While the offseason saw the Los Angeles Dodgers linked to the likes of Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish, Giancarlo Stanton and Shohei Ohtani, among others, the club instead completed more unheralded trades and signings to improve the organization’s depth.
One such move was signing Tom Koehler, who was coming off a successful close to last season with the Toronto Blue Jays as a relief pitcher. He figured to be next in line for a transition from struggling starter to effective reliever.
That the Dodgers had previous success in such cases with Joe Blanton and Brandon Morrow, played a factor in Koehler signing a one-year contract. But his outlook for the 2018 season drastically changed when Koehler was removed from his relief appearance due to an apparent injury.
An MRI revealed a mild anterior capsule strain in Koehler’s right shoulder that although it will not require surgery, could sideline him for multiple months.
Despite losing a piece the team was counting on in their bullpen, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said there is not a greater sense of urgency to sign or trade for another pitcher, per Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“Deals that made sense three days ago will still make sense,” Friedman said. “And I don’t think the opposite is true: I don’t think something is going to make more sense that didn’t three days ago. “
One explanation for the Dodgers’ relatively quiet offseason was a desire to get below — and remain under — the $197 million luxury tax threshold. Doing so will reset their tax bill to 20 percent, and put the team in strong position for what’s expected to be a mega free agency class this winter.
It can be presumed that in addition to having confidence in the organization’s depth, Friedman’s stance is related to financial implications as well.
Now projected to be without Koehler on Opening Day, the Dodgers figure to spend the remaining of Spring Training giving a closer look to the likes of Wilmer Font, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore, among others. Font is out of Minor League options.
Manager Dave Roberts had previously revealed the Dodgers intend to utilize an eight-man bullpen, which they did for parts of last season.
