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But they weren't satisfied -- or done. Last week Los Angeles
strengthened the back end of its bullpen by acquiring Craig
Kimbrel from the Chicago White Sox. The team with one of
baseball's best lineups and strongest starting rotations became
even better.
The Dodgers will show off their talented roster when they open
the season Friday at National League West rival Colorado on
Friday afternoon.
Los Angeles had to part with outfielder A.J. Pollock to get
Kimbrel, but after Kenley Jansen left via free agency for
Atlanta the L.A. closer role was unsettled.
Kimbrel fixes that problem.
"As much as the players, clubhouse, manager, staff, the front
office loves A.J., we felt like it was a way to balance up the
roster, add to our pitching depth," general manager Brandon
Gomes said. "We thought it was the right thing for the team in
totality.
"It was an opportunity for us to strengthen our pitching and
take from an area that we felt had a little bit more depth."
The Dodgers won 106 games last year but finished a game behind
San Francisco, but then beat the Giants in the NL Divisional
round to reach the NLCS. A surprising loss to the Braves, who
then won the World Series, led to changes in the roster.
Adding Freeman strengthened the infield and gives Los Angeles
four former MVPs -- along with Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger and
Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw has a franchise-record nine Opening Day starts in his
career but manager Dave Roberts will give Walker Buehler the
ball for Friday. Buehler is 6-2 with 4.20 ERA in 19 games (15
starts) in his lifetime against the Rockies.
Colorado is predicted to finish near the bottom of the division
despite making the surprising free agent signing of Kris Bryant.
The 2016 National League MVP and World Series champion joined
the Rockies on a seven-year, $182-million deal and will play
mostly outfield.
Bryant's bat will replace two-time All-Star Trevor Story, who
signed with Boston after six years of manning shortstop for the
Rockies. Colorado pivoted to veteran Jose Iglesias, who won't
match Story's power numbers but has a good glove.
The Rockies also locked up infielder Ryan McMahon with a
six-year extension worth $70 million and traded Raimel Tapia to
Toronto for outfielder Randal Grichuk. They are hoping the new
additions will help strengthen a lineup that includes Brendan
Rodgers, C.J. Cron, Charlie Blackmon and Elias Diaz.
If Colorado's starting rotation excels, the team will have a
chance. Hometown favorite Kyle Freeland will make his second
Opening Day start, a slight surprise with German Marquez
considered the staff ace. Freeland is still in search of his
2018 form when he finished 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA and was fourth
in the NL Cy Young voting.
In the last three years Freeland is 12-22, but manager Bud Black
said the lefty has looked good in spring training.
"The (Opening Day) experience is there," Black said. "His work
here in the spring has shown that his arm is ready for the
season, which is a tribute to his conditioning during the
lockout."
Freeland is 3-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 16 career starts against Los
Angeles.
The perennial issue for the Rockies is the bullpen. They signed
Alex Colome hoping he can lock down the closer role but the rest
of the relief corps has been inconsistent the past couple of
years.
--Field Level Media
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