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The Los Angeles Dodgers begin the 2016 season late Monday afternoon against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. With that, it puts the an end to an interesting offseason for the three-time defending National League West champions.
Soon after getting defeated by the New York Mets in five games of the 2015 NL Division Series, the Dodgers and former manager Don Mattingly mutually agreed to part ways. That paved the way for Dave Roberts to become the first minority manager in Dodgers franchise history.
Roberts inherited a team that returns much of the nucleus from the previous three seasons, though there was certainly a significant change as Zack Greinke bolted for the Arizona Diamondbacks on a six-year, $2065. million contract.
Los Angeles did re-sign Brett Anderson, Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley, added Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda to round out the rotation, and avoided arbitration with several key contributors.
Injuries during Spring Training have robbed the Dodgers of some expected starters for the time being, and played a role in six newcomers to the organization making the 2016 Opening Day roster.
CONTINUE READING: Scott Kazmir one piece to round out starting rotation
With Greinke no longer in the picture, the Dodgers eventually settled on Kazmir as one of the replacements for the right-hander. Kazmir
was signed to a three-year, $48 million contract, with the deal including an opt out after the 2016 season.
Kazmir went a combined 7-11 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts (183 innings) with the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros. This season marks the first Kazmir will spend in the National League.
He went through somewhat of a rough Spring Training this year, though Kazmir appeared to get on track over the last few weeks. The 11-year veteran is a lifetime 98-90 with a 3.96 ERA, 3.97 FIP and 1.347 WHIP.
Although Kazmir isn’t expected to offset the loss of Greinke, he does follow Clayton Kershaw in the rotation.
CONTINUE READING: Kenta Maeda rounds out starting rotation
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The other addition to the Dodgers rotation was the signing of Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda to an eight-year incentive-loaded deal. Maeda was 15-8 with a 2.09 ERA during his final season with the Hiroshima Carp.
He made 29 starts and logged 206.1 innings. It was the fourth time over the last six years he tossed at least 200 innings and made 26 starts. For his career, Maeda was 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and averaged 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
He had a successful first spring with the Dodgers, giving up just six earned runs in 23 innings (2.35 ERA) on 18 hits, while walking five while and out 20.
Maeda has very much looked the part of the pitcher who twice won the Japanese version of the Cy Young Award.
CONTINUE READING: Joe Blanton added to bullpen
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The Dodgers made a couple bullpen acquisitions during the offseason, with the first being the signing of long reliever Joe Blanton to a one-year contract.
After serving as a starting pitcher for 10 Major League seasons, including a short stint with the Dodgers in 2012, Blanton found himself out of the league for all of 2014.
He received an invite to Spring Training with the Kansas City Royals in 2015, and was later traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates where he reinvented himself as a long reliever.
In 21 appearances for the Pirates, he threw 34.1 innings and had a 1.57 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. In 13 innings this spring, Blanton allowed six runs on 12 hits, while striking out 13 and walking four.
CONTINUE READING: Louis Coleman completes bullpen picture
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The Dodgers’ other bullpen acquisition was Louis Coleman, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason.
Coleman largely wasn’t expected to make the roster out of Spring Training, though he won a job by largely out-pitching nearly every other reliever, specifically Luis Avilan.
The two were in competition for the final spot in the Dodgers’ bullpen over the days leading up to the regular season. One factor working in Coleman’s favor is he is out of options, whereas Avilan is not.
During the 2013 season with the Royals, Coleman had a 0.61 ERA in 29.2 innings of work, but a finger injury the following year threw him off course.
He appeared in 11 games, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and totaling 12 strikeouts to zero walks in 11 innings pitched. His first nine appearances were all scoreless outings.
CONTINUE READING: Trayce Thompson adds to outfield depth
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Trayce Thompson is the first of the two position players who weren’t with the Dodgers organization last year and made the big league club this season. The 25-year-old versatile outfielder was acquired as a part of a three-team trade with the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds last December.
Thompson was thought to have a small chance of making the active roster, then his chances increased exponentially once Andre Ethier fouled a ball off his shin and fractured his tibia.
Thompson led the team in at-bats this spring with 75, but he hit just .213/.244/.400 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. Over his first Major League experience last season, he played in 44 games with the White Sox, batting .295/.363/.533 with five home runs and 16 RBIs.
His versatility should lend to playing time at all three outfield positions while Ethier remains on the disabled list. Once Ethier recovers, Thompson presumably will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
CONTINUE READING: Charlie Culberson completes group of new arrivals
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One way the Dodgers added to their organization depth during the offseason was signing infielder Charlie Culberson to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
He batted .302/.373/.528 with two home runs and 14 RBIs this spring. Culberson’s best season came with the Colorado Rockies in 2013, when he hit .293/.317/.404, with a .312 wOBA and 79 wRC+ over 47 games. He then struggled in a role off the bench in 2014.
That season, appearing in 95 games, Culberson hit .195/.253/.290 with 62 strikeouts in 233 plate appearances. The 26 year old missed all of 2015 after undergoing back surgery. Culberson earned a roster spot with the Dodgers largely due to Kendrick’s strained calf that required a stint on the disabled list.
Culberson figures to provide Corey Seager with some days of rest before being optioned to Triple-A upon Kendricks’ return.