Dodgers Hot Stove Chatter – ‘You Can Never Have Too Much Pitching’

January 7th, 2021 at 9:00 am by 0799291000348

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“You can never have too much pitching.”

(atribution unknown)

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You’ve heard that expression for as long as you have been a fan of baseball. Whether it is a Little League, high school, college, or Major League team, to be competitive requires an abundance of quality pitching. With the Dodgers announcement that reliever Blake Treinen has been re-signed, their bullpen staff for 2021 is robust; and, they may not be done adding pitchers with reports that the team is pursuing left-hander Brad Hand, in talks with closer Liam Hendriks (right-handed), and possibly pursuing another starting pitcher.

Currently, there are nine veteran relievers on the 40-man roster: right-handers Dylan Floro, Brusdar Graterol, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Corey Knebel, and Blake Treinen, as well as left-handers Scott Alexander, Victor Gonzalez, and Adam Kolarek.

Although he did well during the short 60-game 2020 regular season (3-1 / 3.33 ERA), right-hander Kenley Jansen struggled mightily during the postseason (0-1 / 10.80 ERA). He becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the 2021 season. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Additionally, rostered right-handers Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May could be used as starters and relievers in the 2021 season. Veterans Brandon Morrow, Jimmy Nelson (both right-handed), and left-hander James Pazos were recently signed to minor league contracts and invited to compete for roster spots in spring training. If you were not counting, that is a total of 14-pitchers competing for eight (possibly nine) bullpen spots.

Alexander, Floro, Gonsolin, Gonzalez, Graterol, and May have minor league options remaining and may be returned to the minors as many times as needed during the season; not an ideal situation for pitchers who are proven Major League hurlers, but perhaps necessary for team success.

Roster spots could become even more complicated should the team sign an additional reliever (or two) and/or add another experienced starting pitcher for the upcoming season. Then there are the young pitching prospects pushing for spots on the 2021 roster: Josiah Gray, Garrett Cleavinger, Andre Jackson, Dennis Santana, Josh Sborz, Brock Stewart, Edwin Uceta, and Mitchell White.

While “You can never have too much pitching,” the Dodgers are blessed to have a stable full of young arms down on the farm, including 23-year-old right-hander Josiah Gray, who figures to make his MLB debut in 2021. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The 2021 Dodgers may indeed challenge the old baseball axiom that a team can never have too much pitching.

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One Response to “Dodgers Hot Stove Chatter – ‘You Can Never Have Too Much Pitching’”

  1. Ron Cervenka says:
    January 7, 2021 at 9:18 am

    Great piece, Jesse – A wonderful ‘problem’ to have.

    Reply

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