Though rumors connecting the two sides have dissipated a bit recently, the Dodgers remain in "active talks" with right-hander Bronson Arroyo, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
The Dodgers at one point were said to have Arroyo's name on a "short list" of fallback options in the event that they were unable to land Masahiro Tanaka. That proved to be the case — Tanaka signed with the Yankees — but since missing out on the Japanese ace, Los Angeles has been linked more heavily to infield depth than starting pitching options.
Certainly, some could make the case that Arroyo is a luxury for the Dodgers rather than a need. The team already boasts a rotation consisting of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-jin Ryu and Dan Haren, with Josh Beckett and Stephen Fife as candidates for the fifth slot (Chad Billingsley, too, will be an option in the summer once his rehab from Tommy John surgery is complete). Nevertheless, the Dodgers have perhaps more financial flexibility than any team in the league and could decide that Arroyo is the final necessary piece to a World Series push.
The highly durable Arroyo has rattled off at least 199 innings in each season dating back to 2005 and has thrived in the hitter-friendly confines of Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, posting a sub-4.00 ERA there in each of the past four years. A move to the more pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium could further benefit the veteran right-hander as he enters his age-37 season.
If they sign him it’s safe to say that the Dodgers will not be signing any of the potential 2015 free agent starting pitchers (Max Scherzer).
If the Dodgers sign Arroyo to a 2 yr deal, then, I agree, that would likely take the Dodgers out of any FA SPs next offseason.
Haren has an option for ’15 if he throws 180 innings or more this season. He could hit that.
If he does, then the rotation would be full for ’15, again.
We’ll have a lot of starting pitchers ready from the minor leagues by 2015. Z. Lee, & Stripling should be ready by next April, with maybe even Julio Urias ready by mid year. Its a good time to be a Dodger Fan.
“World Series or bust”. I’ll go with bust, again.
Dude you’re so funny, can’t even handle it
I like this. The more starting options you have, the more you can afford to bench Kershaw in an NLCS.
It’s hard to envy a team who hasn’t gotten past the NLCS in over 25 years.
Agreed. Did you not see what happened to our SP last year?
I imagine the Dodgers know a lot better than all of us as to the condition of Beckett and Billingsley and how much they can count on either or both of them in 2014. If they sign Arroyo I would expect it’s because they feel they need him.
I say sign him. Imagine Kershaw’s hair and Arroyo’s in one rotation?
I’d personally be in favor of just allowing Zach Lee to be the #5 guy if Beckett can’t go or is ineffective. I just don’t like the upside with Arroyo and I want to get younger, not older.
Billingsley is going to be an interesting case. My hope is that he comes back from Tommy John surgery like John Lackey did. And Chad is a few years younger.