The Dodgers Announce Series Roster Decisions with Huge Implications for Next Season
The Dodgers made multiple moves this weekend in regard to the options on their players. With the offseason getting going, LA prioritized those that they believed could benefit them next season.
The team declined club options on multiple pitchers, including starter Lance Lynn, and relievers Joe Kelly Daniel Hudson, and Alex Reyes. The interesting part was that they did pick up the option on relief pitcher Blake Treinen, who will remain in the bullpen next season.
Treinen is a cost-effective reliever for this team, and they must believe that he will be fine next season. He had been dealing with recovery from shoulder surgery, and he desperately tried to return this year. Now, he will likely be a trusted member of the relief options again, and they get him on a deal for just one million next year.
It was almost a foregone conclusion that the Dodgers wouldn’t pick up the $18 million option on Lance Lynn, but now it’s official. Lynn was a home-run-happy pitcher for most of the season, and it ended up costing the Dodgers in the end.
Lynn could serve well as a fourth option in the starting rotation, but it remains to be seen what his value will look like. Maybe he returns to the team on a more team-friendly contract, but the Dodgers seem to be cutting ties with those who aren’t valuable to them anymore.
The declined option of Joe Kelly is the most surprising here, as he was considered a candidate to return. LA loves Kelly, and he is a fan favorite as well. Maybe he comes back on a smaller contract, but given his injury history, the Dodgers may be whipping their hands clean here.
Hudson was a good story this season, but his injury history over the last bit of time is concerning. He tried to come back but never could get healthy enough. He is a strong candidate for retirement this offseason after a few frustrating years rehabbing different injuries at his advanced age.
Reyes never pitched for the Dodgers, and it made sense to cut ties with him. They had hoped for him to help them out this past season, but he ended up being shut down early on.
The Dodgers seem to be preparing themselves for a massive winter spending spree, and they are saving a good amount with these moves. They know that they can’t have another postseason collapse again, and hopefully are going to do everything in their power to make sure that it doesn’t happen.
