Dodgers pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report for spring training next Thursday (Feb. 12). As we count down the days until camp begins, we are going through the various position groups to give a breakdown of where the roster stands. Today, in our final installment, we look at the bullpen. Previously, the starting rotation, outfielders, infielders and catchers.
2025 RECAP
The Dodgers broke from Andrew Friedman’s history and spent heavily on relievers heading into 2025. They signed Tanner Scott for four years and $72 million, Kirby Yates for one year and $13 million and gave Blake Treinen a two-year, $22 million contract extension. All three veterans missed time due to injury and had poor seasons. When Evan Phillips was lost to Tommy John surgery and Brusdar Graterol was unable to return from shoulder surgery in 2025, Scott was left as the only alternative at closer with little reliable support beyond Alex Vesia and rookie left-hander Jack Dreyer. Scott was a failure in the role, leading the majors with 10 blown saves. Scott didn’t throw a pitch during the Dodgers’ postseason run and the Dodgers did everything they could to avoid using any of their relievers in October. Roki Sasaki was moved to the bullpen. Starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Emmet Sheehan and – most notably – Yoshinobu Yamamoto were all used in relief roles as well.
HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW
For the first time since Kenley Jansen’s departure, the Dodgers will have a dedicated closer. They signed free agent Edwin Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract. Only Jansen (476) and Aroldis Chapman (367) among active relievers have recorded more saves than the 31-year-old Diaz’s current total of 253. Scott and Treinen return but likely in lesser, setup roles than envisioned a year ago. Vesia, Dreyer and Anthony Banda return on the left side, but Phillips was allowed to become a non-tendered free agent and Yates was not re-signed. Graterol is expected to be back at full strength after his November 2024 shoulder surgery and Brock Stewart will return at some point from the shoulder surgery that ended his 2025 season early. Postseason hero Will Klein, Edgardo Henriquez and Ben Casparius give the Dodgers depth to fill out the bullpen.
THE NEXT LAYER
Thirty-five different pitchers made relief appearances for the Dodgers in 2025 – including utilitymen Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernandez. Look for a similar village approach to soaking up innings out of the bullpen in 2026. Along with players like Casparius, Klein, Henriquez, Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski, the Dodgers will likely call on Ronan Kopp, a 6-foot-7 left-hander added to the 40-man roster in November, and Paul Gervase, a 6-10 right-hander acquired last July, as well as the usual assortment of arms picked up along the way.
MOVES THEY COULD MAKE
The Dodgers’ bullpen hierarchy seems set in the wake of Diaz’s signing. But the front office has a shopaholic’s approach to waiver wire pickups and minor-league acquisitions that keeps the revolving door to the Dodgers’ bullpen spinning. That isn’t likely to change in 2026.