The Los Angeles Dodgers' depth chart lists eight starting pitchers who could compete for a spot in the rotation come 2016. Rumors have surrounded the questionable unit for most of the offseason. Five of their potential starters are left-handers, but it appears as if one - specifically Hyun-Jin Ryu or Alex Wood - could be the odd man out.
Ryu missed all of last season with a shoulder injury and Wood was acquired from the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline. Ryu has had a good career to date, but it's unknown how he'll bounce back after missing a full season due to a serious arm issue. Wood, who was largely impressive in his first 86 career games, faltered in his 12 starts with the Dodgers.
Ryu, 28, is owed over $23 million through 2018 while Wood is under club control through 2019 likely at a bargain rate depending on his arbitration years.
Since the Dodgers probably won't go with five left-handers in their rotation, who will get the boot to the bullpen or elsewhere?
"Wood is supposed to be the young, promising piece the Dodgers picked up in the three-player deal at the trading deadline last year, but he could end up anywhere by opening day - in the rotation, the bullpen or the minors," writes Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.
"Wood has options left for the next three years, so if Ryu is deemed ready by the opener, Wood could easily find himself starting for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Which can't be too thrilling for someone who's spent most of the last three years in the majors.
"The Dodgers could make him a reliever, but they already have two left-handers (J.P. Howell, Luis Avilan) in the bullpen and a third seems unlikely for a group that will be backing up four left-handed starters."
Various rumors and speculation have surrounded the Dodgers rotation, especially after Zack Greinke signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. With only Clayton Kershaw as the club's consistent and healthy option, it was unclear how Los Angeles was going to improve the unit heading into next season.
They re-signed Brett Anderson and added Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda in free agency, but there's little guarantee with each of those three. Anderson has never had back-to-back healthy seasons; Kazmir has had an up-and-down career for the most part; and there were red flags regarding Maeda's physical in terms of his elbow health.
Brandon McCarthy is recovering from Tommy John surgery (he could be back in June or July) and the club likely doesn't know what to expect out of Mike Bolsinger, who came back down to earth during the second half of 2015.
Barring injuries and/or inconsistent play, the mainstays in the rotation figure to be Kershaw (will make $34.5 million in 2016), Kazmir ($12.66 million) and Anderson ($15.8 million) while the others, all of whom are much cheaper options (with the exception of McCarthy), will compete for a spot or serve as depth options/middle relievers.
One battle could be between Ryu and Wood, as both need to establish or re-establish themselves as capable starters in the Dodgers' rotation.
Then again, the Dodgers could take a cautious approach with Ryu's shoulder even though he's expected to be ready by Opening Day. That could clear the way for Wood, who owns a 3.30 ERA in 98 career games (67 starts).
