These Dodgers free agent signings are off to rough starts in spring training

The Dodgers have received top marks for their offseason efforts from pretty much every national news outlet, and for obvious reasons. The 10 players they added or re-added were, for the most part, the cream of the crop. If the Dodgers hadn't already made it very clear that they're looking to set up a dynasty here, they did that in the offseason.

But some of those new additions haven't gotten off on a great foot in spring training so far. Cactus League games are just tune-ups for the real thing, but some Dodgers' performances have left fans cringing so far.

4 Dodgers free agent signings who are off to rough starts in spring training

Michael Conforto

Conforto's signing to a one-year, $17 million deal to take over in left field for Teoscar Hernández, who is shifting to right as Mookie Betts moves to shortstop, felt a little gratuitous. The Dodgers do have an internal outfield option who played in 116 games last season in Andy Pages, but they were either not totally sold on Pages or were greedy for a little extra thump in the lineup (probably both).

However, that thump has been almost completely absent from Conforto's spring training so far. He didn't get his first hit, a double, until his fourth game, and then he added another two games later. All told, he's started 2-for-17 with three walks and seven strikeouts, which is exactly an auspicious start.

Hyeseong Kim

Kim seemed destined for the Opening Day roster when he was signed, but his performance in spring training so far hasn't made it seem so inevitable. He was always going to have a learning curve, but the Dodgers completely overhauled his swing hoping to keep his bat-to-ball skills but find some more power. He did hit his first homer on March 1 and got another hit a couple days later, but his adjustment has been slow.

The Dodgers could start Kim in the minor leagues, which would likely move Tommy Edman to second base and put Kiké Hernández in center field with Chris Taylor and Andy Pages on the bench. There was always the vague possibility this would happen, but it doesn't make the Dodgers' decision to trade Gavin Lux look great.

Kirby Yates & Tanner Scott

Yates and Scott were the Dodgers' two high-powered additions to the bullpen this offseason, with both coming off of sub-2.00 ERA seasons with the Rangers and Marlins/Padres. The Dodgers even gave Scott the second-most lucrative contract for an active reliever after Edwin Díaz, and said in the early days of spring training that fans should expect to see Scott get most of the saves this season.

However, neither's first appearances in spring training have been particularly reassuring. Yates has only pitched 2 1/3 innings and Scott three, but Yates has given up two runs and Scott has given up three, including a homer. Again, guys are using spring training as a tune-up and poor performance isn't necessarily cause to catastrophize, but it's certainly isn't fun to watch.