Toss-up Names: Luis Avilan, Josh Fields, Kiké Hernandez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Josh Ravin, Hyun-Jin Ryu
If you add everything up to this point you find there are 27 players named. The truth is, it’s difficult to determine what manager Dave Roberts is going to do with his abundance of starting pitchers.
He hinted at potentially sending Kazmir or McCarthy to the bullpen, which could be done if the club in turn drops a traditional reliever or two (such as Avilan, Fields or Ravin). Aside from Wood, none of the starters mentioned here can be optioned. But Wood is arguably as the best of the bunch, so that’s no help.
My guess is the front office watches what happens, plans for someone to get hurt and makes a real run at trading one of these aforementioned pitchers. But for now? Who knows.
Ryu is apparently healthy, and when he has been right, he’s proven to be a great No. 3 starter. As for Kazmir and McCarthy? Good sometimes, bad sometimes and hurt a lot of the time.
This doesn’t even youngsters Julio Urias, Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling, all of whom are likely to begin the season in the Minors. Urias for rest, and Stewart and Stripling as depth.
As far as the bullpen names go, there are a lot of factors in play here. Avilan and Chris Hatcher are the only relievers on the 40-man without Minor-League options remaining.
Avilan’s inclusion on the playoff roster last season shows the kind of confidence the Dodgers have in him. And if not keeping Avilan in the Majors possibly means cutting him, the club has a difficult decision at hand.
As for Ravin and Fields, the team just needs some right-handed arms right now. Ravin was fantastic in his short stint last season after being suspended, and Fields was another option who garnered trust in the playoffs. I think both would be solid options.
The one name on this list that proved most troublesome was Hernandez. His positional versatility is nice, and yet, the last thing the Dodgers need is another outfielder.
Spring Training may very well be critical for the super-utility player. If Hernandez proves he can hit left-handed pitching with consistency, he likely makes the roster. Otherwise, it’s more time spent in the Minors.
My ultimate guess? The two players who miss the cut here are Avilan and Hernandez.
Just missed the cut: Chris Hatcher, Adam Liberatore, Vidal Nuno, Julio Urias, Darrin Ruf, Trayce Thompson
Could any one of them make the Opening Day roster? Sure. But at present time, they’re likely on the outside looking in.
Hatcher’s exclusion likely would mean his departure from the organization, which might be a positive if he is unable to get right this spring. As for Liberatore, he’s yet another lefty in a bullpen full of them, while Nuno (in my opinion) is a step below Ravin and Fields.
Ruf, like Hatcher, is out of options and so things falling the way they’ve been predicted above, would mean he’s possibly looking for a new organization. Ruf’s biggest competition is Van Slyke. If Van Slyke doesn’t make the roster, then Ruf could carve out a spot for himself as a back-up first baseman and pinch-hitter against lefties.
Finally, we come to Thompson. He’s got one more option year, and with the glut of outfielders, my guess is the Dodgers put it to good use. Thompson started great last season but cooled off before an injury ended his year early.
Thompson’s only problem is the talent in front of him. Toles looked better last season, there are outfielders who can play multiple positions, and while in his career Thompson has hit lefties better than righties, it didn’t play out that way last season.
Again, any of the names in this final grouping could make the 25-man roster without much surprise.
So there you have it — the first guess at a 25-man roster has the Dodgers opening the season with 13 pitchers (seven ‘starters’ and six relievers), seven infielders and five outfielders.
Last season, they began the year with 12 pitchers and 13 positional players, but thanks to the flexibility with Barnes, Van Slyke, etc., Los Angeles can get by with less bats while they figure out their pitching.
Previous articles in State of the Dodgers series, which analyzed the 40-man roster, starting rotation, bullpen, infield and outfield, can be read here.
