This week’s mailbag delves into the Dodgers’ rotation for 2025, the probability of Cody Bellinger opting out, the Cardinals’ reset, the Yankees’ infield, and rather more.
Ben asks:
I am curious as to the way you anticipate the Dodgers to deal with their rotation this offseason. The staff is laden with gifted starters, but the variety of accidents is astounding. Do you anticipate the staff to proceed adopting a high-risk, high-reward strategy? Will we see them signal a low upside inning-eater or two as insurance coverage? How possible is a reunion with Buehler, and what would possibly the season-opening rotation seem like?
Once I take into account Yoshinobu Yamamoto, I would not say he had the next damage danger than another prime starter the Dodgers might’ve gotten. Nor was Trevor Bauer high-risk, healthwise. Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir, and Wealthy Hill have been excessive damage danger three or four-year offers, however these have been eight to 10 years in the past.
In any other case, Andrew Friedman has usually gone for one-year beginning pitcher offers in free company: James Paxton, Noah Syndergaard, Tyler Anderson, and Andrew Heaney lately. Commerce pickups have included Alex Wooden, Max Scherzer, and Tyler Glasnow.
I do not know that I see a sample there, aside from eschewing long-term free agent offers for much less youthful pitchers. For instance, if Max Fried goes to signal for 5 or 6 years, I do not anticipate the Dodgers to try this. Innings eaters have probably not been Friedman’s factor, with the attainable exception of Tyler Anderson coming off a 167-inning marketing campaign.
You might argue that Buehler can be Friedman’s kind if he was coming from one other staff. However the Dodgers had all 12 months to attempt to get him on observe this 12 months and failed to take action, so my guess is that they won’t re-sign him.
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