GLENDALE, Ariz. – David Price watched the 2020 season as a spectator and was often impressed by the talent throughout the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation. As the off-season progressed and it began to spread that his team could finally add Trevor Bauer, winner of the National League Young Cy Award, Price knew he would create a significant logjam.
He contacted Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers president of baseball operations, and sent him a message – if Bauer signs, he will take over.
“Whatever makes the 2021 Dodgers better,” Price said, “they’re all for it.”
When Price debuted at Camelback Ranch in the spring on Monday, pulling out all three Chicago White Sox fights in the fourth inning, the plan remained unclear.
With Bauer and Price, a five-time All-Star who participated in the short season of COVID-19, the Dodgers boast at least seven bona fide pitchers. At the top of the knockout order are Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Somewhere near the bottom are Julio Urias, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin – all young, all talented, all ready to join a major league rotation.
With Kershaw, Buehler, May, Urias and Gonsolin absorbing a large majority of the early 2020s, the Dodgers led the NL in the ERA as they headed for a World Series championship. The addition of Bauer and Price to the mix now provides an important layer of depth for a year, when the entire industry is worried about how to explain the leap that comes with increasing the regular season schedule from 60 to 162 games.
Dodgers could initially get creative with their initial launch, perhaps by using two starters per game as a way to limit workloads in time. But their plans remain nebulous.
For now, at least all eight beginners in the Dodgers’ depth chart – a list that includes Jimmy Nelson, who was brought in a minor league contract – will be traditionally stretched.
“They could all be a little different,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts about how he will use his starters in April, “but we all see them from the same perspective.”
Price, 35, joined the Dodgers with Mookie Betts in February 2020, but announced he would give up the season five months later, citing a desire to stay close to his family in a tumultuous time. He will earn $ 64 million over the next two years, with the Boston Red Sox paying half his salary.
Prior to his most recent outing, Price had recorded only 4 1/3 innings in an 18-month period, all in spring training.
True, he was restless in the hours leading up to his spring debut.
“I could feel it last night, I could feel it yesterday until today,” Price said. “This morning, when I woke up, I was excited, upset while I was on the field. I felt good to be back there.”
Price started his outing 2-0 behind White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, then returned to retreat to the field and began to settle down. He followed by hitting Luis Robert and ended the half by inducing a harmless pop-up to Jose Abreu, the MVP of the American League.
The radar gun on the stadium twice reached Price’s fast speed at 94 mph, the torque being faster than its 2019 average.
“We were hoping for 92,” Price said. “I saw the change at the age of 86, so I knew it couldn’t have been too bad. Ninety-four – it’s great. If I can get out there and be 91 to 93, I can be very effective. If I can get up at 94 and 95, maybe even more. It’s a good sign. “