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3 Pitchers the Dodgers Must Target After Missing Out on Gerrit Cole

By Steven Kubitza

The Dodgers missed out on offering Gerrit Cole a record deal.
The Dodgers missed out on offering Gerrit Cole a record deal. / Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers are still World Series contenders, but missed a big opportunity to put themselves over the top when they failed to sign Gerrit Cole.

Could that be a blessing in disguise? The team can now target other pitchers that won't command as much as Cole did from New York. Let's take a look at a few of these options.

3. Rick Porcello

Rick Porcello is a cheap option for the Dodgers on a short-term deal.
Rick Porcello is a cheap option for the Dodgers on a short-term deal. / Hunter Martin/Getty Images

Porcello wants a chance to prove himself and a one-year deal with the Dodgers would be the perfect start. The team can sign him and someone else without any issue. Porcello struggled a bit in Boston last season, but did win a Cy Young Award in 2016. He'd be a great addition to deepen LA's rotation.

2. Hyun-Jin Ryu

The Dodgers may need to focus on retaining Ryu in 2020.
The Dodgers may need to focus on retaining Ryu in 2020. / Will Newton/Getty Images

The Dodgers would be wise to retain Ryu. The veteran was an All-Star in 2019 and finished with a 2.32 ERA and 163 strikeouts. Ryu's market is very unclear, but it's hard to believe he's going to command a mega deal given his injury history. The left-hander may be inclined to stay in LA given it's been his only MLB home and he'd once again be in a favorable situation with Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler around him.

1. Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner would be a great fit with the Dodgers.
Madison Bumgarner would be a great fit with the Dodgers. / Jason O. Watson/Getty Images

This one could be awkward at first considering the Dodgers' rivalry with the Giants, but a cool $100 million can make this all go away. Bumgarner, who made 34 starts in 2019, registered a career-worst 3.90 ERA, which is not bad at all. LA could use another lefty that can eat innings and Bumgarner is probably the best (and most experienced in terms of postseason appearances) left on the market.