Dodgers: Three Free Agent Pitchers the Dodgers Should Look At

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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 1: Pitcher Joe Smith /

The Dodgers are heading into this year’s Winter Meetings with no glaring roster deficiencies. With Brandon Morrow being the only major loss, the Dodgers could look to bolster the bullpen and perhaps even add another starter to the mix.

Last season, the Dodgers were among Major League Baseball’s best in both starting and relief pitching. They finished first in batting average against at .228, second in team ERA with a cumulative 3.38, and also finished fifth in the MLB in strikeouts at 1,549. So, almost needless to say, the team could easily go into next season with what they have regarding pitching. But, the Dodgers also find themselves in a spot where they could make relatively inexpensive additions to make what was already a great team even better.

After closely examining the available pitchers in this year’s free agent class, three pitchers stood out. All three of them could be major league contributors as well as require inexpensive deals. So, without further ado, here are the three free agent pitchers the Dodgers should seriously take a good look at.

Addison Reed

Addison Reed is one of the most elite bullpen pitchers in this year’s free agency class. At just 28 years old, Reed has proven his worth as a late-inning pitcher, high leverage man, or even pitch in a setup role. With Brandon Morrow, a free agent, Reed could be the long-term plug to the giant hole Morrow leaves in the bullpen.

Over the past two season, Reed has shown everyone that he is capable of being a workhorse from the pen. Having appeared in 257 games over the past two seasons, Reed fits the bill for a role on the Dodgers as Dave Roberts tends to lean pretty heavily on his bullpen.

Statistically speaking, Reed is just as solid as you would think. In 2017 with both the Mets and the Red Sox, Addison Reed pitched his way to a 2.84 ERA, 1.053 WHIP, and also accumulated 19 saves. Also worth noting was his ERA+ which was an elite 154, 54 points about league average.

It will not be the first time should the Dodgers chose to pursue Addison Reed. Reed was on the Dodgers’ wish list this past trade deadline.

I would expect Addison Reed to sign for at least four or five years. Given his age and proven success, I think it could be a bidding war for the young and talented pitcher, and this could ultimately scare the Dodgers away. If they do make it happen though I think a resign of Morrow would be out of the question and Reed would ultimately take over the eighth inning duties.

Joe Smith

This is far and away my favorite potential move the Dodgers could make, and my goal is to get you just as excited as I am about it. Joe Smith is a match made in heaven for this already excellent Dodger team.

Smith has been a reliable reliever since he was called up. Over his 11 year career, Smith’s highest season ERA was 3.58 back in 2015, and that has since gotten consistently better even though he is getting older. But, since he has been on four different teams in the past two seasons, one of the best stats to look at is his ERA+.

If you combined the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Smith has an ERA+ of 129 which is pretty remarkable based on the amount of team shifting he has done. Also impressive is that over that same two-year span, Smith has surrendered just 12 home runs in 106 innings.

Those stats are not overwhelming but what excites me is the contract that he will likely require. Smith will be 34 by opening day 2018. With an ERA in the low 3’s and his age both playing a factor, Smith will not get anything worth more than $10 million, and it should not exceed two years. So, the Dodgers would essentially be paying pennies for one of the most reliable middle relief options in baseball.

Henry Owens

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This is another very intriguing possibility for the Dodgers. Owens is just 25 years old and has ranked as high as number 19 on the MLB top 100 prospect list. But, Owens was released by the Red Sox for seriously underperforming in his six professional seasons.

To spare everyone’s time just trust me when I say there is nothing promising in the statistics department on Owens so I won’t even bother sharing them. What I can tell you though is that this creates the perfect opportunity for the Dodgers.

Youth is key in this situation. Owens still has a long career ahead of him, and the Dodgers could use that to their advantage. His struggles to compete at a high level will land him a minor league deal, but that too is an ideal situation. If the Dodgers sign Owens, it would be like getting a free lottery ticket. They could win big and turn around who was once considered an elite prospect or, things could just not work out with Owens, and it would be no sweat off anyone’s back.

If I had to find a negative with Owens, it would be that I am not the only one who has had this idea. There will be other teams in on Owens, and while that may not have much bearing on the monetary amount of the contract, it will hurt the team’s chances to get him. With plenty of talented pitching already in the majors and much more on its way out of the minors, Owens would probably find himself locked out of a roster spot unless he was pitching like an ace.

Next: Winter Meetings Don't Have to be Flashy

In the end, these three pitchers are, if anything, worth a very long and hard look for the Dodgers. As people say, there is no such thing as too much pitching, and if they add any of these three, then I think the team would be helping themselves a great deal. So, look for the Dodgers to have a pretty active Winter Meetings and maybe even watch out for the three guys listed above.

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The Dodgers are heading into this year’s Winter Meetings with no glaring roster deficiencies. With Brandon Morrow being the only major loss, the Dodgers could look to bolster the bullpen and perhaps even add another starter to the mix.

Addison Reed

Joe Smith

Henry Owens

More from Dodgers Way

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