Returners: Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Chris Hatcher, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Adam Liberatore, Juan Nicasio
If you’re a believer of the stats mentioned above that indicate this group was far better than their ERA says, then you’ll be happy to know the Dodgers return eight of their nine most-used relievers.
Included in that are the seven relievers who posted the highest WAR last season and the eight relievers who posted the best FIP (among those with 20+ appearances).
Honestly, there’s plenty to like here. Avilan, Howell and Liberatore will offer the new manager left-handed options, Baez and Hatcher offer a pair of hard-throwing setup men and Jansen remains one of the league’s best closers.
With fill-in types such as, Frias, Garcia and Nicasio, and, well, this group is in great shape heading into 2016.
Potential newcomers: Darren O’Day, Brad Boxberger, Jack McGee
With many relievers available, we’ll begin with Darren O’Day, whom the Dodgers and several other teams, are said to be interested in.
While almost 33, O’Day has been one of the league’s best relievers over the past four seasons and could solidify the setup role the Dodgers have desperately been lacking.
Imagine a bullpen with O’Day and Jansen on the backend, leaving Baez, Garcia and/or Hatcher to man the seventh inning, with Avilan and Howell available for the occasional left-handed batter.
Next on the list are Brad Boxberger and Jack McGee, a pair of Tampa Bay Rays relievers the Dodgers were linked to on Monday morning.
Whereas O’Day is a free agent, Boxberger and McGee would need to be acquired via trade. In two seasons with the Rays, Boxberger has posted a 3.03 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 34.7 strikeout percentage, while recording 43 saves as well.
McGee, on the other hand, had a 2.41 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 39 appearances last season. Of course, in addition to these three, there is always the potential for the Dodgers to add an off-the-radar piece from another organization via waivers or trade.
