Dodgers Among Top 5 Landing Spots for Best Closer in Free Agency, Says Insider
After some early trouble with their bullpen last season, the Dodgers relief staff became one of the best in baseball down the stretch. It was quite the turnaround and it likely means that the team won’t be very active on the open market to bolster the staff.
However, the Dodgers are always looking at different ways to upgrade the team, including the bullpen. Just because it’s not a first-hand need doesn’t mean that they won’t spend to make it happen.
MLB writer Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has linked the Dodgers with the best closer on the market this winter, Josh Hader, and has them in the top five landing spots. Hader is coming off a very solid year with the San Diego Padres and he is expected to receive a very nice payday this offseason.
“It's really just a question of whether they'd rather have Hader to put the finishing touches on a downright elite bullpen or try to land one of the other top starting pitchers available in addition to Snell.”
LA doesn’t have a "true" closer, but that didn’t stop them from being one of the better bullpens in the second half of the season. It’s highly unlikely that they do go after Hader, but never say never.
Maybe the Dodgers feel that landing someone like Hader could add to their chances in the postseason next year, and after getting some starting pitching, they make a play for him. But considering that the Dodgers priority is in the starting rotation, the big money will be spent there.
“Considering their current starting rotation is Bobby Miller, Walker Buehler coming off his second Tommy John surgery and a bunch of inexperienced question marks, our assumption is that they'll pass on Hader to go all-in on Ohtani and multiple starting pitchers. But signing Hader is at least on the table.”
LA knows that having a guy like Hader to be trusted with the game on the line is crucial, but they have multiple options in the bullpen already. Their money would be better put to use to upgrade the rotation and possibly some of the position players this offseason.
