Former MLB GM Has Concerns Regarding Dodgers’ 2024 Starting Rotation
In the span of two months, the Dodgers’ front office has managed to turn a weakness on the roster back into a strength. They have turned their starting rotation around with a few moves and feel good about things heading into the new year.
As currently constructed, the Dodgers’ rotation includes Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan. They may look to incorporate someone like Ryan Yarbrough, or move to a six-man rotation full-time, but that remains to be seen.
Former MLB general manager Steve Phillips appeared on MLB Network Radio and expressed his concerns with the Dodgers’ rotation for next season.
“They probably need another starter. You know, because you don’t know what Buehler’s ability to go deep in innings during the course of the season, so they are gonna have to protect him. Miller’s young, they are gonna have to protect him. Emmet Sheehan’s young so they are gonna have to protect him.”
— Steve Phillips, former New York Mets general manager
Phillips does have a point with the rotation. Glasnow has never pitched more than 156 innings throughout his career, and he is two years removed from an InternalBrace procedure. While both he and the front office aren’t worried about the future, the past offers little assurance of Glasnow’s durability.
Yamamoto will be coming from Japan and has never thrown a pitch in the big leagues. His stuff is expected to translate extremely well to MLB, but he remains a wildcard until he gets on the mound.
“They have a lot of unpredictability there, whether it’s health-related. Yamamoto should be predictable, but he’s probably a six-man rotation guy coming in, which is fine for them.”
— Phillips
Buehler is likely to be delayed to start the season after losing his 2023 season to Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers aren’t going to rush him back and will ease him into the rotation.
Both Miller and Sheehan will be entering their second seasons. Sophomore slumps are always possible as opposing hitters gain more sophisticated scouting reports on pitchers. The two right-handers showed they belong in the major leagues in 2023, but will have to prove themselves again.
“You start to look at it and think okay, they’ve got a lot of guys. It does scream six-man rotation.”
— Phillips
The Dodgers could add at least one more arm to the rotation. They could use a pitcher with a track record of durability, and possibly a left-hander to complement the five right-handers already under contract. Adding a lefty could allow the front office more flexibility when building out their pitching staff.
Many have speculated the team could look to go with a six-man rotation for next season. It would help ease the number of innings on each individual starter throughout the season, and give them more time to ease players into their roles.
The Dodgers have had a great offseason so far, but they aren’t done yet. They still have a few moves left to make to make them the World Series favorites in 2024.
Photo Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
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No shit
The Dodger need to trade for another quality starting pitcher to have a chance for playoff victories and win the west again. Cease, Burns, or another top flight starter. With their farm system and possibly a Taylor, etc off the roster, would be the key. Spend the money for Hader and a left fielder. I believe that is what they need to do. Hader would make our bull pin elite.
If the dodgers sign hader they can go to a5 iñning game Ferguson , Grateoll, Phillips and hader closing .But they still need a left fielder who can hit without striking out 35percent of the time
Trading for Clase makes more sense than signing Hader. Clase is 5 years younger and costs prospects not $100 Mill. But the still more important need is another quality starter.
I agree. Hader will cost a lot of money (20 million?) and I doubt he would be deferring any of it. He will be 30 years old on April 7th. Clase is only 26 and would be under three years of control. We have to move some of the prospects before their “best by dates” come up so ship Vargas, Busch and Gavin Stone ( and some throw in…maybe Margot or another minor leaguer?) to the White Sox for Clase and sign Giolito (or trade for Bieber) to a one year “prove it” deal, for considerably less than Hader. If we don’t get Clase (or even Cease for that offer) Phillips and Graterol can share the closer roll and if Treinen has any gas left in the tank, he can share the set up roll with whom ever isn’t closing.
As far as what Steve Phillips has to say, he’s just like any other “insider,” just parroting what some other guy has theorized to get a bite from someone else. He and Jim Bowden have been wrong way more times than they have ever been right. That probably explains why they are “former” General Managers and not present GM’s.
Sorry, I missed that Giolito had signed with Boston.
What about Ckayton Ketshaw where does he end up signing? Hopefully with the Dodgets and maybe bring back Cody Bellinger or Justin Turner they are both missed from the Dodger fans thank you
There is no place for J Turner to play. Bellinger is way too expensive thanks to Boras. We all hope Kersh returns.
There’s no crying in baseball; it’s a business.
Hence, No JT and no Belli; what passed is past.
