The 99-day lockout by MLB owners resulted in a significantly reduced 2022 Spring Training period. In the interest of protecting players from injuries during the early part of the season, the league and Players Association agreed to expand active rosters to 28 for the first few weeks of the regular season.

However, following the completion of May 1 games, all MLB teams must shorten their respective rosters to the normal 26 players, including a maximum of 13 pitchers.

Currently, the Dodgers are carrying 15 pitchers on their active roster. Simple math – the team must have a net reduction of two pitchers on Monday, May 2. But execution of the reduction is not quite so simple considering the following.

• The team has five veteran pitchers currently on the 10-day Injured List: Caleb Ferguson, Victor Gonzalez, Andrew Heaney, Tommy Kahnle, and Blake Treinen, who was added to the IL just prior to Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres. Heaney, Kahnle, and Treinen are out of minor league options.
• There are two pitchers who are currently on the 60-day IL (Danny Duffy and Dustin May) who are expected to pitch for the team at some point during the season. Duffy cannot be optioned to the minors.
• There are six other pitchers who cannot be optioned to the minors: Tyler Anderson, Daniel Hudson, Clayton Kershaw, Craig Kimbrel, Evan Phillips, and David Price.
• And, it is extremely unlikely that the team would option pitchers Walker Buehler, Brusdar Graterol, and Julio Urías.

The Dodgers front office does a masterful job of manipulating the IL and player options, but the 2022 rules have added some additional challenges to roster moves. Effective May 2, the IL period for pitchers will increase from 10 to 15 days, and players may not be optioned more than five times during the season (options prior to May 2 will not count toward the five-time limit). Nonetheless, fans can expect to see pitchers Phil Bickford, Justin Bruihl, Garrett Cleavinger, Caleb Ferguson, Tony Gonsolin, Victor Gonzalez, and Mitchell White taking turns on minor league rosters.

Dodgers may also consider trading some pitching to provide greater roster flexibility. With 12 lefties on the 40-man roster, it would not be a shock for the Dodgers to use Cleavinger, Price, Gonzalez, or Alex Vesia in a deal to acquire help in other areas or to further bolster the prospect pipeline.

The team is loaded with high-quality right-handed relievers, and with Kahnle close to returning from his rehab assignment and Gonsolin also able to pitch in relief, Phillips (no remaining options) would seem expendable in trade.

Major League Baseball is a tough, unforgiving business, and make no mistake about it; it is a business. As such, who will be the Dodgers’ keepers, and who will be the losers?

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