Editorials

Which Elite Reliever Should the Dodgers Sign? Brad Hand, Liam Hendriks, Blake Treinen and More!

With several holes to fill in the Dodgers bullpen, we take a look at the impact relievers the Dodgers should consider signing from the free agent class of 2020-21.

We break down the impact relievers available this offseason including LHP Brad Hand, RHP Liam Hendriks, and the workhorse from last year’s Dodgers bullpen, RHP Blake Treinen.



Plus, the best Dodgers fan tweets on who they want to see as the Dodgers’ closer for next season.

WATCH

With Treinen a free agent along with Jake McGee and Pedro Baez, the 2021 bullpen has taken a big hit from the core that shined last year. What moves might you consider to help put LA back on top next season? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

SUBSCRIBE

PLEASE subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you hear your podcasts!

Subscribe on iTunes

Listen on Spotify

Listen on iHeartRadio

Watch on YouTube

Join your DNpostgame host Doug McKain while we break down all the latest with your LA Dodgers. We use our 800,000 fans from Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook to gain insight into what the fans are thinking and do our best to represent all perspectives in the Dodgers Community.

NEXT: Breaking Down Everything with the Nolan Arenado to LA Trade Rumors

Doug McKain

Doug McKain is a lifelong Dodger fan and hosts Dodgers Nation’s “DNpostgame” show online. He also hosts Dodgers DougOut and the LA Sports Report on YouTube. DMAC is also a rabid Lakers fan, and lover of all Los Angeles sports.

8 Comments

  1. Great synopsis on the relievers. If they are planning to spend 20-40 million for bullpen help then they are best to attempt to sign Hendricks and Hand as they are RH & LH and both effective closers. Jansen is finished as a closer and not going to earn his contract next year.
    The problem is they have Seager this year and Bellinger and Buehler next year to sign so do they try for high 1 year deals or figure that Jansen’s contract drops off and gives them room for a 2-year deal. If they are able to sign Turner for a lower contract that will help them also. Kasten announced the team lost North of 100 Million last year and that is with their Huge TV deal which was pro-rated. Just think how much money other franchises without the Dodgers resources were impacted! I think there will be very low $ Free Agency deals this year as Teams cannot be certain when the vaccines will be distributed and given. Guesstimates are June before vaccines are widely available and then they are all 2 shot regimens with 3-4 week intervals. Potentially will not see crowds until the end of the year which means another year in the Red for most teams.
    So I doubt if there will be a slew of big Money deals this year except for the NY Mets.

  2. With covid and everyone losing money, now is a great time for a team with resources, Dodgers, to take advantage. Should be able to sign some top free agents for less money than usual. Most other teams don’t have the money.

  3. Good analysis, but your timeline is off. Seager is a free agent after the 2021 season, Bellinger after 2023 and Buehler after 2024.

  4. I’d like to see the Dodgers trade David Price for a bag of baseballs and dump his contract and then sign both Liam and Hand.

  5. Re-sign Treinen and sign Hendriks. Don’t re-sign Baez or McGee. Hendricks and Treinen can help groom Graterol as Jansen pitches his final year with Dodgers in 2021

  6. Every starting pitcher has a routine in between starts and part of that routine is throwing a bullpen session. Why not have them just throw one inning in a game as a closer? Every night you have a different guy ready to bring in! Why waste the talent when they are down in the bullpen throwing anyway?

    1. Bullpen sessions and in game pitching are two very different scenarios. In game pitching is throwing at a higher exertion level with no room for error. Throwing a bullpen is done with less exertion and with the ability to experiment and take it easy if necessary. If you miss your spots due to fatigue while throwing a bullpen–no big deal. If you miss your spots while pitching in a game–the result can be an inflated ERA and, possibly, causing the team to lose a game.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button