Have the Dodgers already blown the offseason?

The Los Angeles Dodgers struck out on Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, and Anthony Rendon but that doesn’t mean that their offseason has been a failure.

The Los Angeles Dodgers might be taking some heat for not getting any of the big three free agents–Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, and Anthony Rendon–but they have still had a solid offseason even though it is under the radar.

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the offseason with needs but not one bigger than the bullpen. I know that rumors have spread about the possibility of Justin Turner moving to first base to make room for a Rendon or a Josh Donaldson but that is not really a need, just an accessory.

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The bullpen is who cost them the NLDS against the Washington Nationals, particularly Game 5 when Clayton Kershaw, who is a starter, had to pitch a second inning in relief that resulted back to back home runs by Rendon and Soto. Then, Joe Kelly gave up the go-ahead home run to Howie Kendrick. And Kenley Jansen didn’t enter the game until the game was over.

With that said, when the manager doesn’t have the confidence in his closer then that should be a big signal to the front office that they need to so something with the bullpen.

And Andrew Friedman did do just that during the Winter Meetings this week.

He signed Blake Treinen to a one-year deal worth $10 million, as this was a move that was made because the Dodgers believe he can get back to his 2018 self when he had a 0.78 ERA with 38 saves.

They needed to do something that would put a big name in the back of the bullpen that would give Dave Roberts a better option to go to in the postseason other than Kershaw and Kelly.

There have also been rumors that the Dodgers are interested in Dellin Betances in a similar deal to that of Treinen’s in an effort to build one of the strongest bullpens in the National League.

I know Dodger fans want Gerrit Cole or Anthony Rendon on their team, but they addressed their biggest need in the bullpen so the front office should get more credit than they are being given right now.