Last month the Los Angeles Dodgers added Chase De Jong, Kyle Farmer and Jacob Rhame to their 40-man roster to prevent against potentially losing any of the three in the Rule 5 Draft that’s being held Thursday, when the Winter Meetings conclude.
More recently, Los Angeles tendered contracts to six players, but non-tendered relief pitcher Louis Coleman. That immediately made the right-hander a free agent and left the Dodgers with one open spot on their 40-man roster.
That presumably will go to Rich Hill, who is believed to have a three-year agreement in place. But beyond that, the Dodgers don’t have much room at present time to operate in free agency, which reportedly is where their focus lies.
Thus, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the club has Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy on the trading block:
Dodgers' 40-man roster at 39. They can't add Hill + anyone else until they clear spots. They are shopping Scott Kazmir, McCarthy, others.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2016
McCarthy, who signed a four-year, $48 million contract in December 2014, represents the largest contract Andrew Friedman has doled out as Dodgers president of baseball operations. Last December, Kazmir signed for three years and $48 million, though with deferred salaries, and an opt-out clause.
He declined to opt out, though reportedly is open to being traded. Kazmir went 10-6 with a 4.56 ERA, 4.48 FIP and 1.35 WHIP over 26 starts. He struggled throughout the year in the first innings of his outings, yielding a 6.92 ERA.
Kazmir was placed on the 15-day disabled list with neck inflammation in late-August. After suffering a setback while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he was diagnosed with thoracic spine inflammation on Sept. 10.
Kazmir was reinstated from the DL on Sept. 23 and started against the Colorado Rockies that night. He was removed after a scoreless first inning with right intercostal (muscles between ribs) spasms, and never pitched again in 2016.
McCarthy missed the first three months of the season while still recovering from his Tommy John surgery completed at the end of April 2015. He provided a boost for the Dodgers beleaguered rotation, going 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his first four starts prior to attempting to pitch through hip stiffness.
McCarthy walked 17 batters in 12.1 innings over his next four starts, in the process setting a career high with five walks on Aug. 2. McCarthy then matched that total in two ensuing starts. He was eventually placed on the 15-day DL with a hip injury, and later admitted to suffering from and battling through a case of the yips.
The 33-year-old returned to start the game in which the Dodgers clinched the National League West, but his final 2016 appearance was a failed test run as a reliever against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Sept. 30.
McCarthy finished the season 2-3 with a 4.95 ERA, 3.70 FIP and 1.38 WHIP in 10 appearances (nine starts).
