We’ve heard it before. In fact, if you are a veteran (old) Dodger fan, you’ve heard it for decades – “We’re going to put the best 25 guys on the roster regardless of contracts.”

In the now immortal words of legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully: “That’s fertilizer!”

Well here we are less than 24 hours away from Sunday morning’s 9:00 am (PT) MLB roster deadline and President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Farhan Zaidi and field manager Don Mattingly are still in a quandary over their Opening Day roster. They still have not decided on who their utility bench players will be and even more so, who will fill out their rebuilt bullpen. And just like their predecessors, F,Z and M have repeatedly proclaimed that they will not allow contracts to influence their decisions.

Ya, right.

It would be wrong, criminal in fact, if left-hander Paco Rodriguez, right-hander Yimi Garcia and left-hander Adam Liberatore are not on the Dodgers Opening Day roster simply because they still have minor league options available when all three have clearly proven themselves as the best three relievers on the team this spring.

In his 11 spring training games, Rodriguez has allowed zero runs (earned or otherwise) and only four hits while walking none and striking out 13 through 10.2 innings of work. To disregard these numbers and send Paco back down to the minors solely because he still has options available and keep a far less effective reliever who is out of options is anything but putting the best 25 guys out there.

Not including Paco Rodriguez on the Opening Day roster would be inexcusable.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

And then there’s Yimi Garcia. Even though the 24-year-old Espaillat, Dominican Republic native has allowed one earned run in his 11.1 innings of work for a 0.79 ERA this spring, he has struck out 15 while allowing only two walks. The only guy on the team with more strikeouts than Garcia is reigning NL MVP and Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw with 22 Ks in 22.1 innings pitched.

If the Dodgers brass truly want to put the best 25 on their Opening Day roster, they have to include Yimi Garcia. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

And then there’s the other left-hander who has been outstanding this spring – Adam Liberatore – who also has not allowed a run in his 10.1 innings of work while walking three and striking out nine.

Realistically, it is unlikely that the Dodgers would take both left-handers and Paco has the edge over Liberatore because of his slightly higher strikeout count and zero walks, but Yimi is an absolute no-brainer if contract status is removed from the equation and the Dodgers truly want their best 25 guys on the active roster.

The Dodgers definitely have a great bullpen… if they pick the right guys – including Adam Liberatore.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

So there you are Andrew, Farhan and Don – there are your three best relievers this spring. They are not your highest paid relievers – not even close – but they are your best. Are you going to talk the talk or walk the walk?