Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 Major League Baseball offseason with a clear goal in mind: improve on all aspects of the roster to become the first repeat champions since the 2000 New York Yankees. And so far, Andrew Friedman and Co. have done everything they can to improve this Dodgers team, including the bullpen.
The Dodgers’ bullpen last season was by no means bad. In fact, it was one of the best overall units in baseball despite a slight downward stretch in late June before the all-star break.
Overall, the Dodgers bullpen pitched 648 innings, which was the fourth most in the National League. However, it still managed to rank third in ERA (3.53), second in WHIP (1.18), second in Batting Average (.220), and third in LOB% (73.5%).
That unit was put to even greater tests during the 2024 postseason, having to pitch more innings than any other team during October, along with multiple bullpen games en route to the franchise’s eighth World Series victory.
The “Bullpen Dawgs,” as named by veteran relief pitcher Daniel Hudson, posted a collective 3.95 ERA in a whopping eighty-two innings pitched along with an elite 80.7% LOB% and played a significant role for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Still, if there was one issue for the Dodgers bullpen last season, it was blown saves. The Dodgers were the third worst with twenty-nine blown saves on the season. However, a lot of that blame can go to injuries, as their “closer” for most of the season, Evan Phillips, battled numerous injuries and inconsistencies.
The Dodgers this offseason have rectified that issue by signing three viable closing options, Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, and re-signing veteran right-hander Blake Treinen, who all have experience closing games.
While Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes would suggest that the Dodgers do not have a closer per se, he did state that Tanner Scott would be the man to get most of those save opportunities, and for good reason.
Scott, 30, was a top-five baseball reliever during the 2024 season and undoubtedly the best left-hander. Scott finished his 2024 campaign with 72 IP, 1.75 ERA, and 84 Ks (28.6%). Scott is also finishing a dominant two-year stretch, posting a 2.04 ERA in 150 innings for both the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. In that time, the lefty collected thirty-four saves.
The Dodgers have also reportedly added 2024 American League all-star Kirby Yates to the mix, who, in many ways, was a better overall arm last season than Scott. Yates, 37, reverted back to his pre-2020 self, pitching to a 1.17 ERA, 0.827 WHIP, 12.4 K/9, and thirty-three saves in 61.1 innings pitched.
Due to his success with Yates and the Rangers amid their World Series hangover, his name was popular in many trade discussions, but ultimately, nothing ever came up.
Still, Yates put together a remarkable 2024 campaign, including ranking 2nd in ERA (1.17), 1st in AVG (.111), 6th in K% (35.9%), 8th in WHIP (0.83), 10th in FIP (2.50) and 12th in K/BB (24.1) and was arguably the second best relief arm in baseball behind American League Cy Young finalist Emmanuel Clase.
However, the Dodgers bullpen is more than just the three closers at the backend; they’re loaded with depth from top to bottom. They have the lefty specialist Anthony Banda, who posted a 3.08 ERA with the Dodgers. Alex Vesia, besides a 2023 blip, was one of the best arms last season with a 1.76 ERA and has the ability to attack both lefties and righties. Michael Kopech is one of the most nasty arms in baseball and routinely throws 100 MPH, and Evan Phillips has been a Swiss army knife for Dave Roberts in the past.
The Dodgers are also expecting right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol back in the second half of the regular season and have plenty of Major League-ready arms waiting in the wings, such as Landon Knack, Bobby Miller, and Ben Casparius.
However, before the start of spring training, the Dodgers will needed to make a move on their roster to make the Yates 1-year, $13 million signing official. Per reports, the odd man out was veteran righty Ryan Brasier, who has 1-year, $4.5 million remaining on his current deal and was DFA’d yesterday.
Still, with or without Brasier, there is a case to be made that the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best lineup, starting rotation, and bullpen and are set up better than anyone to win the 2025 World Series.
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