The Los Angeles Dodgers were dealt a shocking blow last offseason when Zack Greinke bolted to the desert for a record six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers proceeded to fill out their rotation by signing Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.
Brett Anderson also returned by virtue of accepting the one-year qualifying offer. In January 2016, ESPN’s Buster Olney ranked the Dodgers starting rotation No. 6 overall in baseball. Fast forward one year later, and Olney has Los Angeles ranked eighth.
In order of ranking, the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals are ahead of the Dodgers. The Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners round out the top-10.
Dodgers starting pitchers combined for a 3.95 ERA in 2016, which ranked sixth-best in the Majors. Their 3.65 FIP was third-best, and 16.4 WAR was No. 4 overall.
Whereas the Dodgers made headlines for a starting pitcher lost via free agency last winter, this year they re-signed Rich Hill, who arguably was the top starter available.
Hill did suffer from nagging blisters after being traded to the Dodgers last August, but went 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA in six starts. He was 1-1 with a combined 3.46 ERA in three postseason starts, one of which came on short rest — a first for Hill in his career.
Aside from retaining Hill, Los Angeles has not addressed their rotation. Scott Kazmir did elect to opt-in, rather than test free agency. But he and Brandon McCarthy have reportedly been shopped in trade talks.
Clayton Kershaw is expected to make a full recovery from his back trouble to once again lead the staff, Julio Urias presumably will assume a larger role, Brock Stewart should benefit from experienced gained last season, and a full season of Hill will serve the Dodgers well.
Wild cards include Kazmir, McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu, as the trio has yet to make an impact due to injuries.
