Lack Of Depth Could Hamper The Los Angeles Dodgers

One has to wonder if the 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Dodgers have enough offensive and pitching depth to retain their National League West title?

Last year, the team won 101 games, capturing their division by 22 games over the San Diego Padres.

As stated by Fangraphs, the Dodgers estimated 2023 player payroll will be $228 million.

Although the figure is $34 million less than they spent last year, the Dodgers clearly remain among the highest team payrolls in the game.

The Dodgers estimated payroll leaves the club $5 million under the first of four MLB Luxury Tax thresholds. The four thresholds are $233 million, $253 million, $273 million, and $293 million.

With the San Diego Padres nipping at their heels in the National League West, the Dodgers appear to be holding steady regarding player contract values. To the contrary, the Padres have increased their player payroll by $35 million for the coming season, as they will enter the new year with an estimated $249 million payroll.

Unfortunate Gavin Lux Injury:

The Dodgers suffered a severe blow when projected shortstop Gavin Lux suffered both a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee while running the bases in a Cactus League game February 27. Lux has undergone surgery to repair the knee ligaments, and is likely out for the season.

The Dodgers were already prepared to see less offensive production from the shortstop position this coming season, as the team lost All Star shortstop Trea Turner to free agency last December.

Turner signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He takes 101 runs scored, 39 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs and 100 RBIs from 2022 with him to Philadelphia. He also stole 27 bases in 30 attempts, and hit .298 in 708 plate appearances.

Turner’s bat was on fire in the World Baseball Classic, and remains scorching hot in spring training.

While it would have been very tough to replace Turner with Lux, it becomes even more dramatic to replace Lux with newcomer Miguel Rojas, who will likely be the regular shortstop.

Rojas, 34, was traded to the Dodgers from the Miami Marlins in January. The Marlins received middle-infield prospect Jacob Amaya from the Dodgers for Rojas.

In all likelihood, Rojas was obtained from the Marlins to provide middle-infield depth as a credible utility player. It is not likely the Dodgers intended him to be the regular shortstop.

A good player, Rojas won’t be asked to provide the same offensive production as Turner or Lux. He will, however, do credible work on both sides of the ball.

Tony Gonsolin Injured:

In addition to the Gavin Lux injury, the Dodgers will be opening the season without right-handed starters Walker Buehler and Tony Gonsolin.

Buehler had Tommy John surgery August 23, 2022. It was expected that he would not return to the Dodgers rotation until possibly late 2023, or even 2024.

However, it was not expected that Tony Gonsolin would miss the start of the season because he rolled his left ankle during a backfield drill March 6.

Gonsolin was counted upon to join a revised 2023 rotation that was scheduled to include lefties Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw, as well as right-handers Noah Syndergaard, Dustin May, and Gonsolin.

Now, 25-year-old rookie Ryan Pepiot will probably take Gonsolin’s rotation spot until Gonsolin is cleared to pitch.

Even a couple missed starts for Gonsolin may have an impact on the start of the season.

Kershaw, Syndergaard and May have all recently dealt with their own health related issues that have caused them time on the Injured Lists. Having them healthy for a 162-game season is imperative.

Characterizing the Dodgers rotation as a bit fragile would be accurate.

The team can ill-afford an injury or poor performance from any of their expected rotation. The team simply does not have the same type of starting pitching depth as in the past.

Tyler Anderson now pitches for the Los Angeles Angels.

Andrew Heaney now pitches for the Texas Rangers.

If needed, the Dodgers would turn to a right-hander like Michael Grove, Dylan Covey, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, or lefties Robbie Erlin or Nick Nastrini for rotation help. Each pitched in Dodgers spring training as invited, non-roster pitchers.

None of the names above is an ideal replacement.

Bullpen Injuries:

Depth issues also impact the Dodgers bullpen.

The days of the Dodgers counting on Kenley Jansen to close out games are long gone. He pitched for Atlanta last year, and is now with the Boston Red Sox.

But who closes now for the Dodgers?

Manager Dave Roberts may turn to right-handers Evan Phillips, or Brusdar Graterol. Or he could give the ball to lefties Alex Vesia, or Caleb Ferguson. He is likely looking to a “committee” of pitchers to close games.

There doesn’t seem to be the definitive, no questions asked 9th inning shut down arm in the bullpen.

Five right-handed relievers, each in different phases of recovery, will be on the Injured List when the season begins. The Dodgers weren’t counting on any of them to start the season. However, their injuries cut into the bullpen depth. They include:

J.P. Feyereisen is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Daniel Hudson, a potential closer candidate, is recovering from knee surgery.

Jimmy Nelson, a veteran starter or reliever, is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Alex Reyes, once a flame-throwing closer candidate, is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Blake Treinen, who has closing experience, is recovering from shoulder surgery.

However, with Chris Martin now pitching for the Boston Red Sox, Craig Kimbrel now with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Tommy Kahnle (currently injured) now on the staff of the New York Yankees, the bullpen has new, and different faces as well.

One has to wonder if veteran Shelby Miller, 32, has anything left in the tank as a reliever?

Yency Almonte, Phil Bickford, and Andre Jackson are also slated for bullpen use.

To this writer, the lack of bullpen depth and quality experience is a legitimate issue. And it could be a concern.

Conclusions:

Lots of Dodgers veterans are playing elsewhere in MLB.

Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Joey Gallo, and Edwin Rios will not be contributing to the offense. Each is taking his talents to a new club.

In their places, J.D. Martinez, David Peralta, Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor, Jason Heyward, and rookie James Outman will try to help spark the offense.

Gavin Lux, thought to be the starting shortstop, is out for the year after knee surgery.

Starter Tony Gonsolin is recovering from severely turning his ankle, and he will start the season injured.

Walker Buehler, an important starting pitcher, is still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

But the Los Angeles Dodgers always find a way.

The Dodgers still have All Stars Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith at the plate.

This is a team that still has Clayton Kershaw, and Julio Urias on the mound.

It would be foolish to dismiss the Dodgers and hand the National League West Championship to the San Diego Padres before a pitch is thrown in the new season.

That said, for the first time in recent memory, a lack of depth could be an issue for the team that won 101 games last year.