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

Shelby Miller

Might the Dodgers be throwing $1.5 million in the trash with yet another failed reliever signing? We can't take much more of these!

When Miller was signed this offseason, many fans scratched their heads in response to the Dodgers giving him an MLB deal. Did Miller's seven innings with the Giants (6.43 ERA, 0.40 FIP, 1.29 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in 7 innings) really keep him out of the minor-league contract range?

So far this spring, the right-hander has allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a hit batter across 2.2 innings (three games). Opponents are hitting .563 off of him in that small sample size. It's been a swift fall from grace for the former 2015 All-Star, who's lost his way ever since the Braves traded him to the Diamondbacks in the blockbuster Dansby Swanson deal.

The Dodgers usually are magicians with unknown relievers, especially ones that possess a fastball-slider combo, but they might be more inclined to bring familiar face Jake Reed along, who's been performing exceptionally well. Additionally, with Gonsolin possibly beginning the season on the IL, the Dodgers might need to replace Pepiot (who might get moved to the rotation) with Michael Grove to address the swingman role out of the gate. That would affect the number of available spots.

But we've seen the Dodgers be stubborn on this front ... so don't be shocked if Miller is getting tattooed come April.