A thorough analysis and chronicle of the Dodgers’ roster heading

The Dodgers’ season is over much earlier than expected Joe Mauer Jersey , and here is a look at the roster heading into the offseason. There are 46 players on the 40-man roster, including six on the 60-day disabled list, split into a few relevant groups.Free agents (7)Manny MachadoBrian DozierYasmani GrandalHyun-jin RyuJohn AxfordDaniel HudsonRyan MadsonThe Dodgers have a top-heavy group of free agents, though since Machado and Dozier were acquired midseason they are ineligible to receive a qualifying offer, which is set this offseason at $17.9 million for a one-year deal, per multiple reports. That’s up $500,000 over last year.A decision will have to be made whether to make a qualifying offer to Grandal, and possibly even Ryu, by the fifth day after the World Series ends. The player(s) have 10 days to accept or decline the offer, and if they sign elsewhere could net the Dodgers draft pick compensation.Options (2)Clayton Kershaw has two more seasons remaining on his contract, paying him $32 million in 2019 and $33 million in 2020. He can opt out of his deal and into free agency within three days after the World Series. Should Kershaw opt out, expect him to get a qualifying offer.“I haven’t made the decision yet,” Kershaw said Sunday night. “We have three days to talk, between us and the Dodgers, see what happens, and we’ll go from there.”David Freese has a $6 million club option for 2019, with a buyout of $500,000 if it is not exercised.Under contract (5)PlayerService Time2018 salary2019 salarySigned throughPlayerService Time2018 salary2019 salarySigned through*Jansen can opt out of his contract after 2019.The five under contract on the 40-man roster total $78.5 million for 2019 Glen Perkins Jersey , $74.625 million toward the competitive balance tax threshold which increases to $206 million next year.Chase Utley is technically still also under contract for 2019 but in July announced his retirement effective at the end of the season.Yaisel Sierra is still under contract through 2021, but remains off the 40-man roster, with his salary not counting toward the competitive balance tax.Arbitration eligible (13)PlayerService Time2018 salary2019 estimate*PlayerService Time2018 salary2019 estimate*2019 estimates from MLB Trade RumorsYasiel Puig’s contract is up but he still has a year before free agency, making this his first offseason eligible for salary arbitration. If somehow the Dodgers retain all 13 of these players and they earn the projected salaries above, the arbitration gang would total $45.7 million in 2019.The remainder of the roster is comprised of players with under three years of service time.Team control (18)PlayerService TimeOptions remaining (used)2018 salaryPlayerService TimeOptions remaining (used)2018 salaryThe minimum service time needed for Super Two status — defined as the top 22% in service time among players with at least two years but not quite three years — is reportedly at two years, 134 days per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. Austin Barnes fell just 10 days shy of qualifying.Scott Alexander was optioned to the minors in 2018 but only for a total of 11 days, short of the requisite 20 days to count as using an option year. Ditto for Julio Urias, who was optioned for a total of 17 days.The 2019 major league minimum salary is $555,000.Important offseason datesThe day after the World Series ends: Free agency begins at 6 a.m. PT todayFive days after the World Series ends (Nov. 2): Free agents can sign with new teams beginning at 2 p.m. PT; also the deadline for teams to submit qualifying offers15 days after the World Series (Nov. 12): Deadline for free agents to accept or reject qualifying offers is 2 p.m. PTNovember 20, 2018: Deadline to set rosters in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft. Keibert Ruiz will be added to the 40-man roster, and other Dodgers minor leaguers who theoretically could join him this offseason include Yadier Alvarez, Edwin Rios, Matt Beaty, Connor Joe, Josh Sborz, Joe Broussard, Jake Peter and Drew Jackson.December 9-13, 2018: Winter Meetings http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , in Las Vegas (Rule 5 Draft is Thursday, Dec. 13)January 11, 2019: Deadline for players and teams to exchange numbers for salary arbitration.February 1-20, 2019: Arbitration hearings (scheduled as needed) The bullpen was a mess last year, do you feel better about this group?"To use a football metaphor, this year’s Royals bullpen is the backup quarterback of the club. It looks good, promising even on some level, because we’ve yet to see everything it has to offer. Or, we don’t have enough data to make an informed judgment about its effectiveness. It looks fine on paper, but a recipe for haggis would