Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Now that Christmas is over, it’s a good opportunity to look back at the last month and see what exactly has happened (or not happened) for the Dodgers this year. There were the sad goodbyes to JT and Belli, and the tentative hellos to Noah Syndergaard and JD Martinez. And of course, there’s the Trevor Bauer situation that the Dodgers have still not decided about. But there were a host of other, lower-wattage deals this month that may or may not help the Dodgers in 2023. Let’s take a look at these deals and see what they might portend for the future.
Shelby Miller
On December 1, the Dodgers signed free agent pitcher Shelby Miller to a major-league deal worth $1.5 million. The right-hander was an All-Star in 2015 with the Braves, the 32-year-old Miller was traded to the D-backs following that season — and he’s struggled with consistency in the seven seasons since. He put up a 6.15 ERA over 20 starts in his debut season in Arizona in ’16, then was limited to just four starts the following year before Tommy John surgery sidelined him for more than a year. He’ll definitely be a long shot to make the opening day roster, but we shall see.
JP Feyereisen
On December 14, the Dodgers traded for right handed reliever JP Feyereisen. Since joining Tampa Bay in May 2021 with the Brewers, Feyereisen was an important part of the Rays’ bullpen. He allowed just 15 runs (10 earned) and struck out 58 batters in 56 appearances after the deal. In ‘22, Feyereisen was flat-out dominant, throwing 24 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run to start the season. However, a shoulder injury put a premature end to his 2022 season. He had surgery on the shoulder and is currently rehabbing. He won’t be ready for the start of the year, and probably not until well after the All-Star break. However, like Tommy Kahnle last year, he might be able to add some depth to the Dodgers’ pen down the stretch run.
Jason Heyward
While Feyereisen and Miller are both on the major league roster, there are a number of minor-league signings that might bear some fruit as well. The most notable of these is former All-Star Jason Heyward, signed by the Dodgers on December 7. Heyward is probably one of the most frustrating players in recent memory, given the high expectations that were placed on his shoulders when he signed the biggest free agent deal in Chicago Cubs history. However, he never lived up to the hype and struggled during much of his seven seasons on the North Side. However, like Cody Bellinger, no matter how he struggled as a hitter, his glove work in the outfield was impeccable. Granted, at 33 years old, he doesn’t have the range he once did, but maybe the Dodgers can use him at the big league level. Especially on this roster that is not exactly flush with established outfield talent.
Adam Kolarek
Old friend alert. Lefty specialist Adam Kolarek has returned to the team, signing a minor league deal on December 13. Kolarek spent parts of the 2019-20 campaigns in the Dodgers’ pen. Acquired from the Rays at the 2019 trade deadline, he’d spend the next year and a half with the Dodgers. The sidewinder was a quietly excellent bullpen piece, posting a 0.88 ERA through 30 2/3 innings, holding opponents to a .182/.222/.255 line as a situational matchup nightmare for left-handed hitters. But after the 2020 season, he was shipped off to Oakland in the trade that brought Sheldon Neuse to the Dodgers. And now he’s back on a minor league deal. Again, perhaps a long-shot to make the roster, given the lefty success of Alex Vesia in the last couple of seasons. Let’s see what he’s got in Spring Training.
Steven Duggar
Regular fans will recognize this name, as he was a part of the Giants in that crazy 2021 slugfest season. That was by far the best season of his career. In Gabe Kapler‘s platoon system, he hit .257 with a .767 OPS over 107 games and 267 at-bats. He bounced around in 2022, and never quite got on track with three different clubs, suffering an early season injury with the Giants before seeing limited playing time with the Rangers and Angels. But like Heyward, I wouldn’t count him out for the Dodgers, given the outfield situation for this season.
Others…
There have been a number of other minor-league signings this month that we’re keeping an eye on. Outfielder Bradley Zimmer had a few so-so years in Cleveland, but struggled mightily at the plate in stops in Philadelphia and Toronto last season. Don’t expect much from him this year in LA either.
With JT gone, infielder Yonny Hernandez might be called upon at some point in the year. He was acquired for cash from the Oakland A’s. With fewer than 200 big-league at-bats, Hernandez has yet to show much at the plate in the Show. Definite long shot for the roster.
In addition, free agent pitchers Bryan Hudson, Lucas Williams, and Jake Pilarski all signed minor-league deals with the club in December. Also, catcher Patrick Mazeika, who saw some big-league time with the New York Mets the last two seasons will also be in camp on a minor-league deal, as will Rangers farmhand outfielder James Jones, who is still looking for his first prolonged big-league stay at the age of 34.
Will any of these guys end up helping the Dodgers in 2023 or beyond? Not likely, but I wouldn’t put it past this team, whose ability to bring the best out of its players is well-known around the sport. Stranger things have happened. After all, who among us had Tyler Anderson going to the All-Star game last year when the season began?
We’ll keep an eye on all these guys as the team starts to ramp up for Spring Training in 2023. Stay tuned, Dodger fans!
