Dodgers Still Looking for Pitching Help This Offseason, Says GM Brandon Gomes

Entering the offseason, the Dodgers’ front office had two priorities: sign Shohei Ohtani and address the starting pitching needs.

They have already done both, but the team still needs more on the pitching front. Trading for starter Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays was a great start, and he gives them a front-line pitcher.

In the Glasnow trade, they did lose starter Ryan Pepiot. It’s a one-for-one swap in terms of top-5 starters in the 2024 rotation. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes confirmed the team is looking to bring in more arms for the pitching staff, even after trading for Glasnow.

The team has moved its focus onto Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto is the most highly coveted free agent on the market right now, and the Dodgers believe they are in a good spot to land him.

During their meeting with him last week, the team pulled out all the stops. Multiple players helped with the pitch, including Ohtani. Ohtani and Yamamoto know each other well from their time with Team Japan, and his role in the meeting could end up being significant.

As it stands right now, the Dodgers’ rotation is anything but solid. Glasnow is great, but he has had injury issues throughout his career. Walker Buehler is scheduled to make his return after recovering from Tommy John surgery, but his start to the year is likely to be delayed.

Bobby Miller is heading into his second season. While he showed he belongs in the league last season, he’s never thrown more than 140 innings in a season, and a sophomore slump is possible in 2024. And the same goes for starter Emmet Sheehan.

Even if the team does land Yamamoto, they will still need at least one more arm for the rotation. Someone like Lucas Giolito could fit the bill, as he could eat innings as a reclamation project.

The front office has its work cut out for it moving forward the rest of the offseason. They are off to a good start, but there’s a lot of time left to go before Opening Day.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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