Cody Snavely
The 2024 MLB season is offically upon us as the Dodgers kick off spring training today against the San Diego Padres. However, anything other than a championship is a failure for the Dodgers.
After two straight first-round exits at the hands of NL West rivals in the Padres and Diamondbacks, the Dodgers went all in this winter, spending over one billion dollars in free agency.
However, while Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman will all have to perform at a high level to get the Dodgers to where they want to be, they also have many players who need to step as well.
The return of Gavin Lux
The Dodgers’ 2023 season took a massive blow before it officially started when potential starting shortstop Gavin Lux tore his ACL/MCL in spring training rounding second base.
Lux was finally set to take over the starting role from Trea Turner, who departed to the Phillies in free agency while also being blocked by Corey Seager since his debut in 2019.
With Seager and Turner now gone and the Dodgers opting to let other All-Star free agents go elsewhere, the Dodgers showed a lot of faith in the former Dodgers’ top prospect.
Lux has shown flashes of elite-level play throughout his young MLB career but has been overshadowed by injuries and inconsistencies.
In 2021, Lux was given his first opportunity to start in an everyday role, going around the diamond between SS, 2B, and some starts in the outfield.
However, it was the 2022 season where Lux really showcased his potential to be an everyday player for the Dodgers.
In the first half of 2022, Gavin Lux had a slash line of .292/.370/.415, 111 OPS+, .785 OPS while also posting elite sprint speed (88th percentile) and above average defense (80th percentile in OAA).
Lux, who was the Dodgers primary 2B that season with Trea Turner moving back to SS, shined bright and gave the Dodgers an idea where he could go in the future.
A neck injury that Lux would suffer in the second half would lead to some regression, but overall, it was a significant step in the right direction.
The Dodgers’ most enormous hole in 2023 was the SS position, which was held down by Miguel Rojas, who the Dodgers reacquired to be a utility infielder.
Rojas has always showcased elite defense, highlighted by his 91st percentile in OAA and runner-up in the 2022 NL Gold Golve for SS. However, his bat was an issue for the Dodgers.
While the Dodgers and their fans should applaud Rojas for stepping in for the injured Lux, his 2022 slash line of .236/.290/.322 would not cut it.
Entering 2024, Gavin Lux has checked off all boxes to enter his name in the Dodgers SS ring and, by all accounts, will likely break camp with the starting job.
Lux, who is slotted to be the Dodger’s #9 hitter, is also something that will be beneficial to the Dodgers and Lux as it gives their lineup that much more balance.
Is Blake Treinen returning to the lockdown relief option?
The Dodgers seemingly upgraded every part of their roster this offseason, but the bullpen. However, they expect a massive return in Blake Trienen after he missed all of 2023 rehabbing from surgery.
The Dodgers back in November decided to pick up Treinen’s club option for 1$ million.
The Dodgers, who were rumored for closers Josh Hader, Emmanuel Clase, and former Dodger Kenley Jansen, decided to stand pat—opting to take a chance on veteran arms Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen.
From 2020-2021, Treinen posted a 2.48 ERA, 107 SO, 2.95 FIP, 1.041 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, and a 3.24 SO/W in 98 IP.
A shoulder injury that would derail his 2022 season and surgery would prevent him from returning in 2023. However, like Buehler, Treinen attempted to join the Dodgers in September but was ultimately shut down after a rehab appearance.
With Evan Phillips, the Dodger’s likely go-to closer again for 2023, Treinen could be that lockdown set-up man that the Dodgers have been rumored to be looking for all offseason.
One of the biggest strengths of the Dodgers that will carry over to 2024 is their bullpen depth.
While the Dodgers bullpen in the first half of 2023 was historically bad, posting an ERA near five after the arrival of Ryan Brasier, things got better.
With Phillips as the closer, Treinen, Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol, and J.P. Feyereisen will be huge for the Dodgers in the latter half of games this year.
Will Big Maple hold things down for LA?
The Los Angeles Dodgers revamped their entire rotation entering the 2024 season, but even after the additions of Glasnow and Yamamoto, the team needed a left-handed starting pitcher.
While a Clayton Kershaw reunion was inevitable, he would be sidelined until late July as he recovered from off-season shoulder surgery.
However, the Dodgers found their lefty in James Paxton, an arm they were linked to as recently as the 2023 trade deadline.
Since the 2020 season, Paxton has only managed to stay on the mound for 117.2 innings. Most 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. Injuries got the best of him at the end of the season, as a knee injury ended his 2023 campaign.
However, before that, in his first 16 starts, he was an excellent option for the Red Sox, going 7-3 with a 3.34 ERA, 3.69 x FIP, 26.3 K%, 6.5 BB%, and 1.14 WHIP.
Similar to the rest of the Dodgers’ rotation, the biggest issue for Paxton is health, and if Paxton can stay remotely healthy and take the ball every fifth day, it will be huge for the rotation.
Whether you want to believe it or not, there will likely be an adjustment period for Yamamoto as he transitions from the NPB to the MLB.
With Tyler Glasnow pitching his career high in innings during 2023 and Bobby Miller entering year two of his career, Paxton being someone to pitch around 120 innings is a must for the Dodgers.
The exciting part of Paxton’s role will be if/when Kershaw comes back, what will the rotation look like?
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