Could the Dodgers really pick up another starting pitcher?!
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe thinks so, saying that the Dodgers could jump in despite the team’s abundance of starters, which include Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano, who are both evidently expendable.
Will they pursue Lohse?
No.
Unless the Dodgers’ front office feels as if there is a void in the team’s starting rotation, there really is no need to drop money on an unnecessary pitcher.
To remind everybody, the Dodgers’ rotation looks like this:
- Clayton Kershaw
- Zack Greinke
- Hyun-Jin Ryu
- Josh Beckett
- Chad Billingsley
What void could there be?
Clearly the Dodgers aren’t looking to touch the trio of Kershaw, Greinke and Ryu, who together form a fearsome group of pitchers that are ready to strike fear into opposing offenses.
Beckett had a resurgence as a Dodger, posting a 2-3 record with a 2.93 ERA after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox. In Boston, Beckett was undergoing a terrible season, going 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA.
When you delve into the numbers, not much changed though.
His WHIP of 1.326 in Los Angeles improved from a 1.327 in Boston. Sure he allowed slightly less hits/9 with the Dodgers (9.0) than he did with the Red Sox (9.3), but there was also the similarities in HR/9 (1.1 in Boston to 1.0 in Los Angeles) and BB/9 (2.7 to 2.9).
What improved was his strikeout rate. Beckett struck out 6.6 batters per nine innings in Boston, but 8.0 in Los Angeles. His strikeout to walk ratio also increased from 2.47 to 2.71.
Then there’s Billingsley, who avoided Tommy John surgery, and will be ready for the 2013 season, or at least that’s what his agent Dave Stewart says.
What does Lohse have to offer?
Lohse went 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA for the Cardinals in 2012, finishing 7th in the NL Cy Young award voting.
However, Lohse is an owner of a 118-109 career record and 4.45 ERA in 12 seasons. To say that last season was a career year is an understatement.
His right forearm has landed him on the disabled list twice in his career; first causing him to miss 36 games in 2009, then keeping him out 71 games in 2010.
He’s 34 years old, from Chico, Calif., which is located 469 miles away from Dodger Stadium, and in Northern California.
He was drafted in the 29th round of the 1996 draft by the Chicago Cubs. However, he would never play for the Cubs, instead moving on to the Minnesota Twins.
His career has also seen stops in Cincinnati, Philadelphia and St. Louis.
What’s likely to happen?
The rotation is set. This would be a wasted signing unless Billingsley’s injury turns out to be more severe than thought.
Beckett at his worst should amount to an average Lohse.
I wouldn’t expect for Lohse’s season to come anywhere near what he did in St. Louis last season.
Expect the Dodgers to address their chief needs before going this route, which includes a left-handed reliever and another infielder.
