Dodgers: What Jimmy Nelson means for the rest of the pitching staff

The Dodgers continued their ways of finding low-risk high reward pitchers with their addition of Jimmy Nelson.  What does it mean for the rest of the pitching staff?

Andrew Friedman is at it again.  The Dodgers’ President of Baseball Operations and acting GM signed starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson to a one year deal that comes with an option for 2021.  The money is minimal if the transaction doesn’t work out as Nelson is guaranteed just $1.25 million in 2020 with a $500K buyout for 2021.  So if the deal turns into fools gold, the Dodgers only risked $1.75 million for a potential high-reward move.

What makes Jimmy Nelson an intriguing flier for Los Angeles?  For one, Nelson is still relatively young as he will turn 31 years in June.  Jimmy was also the Brewers’ best starting pitcher before he hit injuries including his slide at first base that wiped out his entire 2018 season.  While Nelson’s 6.95 ERA in 2019 doesn’t instill any confidence, he did battle soreness and any pitcher coming off a long layoff will struggle at first.

There is a chance this turns into another injury-plagued project that doesn’t pan out but there is also a chance this low-risk move, ends up the next big move that puts the Dodger rotation or bullpen over the top.  Here is what Jimmy Nelson could mean to LA’s rotation and starting rotation in 2020.

Jimmy Nelson could be Brandon Morrow 2.0

The most likely scenario for the Dodgers is that Jimmy Nelson begins the 2020 season in the bullpen.  The spring training battle will be fierce, although Nelson has no options remaining so he is a lock for a spot on the opening day roster.  Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, Joe Kelly, Pedro Baez, and Adam Kolarek also figure to be locks for the opening day roster so that is six spots that could already be locked up for the opening day bullpen.  Ross Stripling will also be a lock for the pen if he doesn’t nail down a rotation spot.

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With the addition of the 26 man roster, the Dodgers will be able to carry a maximum of 13 pitchers so they could choose to go with an eight-man bullpen and five-man rotation.  If they do go with eight relievers, then that leaves just two spots open for Casey Sadler, Caleb Ferguson, Scott Alexander, Victor Gonzalez, and Dylan Floro among others.  Sadler is the only pitcher in the aforementioned group who is out of options so that could bump him onto the opening day roster.

As usual, the team the Dodgers start their season with is rarely the one it ends with so there should be plenty of roster changes throughout the season but to begin the season there will be a few relievers stuck in Triple-A Oklahoma City.  One other lefty in addition to Kolarek will likely make the opening day roster.  But back to the newest name on the roster which is Jimmy Nelson.

The Dodgers are hoping that Jimmy Nelson ends up their next big reclamation project which has a better chance of happening in the bullpen.  Nelson’s fastball hovered around 95 MPH in 2017 but that dipped to 93 MPH in his return last season.  With more months of recovery and spring training to aid him, it wouldn’t be surprising if Nelson gets his velocity back up to the mid to upper 90s.  This was a very smart move for the Dodgers with little risk, and if all goes well, Nelson may end up Brandon Morrow 2.0.