Anyone else distracted over the last week by the Juan Soto-to-the-Dodgers fantasies?

The rest of MLB must be hoping that Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes, and his boss Andrew Friedman, are preoccupied with Soto’s availability rather than focusing their attentions on 2022 roster priorities.

No doubt the Dodgers trade plans were put on momentary hiatus when the Washington Nationals announced that their 23 year old phenom was available for the right return of players and prospects. When a player of Soto’s age and abilities is suddenly placed on the trade market, it would be imprudent of the Dodgers to ignore the opportunity to acquire a legit, generational talent.

Nonetheless, it is now six days from the 2022 trade deadline and the Dodgers need to keep their eye on the ball and get down to the business of improving the current roster.

The Dodgers quest for starting pitching was the topic last week and likely remains their immediate priority. However, there are some warning signs that the bullpen may be an Achilles’ heel (or two, or three) for the postseason.

Statistically, the Dodgers 2022 bullpen is one of the best in MLB, with several relievers having exceptional seasons:

• Evan Phillips – 39 games,1.62 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, .164 opponent batting avg. (BAA)
• Yency Almonte – 26 games,1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .184 BAA
• Brusdar Graterol – 37 games (bullpen high 40.1 IP), 3.35 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, .201 BAA
• Caleb Ferguson – 12 games, 0.00 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, .079 BAA
• Daniel Hudson* – 25 games, 2.22 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, .193 BAA (*season ending injury)

But “Good is not good when better is expected,” as Hall of Fame Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully often said, and it applies to a couple of Dodgers relievers:

• Craig Kimbrel with an excellent 85% save rate (17 games in 20 opportunities) – but his 3.97 ERA, 35 hits and 14 walks in 34 IP, and .257 BAA is less than expected dominance.
• Alex Vesia is as close to a LOOGY (left-handed, one-out guy) as the current rules allow: left-handed hitters only slash .150/.255/.150/.405, but right-handed hitters mash .282/.371/.410/.781

Injured relievers is another group that may determine how aggressively the Dodgers pursue trades.

• Blake Treinen is injured (pitched 3 innings this season) and will not face live hitting earlier than mid August – a huge question mark for 2022
• Danny Duffy has been throwing since late April and Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts has said that he will be added to the bullpen in August
• Tommy Kahnle was shutdown in mid May with right forearm strain. Cannot be counted on for 2022.
• Victor Gonzalez had debridement procedure on left elbow in early May and is another big question mark for this season
• Walker Buehler is the team’s number-one starter who is slowly recovering from a pitching arm flexor strain. Dodgers add another starter, and Buehler could take an important role in the bullpen in September.
• Dustin May is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and could return in mid August, possibly in the bullpen.

You can fill in the remainder of the bullpen with a group of hurlers ranging from meh to disappointing:

• Mitch White, who has been better as a starter than reliever, is a possible trade chip
• David Price has been relegated to mop-up pitching assignments and occasional middle innings fill-in
• Phil Bickford is perhaps the biggest disappointment in the 2022 bullpen with his current 5.51 ERA
• Garrett Cleavinger has yet to demonstrate that he can contribute to the Dodgers

Which relievers may be available for trade before the August 2, 2022 trade deadline? Teams that are out of contention and are looking toward 2023 and beyond are the most likely to be Dodgers trade partners. Some potential targets (in alphabetical order)

Right Handers:

• Daniel Bard (Colorado Rockies) – 37 games, 1.91 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .148 BAA
• Anthony Bass (Miami Marlins) – 43 games, 1.48 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, .204 BAA
• David Bednar (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 39 games, 2.76 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .212 BAA
• Joe Jimenez (Detroit Tigers) – 40 games, 3.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, .200 BAA

Left Handers:

• Andrew Chafin (Detroit Tigers) – 36 games, 2.64 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .205 BAA
• Joe Mantiply (Arizona Diamondbacks) – 41 games, 2.37 ERA, .248
• A.J. Puk (Oakland A’s) – 37 games, 2.18 ERA, .970 WHIP, .213 BAA

Which players/prospects would the Dodgers be required to package for one of the above relievers? It is a sellers market, so they will have to part with some quality arms and/or position players to make a meaningful addition to the bullpen.

Fortunately, the Dodgers have great depth in areas that are other teams needs.

Examples:

• Catchers: Hunter Feduccia, or Carson Taylor
• First base: Edwin Rios
• Infield: Zach McKinstry, Kody Hoese
• Outfield: James Outman
• Pitchers: Michael Grove, Andre Jackson, John Rooney, Jimmy Lewis

What do you think Dodgers fans? Which reliever(s) should the team pursue, and which players/prospects would you be willing to trade in return?

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