Dodgers: Three Free Agent Pitchers the Dodgers Should Look At

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.