The biggest challenge for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason is to strengthen its rotation. It is because it has suffered from line injuries in its starting lineup throughout this season. In addition, Walker Buehler and Jack Fleherty rushed to the FA market this time.스포츠토토

For now, the Dodgers re-signed two starting pitchers, right-hander Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, on the 22nd (Korea time). It was a non-tender deadline for players with holding rights on the day. May and Gonsolin each paid $2.135 million and Gonsolin $5.4 million. Both players have the same salary freeze as this season.

Both are considered candidates for Tommy John Surgery (TJS), or TJS, who will complete rehabilitation after elbow surgery and join the starting rotation next year.

May was once considered a top prospect in the Dodgers Farm, but she has yet to fully develop her skills due to frequent injuries and surgeries. Born in September 1997, she has already turned 27.

He started the game against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 2, 2021, and was replaced after throwing a 94.3 mile fastball to Billy McKinney during the second inning. Manager Dave Roberts said he felt pain as if his elbow was falling off while throwing a curveball. Eleven days later, May underwent TJS.

After more than a year and two months of rehabilitation, May returned to the mound in August 2022 and started six games until the end of the season, recording an ERA of 4.50 in 30 innings, showing a possibility of a comeback. He seemed to have succeeded in making a comeback by playing five or more innings in all seven games between April and May of the following year, but was excluded from the rotation due to elbow injury again after pitching in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins on May 18. Eventually, he received his second TJS on July 19 that year in two years and two months.

After that, May aimed to return to the second half of this year after a year of rehabilitation, but he could not be seen. On July 13, ahead of his minor league rehabilitation appearance, he suffered an unexpected rupture of his esophagus. Eventually, he was diagnosed with a two-month rest after undergoing esophageal suture surgery, ending the season and promising next year.

Since his debut in 2019, May has pitched in only 46 games (34 starts) in six years in the Major League. He went 12-9 with a 3.10 ERA, 57 walks, 174 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.05 in 191 ⅓ innings. He used to be a fireballer when he was healthy, but frequent injuries hampered his growth. His fastball speed averaged 101.2 miles and 98-99 units, but last year he averaged 97.3 miles and 94 miles just before his injury.

Gonsolin has not pitched in a single game this year, but earned 5.4 million dollars with a base salary of 3.4 million dollars and an annual salary escalator of 2 million dollars secured by starting 20 games in 2023. He renewed his salary in 2025 for the same amount.

Gonsolin also underwent TJS in September 2023 and has been rehabilitating for more than a year. He played three minor league rehabilitation pitching in September and threw a simulation game in October. He is likely to join the rotation for the opening of the season next year.

Gonsolin, who was born in May 1994, pitched 130 ⅓ innings in 24 games in 2022 to mark 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA and was selected as an All-Star, but failed to continue his growth due to injury. He will be 31 years old next year.

As Shohei Ohtani has decided to resume his pitching and hitting jobs next year, the Dodgers has decided on the first to third starting pitchers along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Glasnow. However, considering that both Japanese pitchers are accustomed to the rotation after resting for more than five days and injuries and surgery experiences, they have no choice but to operate a six-man rotation for at least two months after the start of the season. Ohtani will also return after receiving his second TJS in September last year.

May and Tony Gonsolin are considered as potential candidates for rotation with the three starters. In addition, prospect Landon Ngakwa, who threw 15 games to mark the 3.65 ERA since his debut this year, also underwent TJS in May, and Emmett Siheon, who is in the midst of rehabilitation, can start operation after the middle of next season. However, the Dodgers plans to recruit an ace in the free agent or trade market.