What once appeared to be an area of strength for the Los Angeles Dodgers has now become a concern as the team is down to just four healthy starting pitchers.
Losing Dustin May to Tommy John surgery, along with Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin both being on the 10-day injured list, and Trevor Bauer still on administrative leave has not only impacted the Dodgers’ rotation but overall pitching staff.
David Price was needed to move from the bullpen to the rotation, and so did Gonsolin prior to his latest bout with right shoulder fatigue/inflammation.
The Dodgers addressed their pitching staff at the trade deadline by acquiring Danny Duffy and Max Scherzer, and more recently signed Cole Hamels for the remainder of the 2021 season.
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, L.A. now has added Nick Tropeano to their organizational depth on a contract that Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors reported is a Minor League deal:
I'm told this is a minor league deal for Tropeano with the #Dodgers. https://t.co/txQloCYLGl
— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) August 6, 2021
Tropeano has spent part of this season with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. He went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four relief appearances for San Francisco prior to being designated for assignment back in June for Scott Kazmir to be added back from the restricted list.
New York then claimed Tropeano off waivers and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse. He was recalled four separate times by the Mets, but only appeared in one game.
Tropeano was designated for assignment on July 30 and elected free agency after clearing waivers.
Although the 30-year-old pitched exclusively as a reliever for the Giants and Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates last season, he has experience as a starter as well. From 2014-2018, Tropeano started 38 of 39 games during time spent with the Houston Astros and L.A. Angels.
Dodgers don’t expect Kershaw until September
Kershaw wasn’t able to throw in a second simulated game at the beginning of the week due to lingering soreness from facing batters July 27 at Oracle Park, and though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t deem it a setback, he revealed the left-hander likely won’t return until some point in September.
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