LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are headed to spring training with added firepower for an already potent offense and pitching rotation.
After being quiet most of the winter, they pulled off a blockbuster deal a week before camp that is set to land them Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox. Outfielder Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, is considered the second-best position player in baseball behind Mike Trout of the rival Angels. Price was runner-up for the 2015 AL Cy Young Award. The three-team trade that had yet to be announced Friday requires the Dodgers to send outfielder Alex Verdugo to Boston and RHP Kenta Maeda to Minnesota.
The Dodgers have won seven straight NL West titles. They haven’t won a World Series since 1988, losing to Houston in 2017 and to Betts and the Red Sox in 2018.
Pitchers and catchers report to Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 13.
NEW LOOK
Betts will slot well into a lineup led by reigning NL MVP Cody Bellinger. Betts hit .295 a year after winning the 2018 AL MVP. The offense led the National League with 886 runs scored, a .472 slugging percentage and 279 home runs. LHP David Price solves the departures of LHPs Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu. The 34-year-old has pitched well after missing parts of the 2017 and 2019 seasons with wrist and elbow injuries. LHP Alex Wood returns on a $4 million, one-year deal after being a Dodgers starter and an All-Star in 2017. RHP Blake Treinen was signed to a $10 million, one-year deal in an effort to bolster the bullpen. The hope is he avoids the injuries that derailed his 2019 season and regains his 2018 form when he had an 0.78 ERA and earned All-Star honors with Oakland.
THEY’RE SET
RHP Walker Buehler and LHP Clayton Kershaw represent the youth and experience of the rotation. Buehler’s fastball tops out at 96 mph and he mixes it with a curveball and a slider. Last season, he struck out nearly 30% of the hitters he faced. Kershaw isn’t what he once was, but he still possesses an elite slider and curveball as well as pinpoint command and control. With Hyun-Jin Ryu off to Toronto and Maeda set to leave, the other three spots in the rotation are up for grabs. The team has limited LHP Julio Urias to 184 innings over four seasons to protect his durability, but he’s shown top-caliber stuff at age 23.
THEY’RE NOT
The bullpen merits watching. Sure, it posted a 3.85 ERA that was lowest among NL relievers. But it was second in the NL with 29 blown saves last season. Closer Kenley Jansen is coming off an inconsistent 2019, when home runs and walks were big problems for him. The 32-year-old right-hander is also showing signs of declining velocity. Two of the team’s three losses in the NLDS were tagged to the relief corps.
ROOKIES TO WATCH
2B Gavin Lux was a September callup last year after hitting .347 in the minors. RHP Dustin May showed fastball velocity and strong command in his MLB debut last year. RHP Tony Gonsolin figures to compete for a starting job this spring after a solid MLB debut in 2019. C Keibert Ruiz has solid offensive and defensive skills. SS Jeter Downs hit .276 with 24 stolen bases in the minors last year.
ON DECK
The Dodgers open the season at home on March 26 with a three-game series against the rival San Francisco Giants. They host the All-Star Game on July 14 for the first time since 1980.
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