Ya, I hope CK comes back too and sure hope he can heal properly BUT being deep into expected career and family priorities, he may end up in Texas…..Jus’ sayin’.
Trading for Clase and Bieber would fill the biggest needs on the Dodgers team. Two birds with one stone. The farm system would hurt though. Clase is indeed younger and has qulity stuff.too Bieber would solidify the starting staff, but Hader has a history of greatness and is left handed. Last season anERA under two. A need for the bull pin. Either would make the Dodgers contenders for the playoff and possibly the World Series.
He’s not a starter, so being left handed is not that big of deal. We have other left hand’ers in the bullpen, Its the STUFF they have that counts.
Would like to see them sign Tim Anderson. Put him at third and move Muncy to left field.
Muncy has never set foot in left field. Tim Anderson was one of the worst hitters in MLB in 2023. First priority is getting the best available starting pitcher for 1 or at most 2 years, needed for a 6-man rotation,and for depth in case of injuries (which often happen), and because in 2025 Ohtani, Gonsolin, May, and possibly Kershaw will be added to what is available for April 2024. 1 Yamamoto 2 Buehler 3 Glasnow 4 Miller 5 Sheehan ][insert someone here] 6 Yarbrough 7 Gavin Stone 8 Frasso 9 Knack 10 Hurt. Adding someone really good [able to pitch every 6th day, 5+ innings every time, ERA under 4.00] to the top 5 is essential. In 2025 the rotation would be same as above, add 11 Ohtani, 12 Gonsolin, 13 May, maybe 14 Kershaw, and probably lose Buehler and the pitcher obtained for 1 year to fill out the rotation in April 2024 (or obtained at the trade deadline). If necessary, a left-field platoon involving Busch, Vargas, Taylor and Margot would not necessarily be so bad,[ Busch will probably hit right-handers well, Vargas or Taylor or Margot would hit as well as Peralta] but LF is the second priority to improve. Hader costs a lot of money and because he turned down a qualifying offer, signing him would cause the loss of 2 draft picks and international signing pool money that is needed to sign Sasaki. There is so much young talent in the system [4 catchers, many pitchers], and so many spots on the roster held down for 3-10 years into the future with top or worthwhile players [Betts, Ohtani, Freeman, Smith (3 years), Muncy (2 years), Outman (an extreme bargain for the next 2 years, a good bargain for 3 more (arbitration years)] they can afford to deal prospects, even some of the ones listed above, for another starter, and always trade multiple “good” players to get one “excellent” player. No more acquiring middling or injured relievers who have to be DFA’d. What will they do in 2025 with 10-12 major league high qualify starters?
Lol this dude is the biggest Dodger hater out there in the media. The Dodgers could have Yamamoto, Glasnow, Buehler, Kershaw, Cease, Burnes, Bieber, prime Randy Johnson and Cy Young and he’d find a way to hate on them. Let’s remember that this is the guy the who constantly said the Dodgers wouldn’t even make the playoffs in 2023. He’s a clown. I immediately discount what this guy says when it regards the Dodgers.
I have been loving the Dodgers for over 50 years, and I will go to my grave loving the Dodgers! Win, lose, or draw. I will root for them and cherish every moment of seeing them at Dodger stadium or on TV, Go Dodgers!!!!
Guess what? Every team needs to be concerned with their pitching staff.
The Dodgers do need another starter but only for a year. They hopefully will have Ohtani, May and Gonsolin in 2025. Buehler is a free agent at the end of this season so who knows if he stays. Forget Hader get one more short term starter for this year who can eat innings and spend the money for a right handed hitter that can play left field and hit more than .260.
It seems odd there is still so much handwringing still about the Dodgers rotation. Every team has pitching injuries to contend with and yes the spending has put an even bigger target on the Dodgers back. But is there any scenario in which the Dodgers don’t make the playoffs with the team as currently built? And once there, a team that can roll out Buehler, Glashow and Yamamoto looks pretty good. Sure, you can’t have enough arms, But compared to a month ago, I would say the Dodgers have “addressed” their rotation.
Seems simple to me. Sign Kershaw now. Keep him on the injury list until he returns, and fill in with Stone, or some mid-level pickup, in the meantime. Put the rest of the signing energy into a good outfielder, 3rd baseman, and/or closer. Hader would be a mistake, I think now. He only wants to pitch in save opportunities, and the way this lineup looks there may not be that many of those.
whether or not we sign Kersh is only up to Kersh.
Would love to see Kershaw added to the list. Oh, anybody give any thought to Dustin May?