Dodgers signing former division-rival pitcher seems like a lost cause

Pitching depth. Even the everyday citizen needs it. That’s how far-reaching the movement has become.

OK, fine, maybe we’re thinking 25-50 years into the future, but you get it. Every MLB team truly needs it. The Los Angeles Dodgers particularly need it especially after losing a number of key arms and overworking their two best young ones in Walker Buehler and Julio Urias.

The lockout has affected Andrew Friedman’s ability to work on that front, but Andrew Heaney and Daniel Hudson were brought in shortly before there was a ban on major league transactions, and a number of others — Sam Gaviglio, Cole Duensing, and more — were signed to minor-league contracts over the last few weeks/months.

There was more of the same of the latter on Tuesday when LA brought in former division rival Robbie Erlin … but we’re still trying to figure this one out.

The Dodgers signed former Padres pitcher Robbie Erlin.

Erlin, a former San Diego Padre for much of his MLB career, last pitched in MLB back in 2020 when he split time between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves (8.10 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in nine games) before he bolted for Japan in 2021.

Hoping for better numbers there, Erlin lowered his ERA to 3.71, but allowed 64 hits and 16 walks across 53.1 innings between two Japanese teams, which was good for a 1.50 WHIP. It would appear the concern with the amount of hits he routinely surrenders didn’t dissipate despite a downgrade in the competition.

Some fans are pointing to Erlin’s career 3.79 FIP … but just remember that one advanced metric doesn’t get you out of the woods. Not when you’re entering your age-31 season with just 339.2 MLB innings (over seven years) under your belt.

An elbow strain back in early 2016 ended up requiring Tommy John surgery, which knocked the left-hander out until 2018. From 2013-2016, he never appeared in more than 13 games. Though a career year in 2018 made it seem like Erlin was headed for a breakout, he came crashing down in 2019 when he was given full-time relief duties (5.37 ERA, 1.57 WHIP in 55.1 innings). Again, fans might point to his 3.61 FIP, but he allowed 72 hits and 15 walks in those 39 games. Far too many hits. His walk rate remains good … but he needs to miss bats, and he simply doesn’t do it.

Last he pitched in MLB he sported a fastball, curveball and changeup, completely abandoning his previously used cutter and sinker. It’s unclear what the Dodgers might be able to tap into here, but one can assume this will act as pitching depth in Triple-A for most of the year with a few trips to the big league roster to eat more innings (should things go well).

Otherwise, we can’t think of a reason how this helps the 2022 Dodgers.

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