he could still be a very productive member of a relief staff, so LA could look into signing him. They inquired about him at the trade deadline, so they could easily revisit that thought this winter.
Landing Hicks would be more of a luxury than anything for this Dodgers bullpen. But that shouldn’t stop them from going all-in to improve the team all across the board.
LA has been embarrassed in the postseason over the last few seasons, so they need to do whatever they can to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You can never have enough arms out of the bullpen, so Hicks could be an interesting option depending on the price it would take to land him.
Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Feels like these writers just pull names out of their hats when they write articles titled Linked.
In this one he even says the Blue Jay player would be a luxury, but they should still pursue him.
Doesn’t seem they actually give us insights into who the team might actually hire. They just need to fill a certain number of words each week.
The Bull pen was a strength. Graterol / Phillips were lights out after the ASG. What Dodgers need is depth at starting pitching .
Come on, the Dodgers need a good lefty out of the pen, not another righty! They already have righties Graterol (1.20) and Ryan Brasier (0.70) backing up Evan Phillips (24 saves). Their most used lefties out of the pen included Ferguson and Vesia with elevated ERA’s. Please get us a lefty!
Ryan brasier is free agent he would be a huge pick up and another lefty or 2 the pen would be set just add least 2 but 3 starting pitchers , 1 ace and maybe 4 or 5s