4 Dodgers topics to feast on over the holidays
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The excitement in Los Angeles was already palpable on the strength of the Dodgers signing Shohei Ohtani alone. But they’ve hardly stopped there, making splashes by bringing frontline starters Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto into the mix as well.
With a little less than two months to go before pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch in February, though, L.A. remains searching for ways to strengthen its roster. The expectation to win is, somehow, higher than it ever has been, and the Dodgers could add pieces to set themselves up not just for a potential championship run this year, but for several more going forward.
Here are four things to consider and watch for as the calendar flips to 2024:
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1. Biggest question to answer before Spring Training
Are the Dodgers done adding to the rotation?
Yamamoto and Glasnow join Bobby Miller to form a strong 1-3, but with Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May all recovering from surgery, the Dodgers have a need to establish some depth -- especially given the mixed results from the prospects who debuted last season.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they need another ace-type pitcher, and there are plenty of solid options remaining on the free-agent market. But could the discussions they’ve had regarding trade candidates Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease also prove fruitful?
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2. One player poised to have a breakout season
Miller was pressed into big league service sooner than expected last season due to a rash of injuries in the Dodgers’ starting rotation, and he responded with a historically good start to a career. His overall numbers ended up being pretty solid, too, as he recorded a 3.76 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 22 starts. With a bit of MLB experience under his belt, the former Top 100 prospect with a 100 mph fastball could be in for a big 2024.
3. Prospect to watch in 2024
With MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 farm system and five players in the Top 100, you can’t really go wrong following any top Dodgers prospects. Let’s go with Nick Frasso (Dodgers’ No. 4, No. 65 overall), projected to make his MLB debut next season after reaching Triple-A in 2023. Armed with a four-seamer that touches 100 mph, Frasso has worked exclusively as a starter professionally. However, he has gone six full innings just once in his three Minor League seasons. While the rotation could still be in his future, it’s easy to picture him cracking L.A.’s roster at some point as a high-octane relief option.
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4. One prediction for the new year
Dodger Stadium will be more electric than ever before.
Look, the Dodgers have had some big seasons over the past decade-plus. They draw sellout crowds year in and year out, with postseason appearances being a regular feature. They’re no strangers to star power. But they’ve never had the $700 million man on their roster. Ohtani draws a crowd everywhere he goes -- just imagine the energy when he steps to the plate for the first time in a Dodgers home uniform. (And, for that matter, when he first takes the mound after his recovery from elbow surgery is complete.)