3 reasons Dodgers fans shouldn't panic about the struggling bullpen

It's been an odd season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team has been great offensively and able to match the pace of the 2022 Dodgers despite losing several key players last offseason. However, the one constant of the team — its pitching staff — has been holding them back.

The Dodgers bullpen has been incredibly problematic this season and has been one of the worst in the entire sport. With a 4.90 ERA, the Dodgers' bullpen currently has the second-highest ERA in all of baseball and the highest ERA in the National League. That's not a recipe for success.

While it's easy to get wrapped up in the awful results and panic over the summer, there are reasons to be optimistic about the long-term potential of this unit. It may look bleak now, but as long as the Dodgers can stay in the playoff picture, the bullpen may not be as big of an issue come October.

3 reasons Dodgers fans shouldn't panic over the struggling bullpen

There's a trade deadline for a reason

The Dodgers consistently have one of the best farm systems in baseball and have continually shown the willingness to trade prospects for in-season additions. This year should be no different and the main focus should be the bullpen.

Luckily for the Dodgers, impact relievers might be the easiest thing to add at the deadline. The cost of these relievers isn't as high as an impact bat and there's always a laundry list of teams willing to part ways with their good relievers for young prospects.

There are several names the Dodgers could add to the bullpen via trade that would instantly provide the shot in the arm the team needs. The organization also has the resources to be aggressive and add more than one of them.

Fans have seen the Dodgers do this before as well. The 2017 bullpen wasn't in the best shape so the front office went out and traded for Tony Watson, Tony Cingrani and Sergio Romo. With better names on the market this year, the Dodgers' pen can improve even more.

The Dodgers have an excess of pitching talent in the minor leagues to call up

The Dodgers really can undergo a complete renovation of the bullpen this season if need be. Not only can the team add multiple impact arms to the bullpen via the trade market, but the Dodgers could also call up several promising arms from the minor leagues to pitch out of the bullpen.

Los Angeles has an excess of pitching talent in the minor leagues, giving the team options with both trades and promotions. It might be frustrating to hear this right now while the big-league bullpen is struggling, but the Dodgers are rightfully playing the long game.

It might seem counterintuitive but it's not absurd for MLB teams to give their established bullpen arms a chance to get right before turning to the youth in the farm system. The worst thing a team can do is rush pitchers before they are ready, and that's what the Dodgers are avoiding. If they can just stay in the hunt and give the young arms in the system more time in the minors, they'll be better prepared when their number is called.

Plus, several of these promising pitchers are starting in the minor leagues. The Dodgers don't want to hamper their development as starters by calling them up too early to pitch out of the bullpen. It's much more beneficial to everyone involved if they continue to start in the minors before coming to the big leagues in late summer to lessen their workload and finish the season out of the bullpen.

Some exciting names to keep an eye on are Landon Knack, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan and Nick Frasso. All four guys are currently in AA with the Tulsa Drillers but could make the climb to the big leagues before the postseason starts.