Dodgers News: Team Could Target Relief Pitchers From Red Sox
The Los Angeles Dodgers are yet again searching for bullpen help, as their pen is currently ranked 22nd in the majors with a 3.81 overall ERA. The other problem is that the team’s biggest rival in the National League West race, the San Francisco Giants, have a bullpen that is ranked fifth in all of baseball.
According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers could be targeting bullpen help from the Boston Red Sox.
If #RedSox make RPs available, expect #Dodgers to show interest. Uehara, Miller, Badenhop potential FAs. Breslow $100K buyout on $4M option.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 9, 2014
The Dodgers will surely need to shore up the bullpen. Brian Wilson continues to struggle and has not shown any signs of significant improvement, Chris Perez is nowhere near the form he showed while pitching in Cleveland, and Kenley Jansen is still trying to figure some things out.
It would make sense for the Dodgers to take a serious look at Koji Uehara, as he has been a rock in the Red Sox’ bullpen over the past two seasons. This year, Uehara has an ERA of 1.30 in 41.2 innings pitched while notching 18 saves for Boston. Along with Uehara, Andrew Miller has been another steady performer in the Boston bullpen. tallying a 2.34 ERA in 34.2 innings pitched acting as the setup man for Uehara.
While the Dodgers have done well in spite of the struggles by the bullpen, it is well known that the front office will do anything in order to improve the club and if the Red Sox decide to sell, general manager Ned Colletti will surely inquire. Getting either Uehara or Miller would be an incredible pick up for the Dodger bullpen. We all know the starting rotation is amongst the best in the big leagues, but the bullpen needs help.
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Let’s make it clear that the relievers that have struggled the most are Perez and Malholm. Jansen doesn’t belong in this post, and I don’t agree that Wilson hasn’t made improvements when you take into account how awful he was at the beginning of the season.