The 2016 season tested the depth of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they placed an MLB-record 28 different players on the disabled list.
Pitching depth in particular was strained, as 31 different pitchers were used throughout the season, which tied the franchise record set in 2015. Many rookies were relied on in the starting rotation, including Kenta Maeda, who led the Dodgers in innings, Julio Urias, Jose De Leon, Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling.
Remember, it was Stripling who earned the fifth-starter spot out of Spring Training after Mike Bolsinger was lost to an oblique injury.
Going into the offseason, the only two free agents among the organization’s starting pitchers are Brett Anderson, who likely won’t be re-signed, and Rich Hill, who the club has interest in re-signing.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi have regularly stressed the importance of depth in the starting rotation. Zaidi is comfortable with where the club stands, but conceded there’s room for the addition of an elite pitcher, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“We just have a number of options that we feel like put us in position to have an above-average major league rotation, which allows that to be a real strength for us next year,” Friedman said. “How that’s constructed, we don’t know yet.”
Added Zaidi: “We always talk about building a 162-game rotation, not necessarily a five-man rotation. I think we have the guys to get through 162 games. Now it’s just a question of whether we can improve the quality and target some high-end guys that would really change the configuration of where guys slot in.”
Friedman recently stated that he is encouraged with the development of the young starters, as Urias, De Leon, Stewart and Stripling should all again contribute at the Major League level in 2017.
Along with looking to re-sign Hill, who was the team’s No. 2 starter in the postseason behind Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles reportedly has interest in Chicago White Sox starters Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, although the cost to acquire either of the left-handers will likely be large.
It was also reported that a trade involving Justin Verlander was ‘brewing’ between the Detroit Tigers and Dodgers. While depth was key this season due to all the injuries, that benefit doesn’t carry as much value come the postseason
