The Dodgers have been scrambling to fill their rotation recently however will get a few huge reinforcements again within the coming days. Supervisor Dave Roberts tells reporters that right-hander Tyler Glasnow and left-hander Clayton Kershaw will every come off the injured listing to start out on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Kershaw is on the 60-day IL and can want a 40-man roster spot to be opened previous to taking the ball. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Occasions was amongst these to relay the information on X.
It’s a reasonably large second for Kershaw, who’s getting back from probably the most vital absence of his profession. The southpaw went beneath the knife in November to restore the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule of his left shoulder. Although surgical procedures for pitchers have turn out to be fairly commonplace in at this time’s baseball panorama, this was truly the primary one for the veteran.
Kershaw was a workhorse earlier in his profession however has had some well being points in current seasons. From 2010 to 2015, he logged at the very least 198 innings for six straight years however hasn’t hit that quantity since. Latest years have seen him miss time right here and there, usually as a result of again points, however the shoulder was the massive concern in 2023. He one way or the other managed to toss 131 2/3 innings with a 2.55 earned run common regardless of his fastball velocity declining all through the season however then was torched in his lone playoff begin, solely recording one out towards the Diamondbacks whereas being charged with six earned runs.
The shoulder problem ultimately require the aforementioned surgical procedure in November after which he re-signed with the Dodgers in February. The deal is a two-year pact with the second season being a participant choice. Kershaw has a base wage of simply $5M in each years of the deal however with the power to earn way more if he’s wholesome. He will get an additional $1M for getting to 6 begins, $1.5M every for his seventh, eighth and ninth begins after which $2M after his tenth. The Dodgers can’t get round this through the use of an opener, as a aid outing whereby Kershaw information at the very least 9 outs additionally counts. At this level within the calendar, it’s nonetheless potential for Kershaw to unlock all of these bonuses and there are comparable escalators for his 2025 choice.
He started a rehab task by pitching three innings on the Single-A stage on June 19. He was then shut down as a result of some shoulder soreness, however Roberts downplayed the importance and Kershaw restarted his rehab task once more extra lately. He tossed three innings for Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis final Saturday after which 4 innings on Friday, getting as much as 67 pitches in the newest outing. He’s now set to renew a giant league profession that already consists of 2,712 2/3 innings with a 2.48 ERA.
Glasnow’s absence was way more gentle, as he landed on the IL previous to the break as a result of some low again tightness, however the twin returns are vital for the Dodgers as they’ve had loads of rotation challenges. Dustin Could and Emmet Sheehan are every accomplished for the 12 months, with Tony Gonsolin prone to be in that camp as effectively. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has a rotator cuff pressure that landed him on the 60-day IL, that means he can’t return earlier than mid-August. Bobby Miller struggled sufficient to get optioned all the way down to the minors whereas Walker Buehler was ineffective earlier than touchdown on the IL with a hip problem.
Amid all of these points, the Dodgers have been utilizing a rotation of veteran James Paxton, rookies Gavin Stone, Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack, in addition to occasional bullpen video games. Getting Glasnow and Kershaw into that blend clearly helps, and the membership can be selling prospect River Ryan quickly as effectively.
Although that group is about to be a lot stronger than it was heading into the All-Star break, the Dodgers are nonetheless anticipated to pursue rotation upgrades previous to the July 30 deadline. They’ve been related to Garrett Crochet of the White Sox for weeks now, and Bob Nightengale of USA Immediately mentions the match once more Sunday, additionally including that the membership has curiosity in Tarik Skubal of the Tigers.
Although the Dodgers’ curiosity in Crochet has been recognized for some time, Nightengale provides that the Dodgers have mentioned a blockbuster deal that may see them additionally purchase outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and possibly even reliever Michael Kopech as effectively. That’s not essentially a giant shock, as groups often talk about all types of varied commerce situations, with lots of them not coming near fruition.
