Now that C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have signed with the Yankees, it seems like the Dodgers are essentially right back where they started with regards to pitching. They still have three starters with various degrees of experience starting in the majors, and they have James McDonald, who was a starter in the minors and who was brought up in mid-September for a few scoreless innings of relief work (and whom I inexcusably forgot to mention in Dodgers pitching needs this offseason). But they've made some other signings that should give them more flexibility in navigating the free-agent market—namely, with Casey Blake at third base, Rafael Furcal at shortstop, and Mark Loretta available to fill in whenever the need arises, they have an entire infield. These signings likely block the Dodgers' top infield prospects (shortstop Chin-Lung Hu and shortstop/second baseman Ivan DeJesus) from their major league team for at least three years. Here's one way to solve this problem:
The San Diego Padres have Jake Peavy, and they don't really have a shortstop.
The Dodgers have shortstops and they desperately need starting pitching.
I hope I'm not the only one seeing a pattern here. Obviously it would take more than a shortstop prospect to bring Peavy to L.A., so let's look at players that the Padres have lost to free agency: Two relief pitchers, including closer Trevor Hoffman, and two starting pitchers. As I'm sure I've pointed out before, the Dodgers should keep all the pitching they have, and then add some—but of course, pitching only helps you if it's good for the situation you need. Case in point: RP Jonathan Broxton, who was the closer for the Dodgers after Takashi Saito injured his elbow this season. Broxton blew 8 of his 25 save opportunities, but he held right-handed hitters to a paltry .181 batting average, with an astonishing 12:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Lefties hit .270 against him with a 1.27:1 SO to BB ratio. He'd be a wonderful right-handed specialist for a team like the Padres that can afford to have specialized relievers.
Free-agent closers Trevor Hoffman and Brian Fuentes are still unsigned, and if the Dodgers really feel desperate, they can always try to pick up Takashi Saito again on the chance that he'll be fully recovered in time to help them tumble into the postseason. Either way, they have their Major League infield locked up for a while, but they need to make their offer quickly before the Padres sign a new shortstop.
The San Diego Padres have Jake Peavy, and they don't really have a shortstop.
The Dodgers have shortstops and they desperately need starting pitching.
I hope I'm not the only one seeing a pattern here. Obviously it would take more than a shortstop prospect to bring Peavy to L.A., so let's look at players that the Padres have lost to free agency: Two relief pitchers, including closer Trevor Hoffman, and two starting pitchers. As I'm sure I've pointed out before, the Dodgers should keep all the pitching they have, and then add some—but of course, pitching only helps you if it's good for the situation you need. Case in point: RP Jonathan Broxton, who was the closer for the Dodgers after Takashi Saito injured his elbow this season. Broxton blew 8 of his 25 save opportunities, but he held right-handed hitters to a paltry .181 batting average, with an astonishing 12:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Lefties hit .270 against him with a 1.27:1 SO to BB ratio. He'd be a wonderful right-handed specialist for a team like the Padres that can afford to have specialized relievers.
Free-agent closers Trevor Hoffman and Brian Fuentes are still unsigned, and if the Dodgers really feel desperate, they can always try to pick up Takashi Saito again on the chance that he'll be fully recovered in time to help them tumble into the postseason. Either way, they have their Major League infield locked up for a while, but they need to make their offer quickly before the Padres sign a new shortstop.
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