look better than the 2018 Royals bullpen. Last year’s Royals bullpen was dreadful. That’s being kind. Royals relievers punched out 7.3 batters-per-nine innings last summer, worst among all Major League bullpens. They posted a 4.2 walks-per-nine innings, the sixth-worst rate in baseball. Their collective ERA was 5.04 and their ERA- was 116. None of these numbers are good. None of these numbers inspire confidence. An overhaul was absolutely in order. Thus, the lone holdover from last year’s Opening Day bullpen at this point appears to be Tim Hill. (Brad Keller, of course, is the Opening Day starter.)Of course it’s not a complete overhaul. Last year’s second half closer, Wily Peralta, returns and appears primed to at least share ninth inning duties. Kevin McCarthy, who pitched the second-most innings of any Royals reliever last year Paul Molitor Jersey , is also likely back. Last year’s innings leader out of the bullpen, Brian Flynn, is still around but he last pitched on March 1, was shelled in two spring outings and is out of options. He’s a lock to open the year on the injured list. One of the themes of camp has been the openness of Ned Yost to not having set roles for his bullpen. The sixth inning belongs to who? Forget about it. Mix and match is the way to go, baby. It’s a new dawn. Color me skeptical this freewheeling style of bullpenning lasts long. Meanwhile, the Royals will set their 25 man roster for the opener on Wednesday. As of right now, there are still several candidates for what figures to be eight spots in the Royals bullpen. They are listed here in descending order of my own personal interest. Kyle ZimmerHe exists! And he’s been really, really strong this spring. The dude touched 97 mph in his final exhibition outing. He gave up a single run in over 12 innings of work in the Cactus League. This Driveline stuff vibes legit. He has the stuff. Does he finally have the health? At this point, who would be surprised if he was the closer by May?Jake DiekmanLeft-handed? Check. Hard thrower? Check. Smells like an eighth inning guy to me.Brad BoxbergerHe gets the whiffs (11.7 K/9 for his career), but issues plenty of free passes (a lifetime 4.6 BB/9). Boxberger has lost a tick off his fastball and averaged just under 92 mph on his heater last year. He still manages to miss bats around a league average rate. He’s not truly closer material, but on a rebuilding team, give him a few ninth inning opportunities and spin him into a prospect at the trade deadline.Wily PeraltaThe Closer In Residence has a tenuous hold on the job. His 9.2 SO/9 from last year is good, not great, for a ninth inning guy. The real concern would be his 6 BB/9. That’s鈥?quite awful, no matter what inning eventually belongs to him. He fought the control in the Cactus League with five free passes in just under nine innings.Tim HillThe LOOGY may be dying, but don’t tell Hill that. The lone leftover from last year’s Opening Day bullpen returns and, if used to his strengths, can be a weapon. Last year Tony Oliva Jersey , he limited lefties to .230/.288/.284. Right-handed batters added nearly 200 points to their OPS. If used properly, he qualifies as a legit relief weapon. Kevin McCarthyIf you need a double play, McCarthy is your guy. Nothing flashy. Just solid. That works.Michael YnoaHe’s faced soft spring training competition, with a 6.9 OppQual per Baseball-Reference, but he’s dominated. That’s something, particularly for a reliever who didn’t register a pitch in organized ball last year. The one time former top prospect from the Dominican could yet still have something in the tank. Could be worth it to find out.Ian KennedyMaybe the stuff plays up in relief. Maybe he can stay healthy coming out of the bullpen. The temptation will be to hang a Wade Davis comp on Kennedy. Don’t. Just don’t.Chris EllisWhen camp opened, the smart money was on fellow Rule 5 selection Sam McWilliams sticking with the club, while Ellis was probably the one who would be returned to his former team. Six weeks later, McWilliams is back in Tampa and Ellis is still around. Scott BarlowServiceable, but he’s always faced an uphill climb on the bullpen depth chart. I believe he’s still technically in camp. Although we never really hear about him, so who actually knows. We will see him at some point in Kansas City.Brian FlynnAs mentioned, he’s headed for the Injured List. He’s out of options, so the Royals will manage his return carefully.There aren’t a lot of power arms in the inventory and this lot comes with plenty of question marks. The upside exists for a solid, if unspectacular, back end. The downside is definitely in play, but we all know how bullpens are fungible creatures in their own right. At least on the surface this year’s version should be an improvement over last year. Every little bit helps.