The Dodgers' Pitching Conundrum: A Deep Rotation, but at What Cost?
The famous quote, 'You can never have too much pitching,' is a mantra that resonates with baseball enthusiasts, especially those who witnessed the legendary George Steinbrenner's tenure with the New York Yankees. Steinbrenner's wisdom emphasized the importance of a strong pitching staff, but also hinted at the challenges that come with it.
The 2025 season saw the Dodgers struggle with a pitching carousel, using an astonishing 17 starters throughout the regular season. This rotation was plagued by injuries, with the Injured List seemingly longer than the active roster. But here's the intriguing part: despite the setbacks, the 2026 Dodgers are poised to boast one of the deepest and most talented starting rotations in their illustrious history.
And the starting lineup is impressive. If the season started tomorrow, the first four spots would likely go to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, and Tyler Glasnow, with Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan rounding out the six-man rotation. Additionally, two highly-rated right-handed pitching prospects, River Ryan and Gavin Stone, will be ready for action after recovering from their 2025 surgeries.
The Dodgers' current 40-man roster includes other notable pitchers with Major League starting experience, such as Ben Casparius, Landon Knack, and Justin Wrobleski. Left-handed prospect Jackson Ferris and right-hander Paul Gervase could also be called upon if needed.
But here's where it gets controversial: the Dodgers might not be done yet. They could add another left-handed starter before Spring Training, and there's a possibility that they trade Glasnow to make room for free agents like Ranger Suaréz or Framber Valedez. This move could bring in a third baseman, a center fielder, or even more pitching prospects.
Other free agent starters who could be on the Dodgers' radar include NPB star Tatsuya Imai, who is a right-handed pitcher, and MLB right-handers Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, Brandon Woodruff, and Michael King. There's also the potential return of Dustin May.
So, can you ever have too much pitching? The Dodgers are about to find out. Will their deep rotation be a blessing or a curse? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's discuss the delicate balance between talent abundance and potential pitfalls.
