LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 15: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on in the second inning during a game against the Athletics at Dodger Stadium on May 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading into next season after yet another winter of star additions and now it appears they have shored up the only remaining weaknesses on their roster.
Last year, though they were favored to win the World Series, the team seemed to have a significant weakness in the bullpen. That has been addressed with the addition of star closer Edwin Diaz. And the team brought in Kyle Tucker to fortify their outfield as well.
And in their 2024 journey toward the championship, the Dodgers had some notable issues with the starting rotation, as several of their key arms struggled with injury. Now that weakness seems to be a distant memory as well.
The Dodgers anticipate going into next season with a rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki, with Justin Wrobleski, Gavin Stone and River Ryan waiting in the wings.
Los Angeles Dodgers Adjust Expectations As Blake Snell Recovers From Injury
That depth has meant that there isn’t too much concern over the fact that two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell seems unlikely to be healthy by Opening Day.
“His unavailability at the start of the season isn’t much of a concern for the Dodgers, who can easily survive a month or two without him,” the New York Post’s Dylan Hernandez wrote of Snell. “October remains the priority, and the Dodgers figure they should be able to navigate the regular season with a deep rotation anchored by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow.”
The team’s rotation is now so deep that it can also afford to move a potential starting arm into the bullpen, even as Snell takes a conservative route to his recovery.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts seemed to suggest they would be moving former standout starter Bobby Miller into the bullpen as he looks to return to his rookie form.
“There was some shoulder soreness, so he was kind of slowly ramping up, and I think it’s just more of a short burst situation and getting him to find some success again, get some hitters out,” Roberts said of Miller’s role with the team, according to Cody Snavely of Dodgers Beat. “We know he can be a starter, but I think right now it’s just getting him back on the mound, getting him competing again, and see where that goes.”
Los Angeles Dodgers Former First-Round Pick Looks To Salvage Career With New Role
After joining the Dodgers organization as a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, Miller started 22 games in his rookie campaign in 2023 and maintained a strong 3.76 ERA. But injuries seemed to derail that progress and he made just one big-league start last year, giving up seven earned runs in five innings.
Now, it seems his ability to manage his shoulder issue and return in a bullpen role could be key to salvaging what once seemed like a very promising career.
“Since winning 11 games as a rookie in 2023, Miller has regressed badly and fallen off the major-league depth chart,” Bill Plunkett wrote for The Orange County Register. “When he’s ready to take the mound this spring, it is likely to be as a reliever again, Roberts said. The chance to build on success in ‘short bursts’ as a reliever could be the first step toward salvaging the former first-round draft pick’s career.”
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