Cody Snavely
The Dodgers’ mighty offseason is still unfolding, with rumors swirling about plenty of bats and arms for the rotation and bullpen. But what the team lacks is left-handed starters in the rotation. The current rotation is filled with righties, and while it is not the end of the world, it is a stark contrast to what the team has had in the past.
Internally, the Dodgers do not have many options from the left side, with their lone starting pitching option being Ryan Yarbrough. However, in the free agent market, there are three left-handed starters the team could take a chance on.
Hyun-jin Ryu
Que up the Dodgers reunion music as one name floating around the Dodgers is former Dodgers Korean ace and fan favorite Hyun-jin Ryu. The baseball gods have not been too kind to Ryu, as his career has stalled since he left to play for the Blue Jays. Last season, Ryu missed almost the entire season as he was recovering from his second career Tommy John Surgery. However, in his short stint, he posted a respectable 3.46 ERA with 38 SO in 52 IP.
The Dodgers would be taking quite the risk by giving Ryu a chance, as since 2020, Ryu has struggled to stay on the field or put together an average season. While the Dodgers theoretically need a lefty in the rotation, they also need that arm to stay on the field. Ryu has only managed to and pitch over 100 IP once since 2020. However, the familiarity with Ryu could benefit him as in his Dodgers tenure, the Korean pitcher posted his best years and became a staple in the Dodgers rotation from 2013-2019.
Sean Manaea
Another left-handed starter with a ton of upside is Sean Manaea, who has spent his last few years in the NL West with the Padres and Giants. Since being traded away from the Oakland A’s, Manaea has struggled to reach that 2018 peak where he posted a 3.59 ERA in over 160 innings. Manaea has also been beaten senseless by the Dodgers, going an abysmal 1-5 with a 7.50 ERA.
As for the 2023 season, it could be a tale of two halves for Manaea. During the first half, he was hit around but locked in after the All-Star Break. Manaea pitched 60.1 innings during the second half, posting a 3.43 ERA and 56 SO. Manaea also pitched over 110 innings in 2023, which is something the Dodgers would definitely take in the back end of their rotation. The Dodgers also have had a yearly tradition of taking a “broken” pitchers and trying to make them whole again, and perhaps they view Manaea in the same boat.
James Paxton
Rounding out our list is former Red Sox pitcher James Paxton, who the team was linked to during the 2023 trade deadline. While the Dodgers ultimately ended up with Lance Lynn, Ryan Yarbrough, and Joe Kelly, Paxton was a popular arm in the trade market. However, the biggest issue for Paxton and the others on this list has been health.
Since the 2020 season, Paxton has only managed to stay on the mound for 117.2 innings. Most of which were during the 2023 season, where he pitched his highest count since 2019 with 96 innings. Paxton missed the entire 2022 season as he recovered from Tommy John Surgery. During the 2023 season, Paxton posted above-average numbers in the second half. This led to his name being thrown in trade rumors, with the Red Sox slowly falling out of contention after the All-Star Break.
Paxton is an MLB veteran whose best days may be behind him, as his 2023 was cut short due to a knee injury. The Red Sox have also expressed interest in Paxton as they have failed to sign any big starters in the free-agent market.
Conclusion
If the Dodgers are keen on getting a left-handed starter for the 2024 season, the best bet, in my opinion, on the free agent market is likely Sean Manaea. However, the Dodgers may run an all-righty rotation rather than being pressed to add one lefty. With the left-handed market thin on arms, the Dodgers may sit this free-agency class out.
