The Dodgers nonetheless need, and want, to accumulate a reliever within the subsequent 9 days.
However, in some unspecified time in the future after July 31 commerce deadline, they’re hopeful of including Tanner Scott again into the bullpen combine too.
In what might be the newest bullet the Dodgers have dodged on the damage entrance not too long ago, Scott was placed on the injured listing Tuesday with what was initially described as “elbow inflammation” — preserving hope that his season won’t be over after exiting Monday’s sport with a “stinging sensation” in his forearm.
As of Tuesday afternoon, supervisor Dave Roberts and basic supervisor Brandon Gomes stated the membership was awaiting its medical workers 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 grime throughout the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ series-opening win over the Minnesota Twins.
“Tanner came in feeling pretty good,” Gomes stated, “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 workforce, 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 workforce that has already seen key reliever Evan Phillips bear Tommy John surgical procedure, and navigated round long-term accidents to Blake Treinen (who’s nearing the completion of a rehab project), 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 12 months).
“He’s not throwing the baseball as well as he’s gonna be throwing the baseball,” Roberts stated, sustaining hope not solely that Scott will return but in addition flash improved kind down the stretch this 12 months. “But just to have somebody that’s there, that takes the baseball, has been huge.”
After all, 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 12 months’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 damage Monday, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated “any time a needle-moving player is available, we’re gonna get involved,” when requested how aggressive the workforce shall be in addressing its bullpen want.
To that finish, there must be no scarcity of enticing choices, with as many as 9 prime relievers anticipated to be obtainable to some extent — 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, nearly all of this 12 months’s greatest aid targets are below workforce management past this season.
Which means acquisition prices shall 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 stated. “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 workforce known as up Edgardo Henriquez, a hard-throwing right-hander who missed the beginning of the 12 months with a damaged foot, and Alexis Diaz, the previous All-Star nearer for the Cincinnati Reds.
Friedman additionally recommended that, with Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki working towards returns from damage, there might be surplus beginning pitchers who ultimately get moved into the bullpen later this 12 months.
“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 stated. “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 12 months, that burden solely would’ve grown.
“Once we get Dr. [Neal] ElAttrache’s take on it, we’ll obviously have more clarity,” stated 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.”
