Jeff Spiegel (@JeffSpiegel):
For me, this is an easy one: Mike Bolsinger. The guy has one option year left, so the flexibility of bringing him up and sending him down as needed is a major bonus.
Oh, and the fact that he was actually really good last season — 3.62 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 8.07 strikeouts per nine innings in 21 starts. In fact, every single one of those numbers was better than Brett Anderson last season.
Bolsinger obviously isn’t a long-term solution (I don’t think), but he’s a fantastic stop-gap until Ryu, McCarthy and Anderson return, or Urias, De Leon and Jharel Cotton are ready for their shot.
The only other starter I’d consider here is Zach Lee if he had a great spring. But until he proves he’s more than a Quadruple-A player, I’m going with Bolsinger.
Matt Borelli (@MattDodgerBlue):
It sure looks like the final spot in the Dodgers rotation will be a battle between Bolsinger and Brandon Beachy, with the edge going to the former. Bolsinger was solid for the most part last season but had trouble going deep into games.
Meanwhile, Beachy has consistently battled injuries since the 2012 season. Top pitching prospects De Leon and Urias have bright futures ahead, but don’t appear to be legitimate candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation due to inexperience and the fact that it wouldn’t be logical to rush them to the Majors.
Others such as Chris Anderson and Lee aren’t viable options for similar reasons, though they have much lower ceilings. With that being said, the Dodgers could turn to the free agent and/or trade market if they choose to go in that direction.
Tim Lincecum is the most notable free agent remaining and is expected to host a showcase soon for interested teams. Los Angeles could also swing a deal for a back-of-the-rotation arm from clubs with a surplus of depth.
