The Los Angels Dodgers pitching employees skilled one of the vital injury-filled seasons within the modern-era of baseball final 12 months. A complete of 12 Dodgers pitchers landed on the injured listing in 2024, and the myriad accidents left L.A. with solely three beginning pitchers and an overworked bullpen come October.
The scary variety of accidents truly propelled the Dodgers entrance workplace to signal an abundance of pitching expertise this winter. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman defined why the Dodgers acted with a way of urgency all through the offseason.
“I’m positive a few of [our past injury problems] created among the mindset this offseason,” Friedman mentioned, by way of Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Instances. “Simply to be as ready as we presumably may very well be.”
The Dodgers signed two-time Cy Younger winner Blake Snell, worldwide phenom Roki Sasaki, relievers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, and re-signed veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw and reliever Blake Treinen in a matter of three months.
The results of the Dodgers’ historic offseason left baseball followers groaning and grumbling, however the defending champions weren’t making an attempt to taunt different groups. The Dodgers aggressive pursuits of pitching expertise this winter was out of necessity, not mockery.
Though the Dodgers managed to win the World Collection with three starters and an overtaxed bullpen, it was not a state of affairs the group hopes to seek out itself in once more come October. Subsequently, the defending champions made positive to herald sufficient reinforcements.
“We sat right here in spring coaching final 12 months and mentioned, ‘Oh we’ve acquired a lot pitching depth, we’re undoubtedly not going to go to market in July for pitching,’” Friedman mentioned. “Quick ahead to July and we’re out there for pitching.”
