The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the season with more big-name starting pitching options than anyone. Now, they’re fighting for their lives.
Since Opening Day, the Dodgers have lost four starters to the injured list, including former All-Stars Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Tony Gonsolin, and prized rookie Roki Sasaki.
They’ve had the notable additions of Shohei Ohtani (for one inning) and Emmett Sheehan this week, so the situation isn’t as dire as it might have looked a few days ago. But it feels safe to assume the Dodgers will pursue some starting pitching help.
As it happens, a former Dodger and three-time Cy Young Award winner believes the Dodgers will go after the biggest name on the market.
On a recent Bleacher Report livestream, Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez predicted that the Dodgers would trade for another ex-Cy Young winner, Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins.
“I know Sandy hasn’t pitched well in LA, but believe me, he needs some help, someone he can trust,” Martinez said. “I think Mark Prior would be someone that would really relate to Alcantara and someone that can really help him.
Not only has Alcantara been roughed up by the Dodgers this year, but his overall stats are brutal. He owns a 6.88 ERA and -1.2 bWAR through 14 starts, striking out 55 batters and walking 32 over 68 innings.
It takes pitchers different amounts of time to work their way back from Tommy John surgery, and it appeared to take Alcantara longer than most. But he’s allowed only four earned runs in 17 innings over his last three starts, so there may be light at the end of the tunnel.
Alcantara’s five-year, $56 million contract runs through 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027. The Dodgers wouldn’t have to think twice about taking on the entire contract if they wanted to pursue the righty.
