The Dodgers nonetheless need, and want, to amass a reliever within the subsequent 9 days.
However, sooner or later after July 31 commerce deadline, they’re hopeful of including Tanner Scott again into the bullpen combine too.
In what could possibly be the most recent bullet the Dodgers have dodged on the harm entrance lately, Scott was placed on the injured record Tuesday with what was initially described as “elbow inflammation” — preserving hope that his season won’t be over after exiting Monday’s recreation with a “stinging sensation” in his forearm.
As of Tuesday afternoon, supervisor Dave Roberts and normal supervisor Brandon Gomes mentioned the membership was awaiting its medical employees to totally assessment the outcomes of an MRI examination that Scott had earlier within the day.
However each famous that Scott, who turned 31 on Tuesday, reported enchancment in his elbow in comparison with how he felt Monday, when he walked off the mound flexing his throwing arm after spiking a slider within the filth in the course of the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ series-opening win over the Minnesota Twins.
“Tanner came in feeling pretty good,” Gomes mentioned, “so we’ll wait to see the full report and go from there.”
“I’m still hopeful that we’ll get Tanner back at some point,” Roberts added.
Scott has underwhelmed within the first season of his four-year, $72-million contract with the group, posting a 4.14 ERA in 47 outings with solely 19 saves in 26 alternatives.
Nonetheless, dropping him for the season would have been a major blow to a Dodgers group that has already seen key reliever Evan Phillips endure Tommy John surgical procedure, and navigated round long-term accidents to Blake Treinen (who’s nearing the completion of a rehab task), Michael Kopech (who’s hopeful of getting back from the 60-day IL when eligible in late August) and Brusdar Graterol (who remains to be anticipated again from an offseason shoulder surgical procedure that has sidelined him all yr).
“He’s not throwing the baseball as well as he’s gonna be throwing the baseball,” Roberts mentioned, sustaining hope not solely that Scott will return but in addition flash improved type down the stretch this yr. “But just to have somebody that’s there, that takes the baseball, has been huge.”
In fact, Scott’s troubles (together with related scuffles from fellow offseason signing Kirby Yates) have highlighted the necessity for the Dodgers to focus on one other high-leverage reliever at this yr’s deadline and bolster a bullpen that ranks twenty fourth in ERA and a far-and-away first in innings pitched.
Earlier than Scott’s harm Monday, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman mentioned “any time a needle-moving player is available, we’re gonna get involved,” when requested how aggressive the group will likely be in addressing its bullpen want.
To that finish, there ought to be no scarcity of engaging choices, with as many as 9 high relievers anticipated to be obtainable to a point — from Minnesota Twins flamethrower Jhoan Durán, to multi-time All-Stars similar to Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians and David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to established veteran closers such because the Tampa Bay Rays’ Pete Fairbanks and Baltimore Orioles’ Félix Bautista, and perhaps even younger Athletics star Mason Miller.
Exterior of St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Ryan Helsley, nonetheless, virtually all of this yr’s greatest reduction targets are below group management past this season.
Which means acquisition prices will likely be excessive, at the least within the eyes of a Dodgers’ entrance workplace that has lengthy been cautious of overspending on relievers on the deadline.
“The prices are always crazy come the deadline,” Gomes mentioned. “That’s why we did everything we could this offseason to not have to be in the position to buy.”
The Dodgers do have inner depth they like.
This week, the group referred to as up Edgardo Henriquez, a hard-throwing right-hander who missed the beginning of the yr with a damaged foot, and Alexis Diaz, the previous All-Star nearer for the Cincinnati Reds.
Friedman additionally prompt that, with Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki working towards returns from harm, there could possibly be surplus beginning pitchers who finally get moved into the bullpen later this yr.
“We feel like we’re gonna get to a place where we’re not gonna have enough starting pitcher spots for our starting pitching,” Friedman mentioned. “So there could be some spillover of that into the bullpen.”
Nonetheless, including one other high-leverage arm to the again finish of the group stays a precedence.
Had Scott been misplaced for the yr, that burden solely would’ve grown.
“Once we get Dr. [Neal] ElAttrache’s take on it, we’ll obviously have more clarity,” mentioned Roberts, who plans to go closer-by-committee in Scott’s absence. “But right now, him talking to the training staff, we feel good about it.”
