LA Sports Today

Los Angeles Sports News continuously updated

Three Players Who May Not Be Dodgers on Opening Day

by

Part of an overcrowded bullpen, Michael Grove is one of several Dodgers who could wind up in a new home to kick off 2025.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been very active this winter. On the heels of a World Series victory, they have signed Blake Snell, Hyeseong Kim, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates. With the new additions, there are bound to be subtractions. Here are three current Dodgers who could have new homes at the beginning of the 2025 season.

Three Dodgers Who Might Have New Homes in 2025

CT3

Since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the summer of 2016, Chris Taylor has been an integral part of several postseason runs as well as a fan favorite. However, in the last two years, the utility man’s production has fallen off. Taylor has struggled to hit above a .200 batting average in the last two years with a high strikeout rate. To be fair, he has struggled with several injuries lately, but his playing time has been seriously limited.

There were glimmers of improvement in the last half of 2024, where Taylor hit above a .300 average. Unfortunately,with the addition of infielder Kim, and Andy Pages presumably being the right-handed fourth outfielder off the bench, the Dodgers may trade Taylor and eat the majority of his remaining contract money. It is very likely that the 34-year-old veteran will not be wearing Dodger Blue when Opening Day arrives.

“Mariachi Joe”

Three-time World Series Champion Joe Kelly has filthy stuff when he can control it. The right-handed reliever struggled with a shoulder injury for most of 2024. The on-and-off injury kept him off the World Series roster as well. The shoulder may have been the reason why his ERA ballooned to a 4.78 clip accompanied by a high walk rate. Kelly has spent the offseason rehabbing and trying to get healthy. The right-hander says that if he can get healthy, he wants to be a Dodger. Otherwise, he will consider retirement.

With the addition of All-Star closer Kirby Yates, it seems the Dodgers are intent on adding depth to their reliever core and insulating themselves from as many injuries as possible. It will be interesting to see if a spot for Joe Kelly remains as spring draws closer.

The Forgotten Long Man

Michael Grove was called upon repeatedly to fill in and pitch necessary innings for an oft-injured starting rotation and an overworked bullpen. Ironically, he was taken off the postseason roster himself as the season reached a culmination. Shoulder inflammation was the culprit for the right-hander, who the Dodgers relied on for long relief. Grove had an ERA north of five and had a propensity to give up the home run. Grove still has minor league options next year, it is possible he will shuttle back and forth while Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol get healthy, but it might serve Grove well if he got an opportunity elsewhere.

All moves are theoretically possible but nothing is written in stone…yet. However, two things are clear. The Dodgers want as much major league depth as possible, and they are serious about contending for championships now and for the foreseeable future. The rest will be determined on the field.

 

Photo Credit: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The post Three Players Who May Not Be Dodgers on Opening Day appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.