The Los Angeles Dodgers certainly understood heading into the season that their bullpen needed to be addressed. One of their additions, albeit one that was largely unheralded, was the signing of Joe Blanton.
It marked the right-hander’s second stint with the organization, though this time under a different role. During the 2015 season, Blanton spent time working as a starter and reliever for the Kansas City Royals. He was used exclusively out of the bullpen after being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Dodgers signed Blanton under the pretense of using him as a middle or long reliever. Injuries and performance forced manager Dave Roberts to juggle those best-laid plans.
Blanton went 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and held opponents to a .121 batting average during 11 appearances in April. He had 10 scoreless appearances in May, but also had two outings where he allowed three runs each time out.
With a refined repertoire based on fastball command and an effective slider, the 12-year veteran cemented himself as the Dodgers’ primary setup man to Kenley Jansen.
In four of six months this season Blanton posted an ERA under 2.10. Overall during the regular season, he went 7-2 with a 2.48 ERA, 3.33 FIP and 1.01 WHIP in 75 appearances. However, most will remember Blanton for his implosion at the wrong moments in the postseason.
The National League Divisional Series was not an issue, as he allowed only one hit and issued one walk over five scoreless innings. Then in the NL Championship Series, Blanton allowed back-to-back home runs in Game 1, including a go-ahead grand slam to pinch-hitter Miguel Montero.
That unfortunately wasn’t the only slider Blanton hung against the Chicago Cubs, as Addison Russell deposited a high breaking ball into the pavilion at Dodger Stadium in Game 5. Blanton allowed seven runs over three innings in the NLCS.
2016 Highlight
Blanton’s 75 appearances this season easily career high. Perhaps showing some signs of fatigue in July, he posted a 4.05 ERA during that calendar month but turned the corner.
Building on a strong August showing, Blanton went 2-0 with 9.1 shutout innings and a 1.29 WHIP in 10 appearances during September.
2017 Outlook
Blanton is a free agent for a second consecutive winter, and given his successful 2016 campaign, figures to command a multiyear contract. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Dodgers in January.
Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi mentioned Blanton among the club’s top priorities this offseason. But with multiple teams looking to improve their bullpen, the price for the soon-to-be-36-year-old may become too rich for the Dodgers.
