The Winter Meetings concluded Thursday without the Los Angeles Dodgers making the splash in free agency that most anticipated. Despite plenty of rumored interest in Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg, L.A. was shut out for each of the three marquee free agents.
Instead the Dodgers reportedly addressed their bullpen by agreeing to a one-year contract with Blake Treinen. He is coming off a down season for the Oakland Athletics but was considered one of baseball’s best relief pitchers in 2018.
In addition to pursuing elite talent, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman identified the bullpen as one specific area of need for the team. Particularly late-game options to help support Kenley Jansen, who is expected to remain in his role of closer.
Even with Treinen in the fold, the Dodgers continue to have interest in Dellin Betances, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post:
#Dodgers among most aggressive on Dellin Betances. After not getting Cole pivot to high-end relievers coming off problematic 2019s. Already signed Treinen. If both hit dynamic pen, if 1 still good, neither LAD are out after 1-yr commitments.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2019
Like Treinen, Betances represents an intriguing option as a low risk, high reward reliever. He was limited to one appearance this past season for the New York Yankees because of injuries.
Betances missed most of the year due to a right shoulder injury, then suffered a partially torn Achilles in his first game back.
The 31-year-old was a key member of the Yankees’ bullpen from 2014 to 2018, when he appeared in at least 66 games during each of the five seasons. Included in that stretch was a sub-2.00 ERA in both 2014 and 2015, which were All-Star campaigns for the right-hander.
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