However that does align with current feedback from president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who instructed the Dodgers could be extra targeted on affect additions versus marginal upgrades. The membership has some holes however is understandably capturing for the celebrities at this level. They’ve made the playoffs in 11 straight years now and spent wildly within the offseason, including Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani and others. Making the postseason for a twelfth straight 12 months received’t actually matter as an accomplishment for the membership or its followers, so aiming excessive on the deadline and attempting for a World Sequence appears to be the play.
Crochet would clearly match the invoice since he’s been among the finest pitchers within the league this 12 months with a 3.02 ERA and 35.2% strikeout charge by means of 20 begins. There are some issues about his workload since he’s already thrown extra innings this 12 months than in his total skilled profession previous to this marketing campaign, however he ought to be capable of present an affect even when moved to some sort of aid function down the stretch.
Robert additionally has some sturdiness issues as he’s solely tallied 100 video games in a season as soon as, however that one incidence was fairly spectacular. He received into 145 contests for the Sox final 12 months and hit 38 house runs, stole 20 bases and supplied high quality protection in middle subject. Accidents have been an issue earlier than and have cropped up once more this 12 months, as he missed two months as a result of a proper hip flexor pressure. However he’s been nice in his restricted time, with 11 homers and 11 steals in simply 45 video games. His 32.6% strikeout charge is a profession excessive however his 10.2% stroll charge is nearly twice his profession tempo.
He may match right into a Dodger outfield that has seen Mookie Betts transfer to the infield after which head to the injured listing. Teoscar Hernández is having a great 12 months, but it surely’s flimsy other than that. Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas are doing effectively total, however most of their injury has come towards lefties. Ideally, they’d be platooned with Jason Heyward, however Heyward can be on the IL. James Outman is hitting simply .153/.250/.258 on the 12 months and was optioned to the minors for some time, solely getting recalled when Heyward went on the shelf. Utility gamers Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernández and Cavan Biggio have additionally struggled.
Along with their abilities, each gamers could be extremely engaging as a result of their monetary conditions. Crochet is in his first arbitration season, however his harm absences have restricted him to a wage of $800K this 12 months. He has two arb seasons left after this one and can be in line for a good raises, however from a really modest base. Robert is making $12.5M this 12 months, way over Crochet however nonetheless a cut price for a participant of his abilities. He’ll then make $15M subsequent 12 months with a pair of $20M membership choices after that.
Every participant has vital commerce worth in a vacuum, however it could take an enormous blockbuster haul for the Dodgers to get each. Their farm system is taken into account sturdy, however whether or not a deal can come collectively or not will rely on what sort of value the Sox are asking for and what different groups are providing. However at 27-73 and with a farm system that isn’t particularly effectively regarded, it is sensible the Sox are contemplating buying and selling virtually anybody, and it appears they’re doing simply that.
Kopech can’t match both Crochet or Robert by way of big enchantment, however he would have some worth in his personal proper. After some inconsistent outcomes as a starter, the Sox have been utilizing him as their nearer this 12 months with some fascinating however blended outcomes. His 5.05 ERA isn’t going to wow anybody, and his 12.7% stroll charge is regarding, however he has punched out 30.9% of batters confronted. He’s solely making $3M this 12 months and could be retained by way of arbitration for one more season after this.
As for Skubal, it’s comprehensible why the Dodgers or every other membership would have an interest. He’s a Cy Younger candidate this 12 months with a 2.41 ERA, 30.8% strikeout charge, 4.6% stroll charge and 47.4% floor ball charge. He’s making a modest $2.65M and has two seasons of membership management past this one.
However that additionally makes him loads interesting to the Tigers, and it’s honest to marvel how out there he’s. The membership as soon as appeared buried within the standings however has been scorching recently, profitable 11 of its final 14 and climbing to inside 5 video games of a playoff spot. Getting Skubal away from Detroit was most likely going to take a haul even when it was in vendor place, but it surely’s most likely turn out to be tougher in current weeks.
