With a myriad of questions surrounding the back-end of the rotation, along with an offense that has struggled to gain any kind of consistency up to this point, the Los Angeles Dodgers will need to take an aggressive approach as the trade deadlines nears if they look to compete with the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.
Despite beginning the season with the highest payroll in all of MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers at times, have looked like a team that is void of any players warranting lucrative contracts save for Clayton Kershaw.
As of June 7th, the Dodgers are the owners of a 32-29 record, four games back of the Giants, and one game out of the NL wild card. Considering how inadequate the offense has performed thus far, the Dodgers probably consider themselves fortunate just to be over .500.
Through the first 62 games of the season, not only do the Dodgers have an offense that even Vin Scully would struggle in ascribing positive attributes in regards to, but also have an ineffectual slash line of .232/.308/.374. To make matters worse, the Dodgers fail to rank in the top half of the league in home-runs, runs scored, RBI’s and stolen bases. A shut-out loss to the Rockies at home in their last game, doesn’t exactly call for much optimism either.
The pitching staff on the other hand would be in great condition, IF, Clayton Kershaw were able to pitch just about every single game going forward. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, that isn’t exactly a rational or realistic possibility. Although free agent signee Scott Kazmir, and Japanese import Kenta Maeda have performed respectively, neither really possess the stuff of a legitimate postseason number two starter.
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What may be more concerning for the Dodgers pitching staff, is the number of injuries they have endured. As a result, it has prevented them from establishing any consistency in the rotation, while seeing the last two spots play out like a seemingly endless game of musical chairs. The future looks to be uncertain regarding the staff as well. Former number three in the rotation, Hyun-Jin Ryu has experienced several setbacks in his attempt to return from a torn labrum. 2015 free agent acquisition, Brandon McCarthy has yet to pitch this season after Tommy John surgery ended his season prematurely last year. Julio Urias, who many regarded as one of, if not the best pitching prospect, has appeared overmatched since being called-up. And to add insult to injury, Alex Wood, whos 1-4 record stemmed more from lack of run support, as opposed to lousy pitching, was recently shut- down for at least four weeks after determining the prognosis to an injury in his throwing elbow, was worse than originally anticipated.
As the Dodgers get ready to enter the dog days of summer, President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, is too smart of a man not to know that what he has on his current roster, is not good enough for any prolonged postseason run, let alone appearance. The shopping list this trade deadline is more extensive than in years past. However, with few tradable assets to work with on the pro team, it looks as if Friedman will have to be willing to part ways with his plethora of minor league talent, if he intends on making the Dodgers contenders when September rolls around.
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