Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Addresses Starting Rotation, Trade Outlook for LA
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The LA Dodgers are 32-21 at the end of play on Saturday, tops in the NL West and a half game ahead for best record in the entire National League. They're 11 games over .500 despite having a pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries.
The team has had to go to the well a good bit already this season, diving into the minor league depth chart a little earlier and more frequently than expected. In a recent conversation with Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, Andrew Friedman admitted having to turn to two top prospects in May definitely wasn't part of the pre-season plan.
“I would have been surprised if you had said (before the season), ‘Hey, in the middle of May, you’re going to have to call on both.’ I would have been really surprised,” Friedman said. “But obviously [Michael Grove] was injured, building back up, wasn’t built up yet. [Ryan Pepiot] is still going through what he’s going through. Then Dustin May and Julio [Urias] – when you go through four guys you end up getting to that layer.
“It’s a great opportunity for those guys. We think the world of them talent-wise. Was it the ideal time developmentally to bring them up? Probably not. That’s happened a lot of other times where you have to do something a little sooner. Sometimes you’re wrong about that and they take the opportunity and run with it. We’re open to that as well.”
So far, the team has struggled to tread water during the most difficult stretch of the season on the calendar. They've gone 4-5 on the current road trip as issues with the starting rotation have amplified.
Julio Urias was shelled in his most recent start against the Cardinals and was placed on the IL where he may end up being for longer than anticipated. Dustin May hurt his forearm last Tuesday in LA and could be out for 2 or 3 months. Clayton Kershaw has been in a mini slump and Noah Syndergaard hasn't been much help for the club.
It feels like the Dodgers need a little more help, perhaps via trade but Friedman said the team isn't there yet.
“Right now it’s early. I think using the first 3, 3½ months to assess your roster and what the needs are helps crystallize how you approach things in July. So things we thought in February or March turn out to be things you don’t need to focus on. But another area pops up. It’s a little bit like a game of whack-a-mole.”
The Dodgers are currently walking a thin line, with one more injury potentially leading to disaster. Rookies Stone and Miller find themselves in the spotlight earlier than expected, but the organization believes in their talent and hopes they can seize the opportunity to contribute. Worse comes to worst, the team may have to dive deeper into the minor league depth chart where several quality arms are leading the Double-A Tulsa Drillers to a solid 28-15 start to the season.
