Dodgers Rumors: L.A. Focused on Adding One-Year Reliever Next
Logan Forsythe is a Dodger. He addresses the Dodgers’ two biggest weaknesses while only costing them a 24-year-old pitching prospect. Next comes the bullpen.
The Dodgers’ next move will be adding a reliever, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
#Dodgers’ next move will be reliever. Blanton, Blevins on radar unless better value emerges, per sources. LAD likely to offer only one year.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2017
Los Angeles has been scanning the market for relief help all offseason, so with second base filled it, that becomes the priority before packing the trucks for Arizona. We’ve heard the Dodgers want Blanton back, and working in their favor has been a quiet market to this point.
[graphiq id=”5YSKnh3fHtr” title=”Joe Blanton 2016 Complete Postseason Pitching Splits” width=”600″ height=”805″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/5YSKnh3fHtr” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/1352/Joe-Blanton” link_text=”PointAfter | Graphiq” ]Jerry Blevins is a new name tossed in the hat. After only pitching five innings in 2015 because of multiple arm injuries, including re-fracturing an arm after falling on a curb, Blevins came on strong in 2016. He threw 42 innings in 73 games, pitching to a 2.79 ERA as a left-handed specialist. Blevins became an integral part of the New York bullpen.
As Rosenthal notes, the Dodgers are likely to pursue a one-year agreement with Blanton, Blevins or whoever else. The same can likely be said for the Mets, who could also offer Blevins a higher one-year salary. Other contenders, such as Washington, St. Louis, both New York teams and San Francisco, could still use more relief help. Expect more names to come off the free agent lists soon.
The Dodgers may still re-sign Chase Utley
Why is this even an issue? Blanton had a great year setting up Jansen. Sign him.
Blanton did play well last year and I’m sure he will do well to help get the Dodgers through the regular season this year. My concern is the post season. Blanton fall short on several key moments in the 2016 NLCS. Which begs the question, is he the right guy to get the Dodgers out of a jam in the 6th, 7th or 8th innings of the NLCS? Last year was more about Blanton being the only trusted guy, besides Jansen, that the Dodgers had for these situations. Can the Dodgers find someone better? I say resigin Blanton to help get through the season and look to pick up another arm come trade deadline, if the Dodgers haven’t found one internal which is also a possibility.
I’m sure Blanton is looking for more than a 1-yr deal. He’s most likely wait for offers until Spring Training. There’re still so many RPs unsigned out there, Blanton might be the floor of who could possibly be added on a 1-yr deal. Definitely a buyer’s market for the Dodgers.
Let’s remember, until 2016, Kershaw never did much in the post season either.
Seriously? Kershaw is a young pitcher still peaking, not even 30 years old yet. Blanton is 36 year old vet who been around and at the tail end of his career. Theres no comparison at this point of their careers. Like I said Blanton will help the Dodgers through the season but not the guy I would want in the post season against a top line up like the Cubs.
Your comment was that Blanton fell short during the post season, and he no doubt did. Age has nothing to do with it. It’s all about timing. Kershaw is a 3 time Cy Young award and other than the 2016 playoffs, he has gotten his butt kicked.
Your comment was that Blanton fell short during the post season, and he no doubt did. Age has nothing to do with it. It’s all about timing. Kershaw is a 3 time Cy Young award winner, and with the exception of the 2016 playoffs when he was lights out, he’s gotten his butt kicked.
I think it’s reasonable to suspect that Blantons 2016 playoff performance, along with his age, is an indication of a declining pitcher. And I’m certain Blantons age is taken into account when it comes to resigning him. Comparing Kershaws playoff woes with Blantons is comparing pitchers headed in opposite directions.