The Dodgers' bullpen had a rough ride last year, with Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Blake Treinen at the forefront of the struggles. Despite a hefty $40 million investment, the trio combined for just 125 innings and a 5.04 ERA.
It's a reminder of how unpredictable relief pitching can be, but the Dodgers' decision to invest heavily in Scott and Yates, despite their limited track records, raised eyebrows. Treinen's decline was particularly puzzling after strong seasons in 2021 and 2024, though injuries sidelined him for much of 2022 and all of 2023.
Coming off major shoulder surgery, Treinen's 2024 performance was promising with a 1.93 ERA over 46 2/3 innings. However, 2025 was a different story, with his ERA ballooning to 5.40 in just 26 2/3 innings.
This offseason, the Dodgers focused on quality over quantity, bringing in Edwin Díaz while letting Yates go. They’re banking on Scott and Treinen to bounce back.
Scott has impressed in spring training, delivering 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Treinen, however, has struggled with a 10.80 ERA over five innings, and his issues go beyond the numbers.
In a recent outing against the Brewers, Treinen hit a batter, surrendered a grand slam, and allowed a double and a walk before escaping the inning. Manager Dave Roberts, usually reserved in his critiques, didn't hold back.
"I don't see confidence. The execution is not there," he said.
"It's been three or four outings consistently not throwing the baseball the way we expect. There's no conviction."
Roberts dismissed any injury concerns, noting, "I just don’t see him with clarity right now. The misses that we are seeing from him are truly uncharacteristic."
Despite Treinen's struggles, the Dodgers are likely to keep him on the Opening Day roster, given the $13.5 million owed to him this year and their history of supporting veterans. However, if his performance doesn't improve, they might have to reconsider.
Beyond Díaz, the Dodgers are looking for solid seasons from Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, and Justin Wrobleski. Edgardo Henriquez could be a valuable depth piece in Triple-A if he can iron out his command issues. Meanwhile, finding major league innings for River Ryan and Gavin Stone will be key.
The Dodgers have options if Treinen continues to falter, but Roberts' candid comments suggest a challenging road ahead for the veteran reliever.