The Dodgers are definitely the story of the offseason already. Tends to occur while you signal the most important free agent in historical past with the most important contract in historical past that is also form of the weirdest contract in historical past. They’re additionally not achieved, apparently.
L.A.’s greatest gap is the rotation. And after the commerce for Glasnow, their greatest gap is . . . nonetheless the rotation.
It’s not onerous to see why Glasnow is tantalizing. When he’s on the mound, he’s a celestial weapon. He’s struck out over a 3rd of the hitters he’s seen each season because the Pirates, of their infinite knowledge, moved him to Tampa. He additionally doesn’t stroll many, which has led to sub-.300 FIPs the final 4 full seasons. He reveals off actually ace stuff when he takes the ball.
The issue is these “whens” that seem within the earlier paragraph. The 120 innings Glasnow threw final yr are a profession excessive. He’s 30. He’s solely managed over 100 innings in a single different season. He fairly merely can’t get on the mound commonly.
Possibly the Dodgers assume they solely must have him on the mound come October, and maybe that’s true. That’s more durable than it sounds, as Glasnow has solely thrown 17 postseason innings in his profession. There isn’t a lot observe document of him getting there in a single piece.
We already know that Shohei Ohtani gained’t be pitching one inning in 2024. Come 2025, he’ll be a starter coming off two Tommy John surgical procedures who has thrown lower than 500 innings in 5 seasons. Possibly they’ll convey Clayton Kershaw again for 2024, besides he’s in his late 30s coming off again surgical procedure. Proper now, the rotation is anchored by Walker Buehler, himself coming off Tommy John surgical procedure final yr. Dustin Could is now a ghost. Tony Gonsolin shall be consuming roadkill on the coaching desk after his personal bout with TJ illness. It’s not essentially the most agency floor.
And in accordance with Ohtani, the Dodgers have their very own organizational psychosis.
They advised him that after an unmatched decade. If the Dodgers are hinging their whole sense of self-worth on a handful of video games in October, they’ll by no means be comfortable. And Ohtani doesn’t assure that rather more within the squeezed-down crucible of the MLB playoffs, Particularly when he gained’t be on the mound for one more yr.
The Dodgers nonetheless may seize Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who must navigate a 162-game season for the primary time and already comes with the odometer fairly excessive. The rotation can be extra stitched up with him, however once more, would carry a good quantity of danger.
All of that is merely to say that the Dodgers can’t assure themselves a World Collection subsequent yr, for individuals who are already crammed with dread. And if the Dodgers are telling Ohtani that nothing they’ve achieved up to now 10 years issues (we knew that 2020 World Collection didn’t depend), then maybe the inner strain has performed an element within the Dodgers spitting up come the autumn. Possibly it nonetheless will.
It’s nearly all we’ve to hold onto today.
After which there’s this
Ever see a group fully stop? You realize you’ve gotten when the social media group can see it:
Comply with Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @felsgate.bsky.social