Los Angeles Dodgers Optimistic About Trio of Pitchers for 2015
Left-hander Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher Major League Baseball has to offer today. The Los Angeles Dodgers have another really gifted one in the right-hander Zack Greinke and South Korean-born Hyun-jin Ryu. But there’s little reason to think a poor 2015 awaits any of these three arms. All have excellent track records and established talent in the league.
The trio of Dodgers pitchers the title of this article pays reference to are three big league arms who have faced their fair share of adversity in the MLB ranks — Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson and now, as rumored, Dustin McGowan.
McCarthy is a veteran who has persevered some hardships since entering the league in 2005. Drafted in the 17th round by the Chicago White Sox in 2002, he was traded to the Rangers and made 17 starts in 2009 before undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.
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In 2012 while with the Athletics, a line drive off McCarthy’s head led to an epidural hemorrhage, a brain contusion and a fractured skull. He subsequently underwent surgery after a CT scan and missed the remainder of 2012. He did not pitch well for one-and-a-half seasons with the Diamondbacks thereafter, but flourished in the second half of 2014 with the Yankees. His 2.89 ERA in pinstripes over 14 starts was enough to convince Los Angeles Dodgers management he is worth $48 million over four-years. Last season was the first in his career McCarthy logged over 30 starts in a campaign.
Anderson is another player who has been riddled with injuries throughout his professional career. The Dodgers took a flier on him, agreeing to pay him $10 million for his 2015 services. He was the 55th overall pick by the A’s in the 2006 draft out of Stillwater HS in Oklahoma. Anderson’s rookie season was the only one that has produced more than 20 starts. While his durability is in question, his talent is not. The 27-year old owns a career FIP of 3.51. After a pit stop with the Rockies in 2014 where he made only eight starts, Anderson looks to start fresh with the Dodgers in 2015.
More recent developments have suggested the Dodgers are now going after another free agent arm, former Blue Jays pitcher Dustin McGowan. MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick tweeted early Sunday morning of the development. The Jays declined his $4 million option for 2015 after he got hit hard starting the 2014 season in the rotation. McGowan experienced better results in a move to the bullpen, posting a 3.55 ERA there.
In July of 2008, McGowan underwent season ending shoulder surgery. Shortly thereafter in 2009, he underwent knee surgery. That operation was followed by surgery on a torn rotator cuff in 2010 and finally another procedure on his right shoulder in 2012. He has missed both the 2009 and 2012 seasons due to injuries, and has logged only 482.1 IP since his career began in 2005. A player with a fighter’s mentality and riddled with plenty of scar tissue, the Dodgers think he can contribute for them this season.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers have a firm foundation of pitchers atop their rotation, the team continues to stockpile depth. McCarthy will be paid the most handsomely of all new signings, but Anderson could end up being the guy with the most upside for the team in 2015. Given all three have poor health backgrounds, the three may be interchangeable in the rotation should one experience a setback.
Many teams might not be so quick to commit the kind of money the Dodgers have tied up in these three sets of arms moving forward. But the Dodgers are optimistic about their investments, and it’s difficult to question new President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, who did a lot with a very small budget during his nine years as General Manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.