5 pitchers the Los Angeles Dodgers should pursue

Doug Fister

Doug Fister struggled in 2015, yes, but the 31-year-old right-hander presents just enough upside that may be too enticing for the Dodgers.

The Detroit Tigers traded Fister to the Washington Nationals during the 2013 offseason, and he responded with a career season across the board in his first season in D.C., finishing with a 16-6 record, 2.41 ERA and impressive 1.079 WHIP in 164 innings. The Nationals finished tied for the best record in baseball, but exited the postseason early thanks to the eventual champion Giants.

The strides Fister made in his first season were negated by a down 2015 – everybody besides NL MVP Bryce Harper seemed to have a down year in D.C. His ERA increased about 75% to 4.19 in just two-thirds of the total innings pitched in comparison to 2014. His already low strikeout rate (98 strikeouts in 2014) saw an alarming dip to 63 in 2015, a confusing number for somebody who finished with 137 and 158 in 2012 and 2013 respectively with the Tigers.

If any other reason, the Dodgers should look into Fister as a pure reclamation project, even if he hasn’t sunk that far low enough to be considered a true “project.” Fister’s walk rate is still impressive, he’s actually the active leader in walks per nine IP. The last team that was connected to Fister was the Philadelphia Phillies, who have a need for a buy-low candidate and veteran in their rotation:

Fister will likely be pursued by most of the big-market teams heading into 2016, and LA should be one of those teams that gives Fister an honest look.