JD Miller
The State of the Bullpen
With Jansen on the shelf before the season has even begun,
it seems the only thing The Dodgers can’t buy is a break.
It’s been quite an offseason. One of reformation, revision, and amendments made to the Dodger’s vision of the future. With the new ‘think tank’ recruited by owner Stan Kasten, spearheaded by Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman, The Dodgers wasted no time making waves over the Winter. With so many moves made in such a short amount of time (too many to mention in one article) the one place that is sure to have some new faces will be the bullpen. And with Kenley Jansen undergoing a foot surgery this week, The Dodgers could very well have an open tryout for the closing role.
While all prognosis on Jansen’s recovery time range from 3-6 weeks, to 2-3 months, it’s safe to say that there is a vacant position in the newfound pitching armada. As for the cast of characters set to return, we will again see Brandon League, J.P. Howell, Pedro Baez, and Paco Rodgriguez. And then we can also examine the new arrivals that include Joel Peralta, Chris Hatcher, Juan Nicasio, Sergio Santos, and most recently, David Aardsma. All of whom may find themselves to be candidates for the interim closing job going into spring training.
The Dodgers have been on record, saying that the bullpen is still unfinished, hinting at another move or signing to be made. With Jansen suddenly going down, it’s easy to point out that closers Rafael Soriano and Francisco Rodriguez are still without contracts today. Bill Shaikin of The L.A. Times reports that The Dodgers will certainly check in on both free agents, but they will most likely look internally to solve this temporary problem. Ken Rosenthal has also affirmed this notion, saying that it would be a “shock” to see The Dodgers press the panic button and sign either free agent. It’s also worth mentioning that sources from K-Rod’s camp is seeking $10 million for this season, about $3 million more than Jansen is set to make this season.
It would be entirely inefficient for LA to spend that kind of money on a reliever when there are a few suitable late-inning candidates in the bullpen right now. At the risk of alienating the Dodger faithful, a case could be made for Brandon League. League, of course, had a miserable 2013 campaign, that left his existence on the Dodger roster in limbo. But League had a remarkable turnaround year in 2014. Showing flashes of his former self, League posted a 2.57 ERA last season, which is .22 points lower than his 2011 season in Seattle, when he recorded 37 saves.
Then there is J.P. Howell. Howell has been a quiet success since joining the Dodgers. Last season, he boasted a 2.39 ERA, striking out 47 batters in 48 innings pitched. And with a WHIP of 1.143, he does better than most at keeping the runners off the base paths.
An unlikely, but perfectly suitable candidate for the closing role may also be found in the young Paco Rodriguez. Last season, he spent an awful lot of time in the minors for a kid who earned a 2.32 ERA the year before. He may be inexperienced, pitching only 75 total innings in 3 major league seasons, but he has shown brilliance on the mound with his scorpion-like delivery. And his total WHIP over 3 seasons: 0.960.
Yes, it may be exciting to think about possibly signing Francisco Rodriguez or trading for Jonathan Papelbon But it would simply be hugely inefficient. Furthermore, it would overlook the talent that already exists on The Dodger’s roster. We can expect LA’s new decision makers to show some faith in the team they’ve assembled. And us fans of LA can afford to as well.
