3 Dodgers DFA candidates who could lose 40-man roster spot before Opening Day

2. Darien Nuñez

What should Dodgers fans make of Darien Nuñez, at this point? Is he one of those volatile arms who’s on the verge of putting it all together, prepared for an incoming stretch of big-league success? Or is he eternally doomed to be sittin’ on the fence, far too good for the minors but nothing special post-promotion?

At this point, it should be noted that Nuñez is 29 years old. Any grand change that’s still coming had better be coming soon.

In 2021 at the minor-league level, Nuñez posted his usual brand of dominance, finishing a season that looked nearly identical to his sterling 2018 and 2019 campaigns. Without skipping a beat after skipping 2020, the lefty struck out 83 in 53 innings while maintaining a 2.38 ERA. It was his career high in innings, but the output still looked starkly similar to his previous efforts (2.23 ERA in both ’18 and ’19, 21 and 24 games pitched in those two years).

But Nuñez also got his first crack at big-league action in 2021, and that decidedly did not go so well.

In six games (one start as an opener), the Cuban left-hander completed 7.2 innings, but did not complete them as dialed, posting a 1.57 WHIP, 8.22 ERA, and allowing three bombs in that seriously short span of time. He also walked four.

So, is Nuñez a left-handed strikeout artist who can master the upper minors, but nothing more? Perhaps he has more potential than any other upper-level bullpen option, but this is a numbers game, and he hasn’t put up even one line of a big-league resumé.

The Dodgers would hate to lose Nuñez, but he’s likely closer to the chopping block than most, considering Bruihl, Bickford, Mitch White and Andre Jackson have all shown more MLB fortitude thus far.