Los Angeles Dodgers

Last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers scored 637 runs, ranking 25th out of 30 MLB teams.

For the Dodgers to live up to expectations, compete for the NL West and contend for a World Series championship this season, they have to score more runs and give their outstanding pitching staff some support. 

Just how confident are the Los Angeles Dodgers and general manager Ned Colletti in their projected lineup for 2013?

According to ESPN's Buster Olney and the Los Angeles Times' Dylan Hernandez, the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to sign left-handed free-agent pitcher J.P. Howell to a reported one-year deal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made tremendous moves in the past 12 months and have changed the face of the franchise since the coming of the new Magic Johnson-led ownership.

Their new billion-dollar TV deal and matched spending habits have led many, including myself, to call them the “West Coast Yankees.” 

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 2013 Opening Day payroll that is already over $200 million, so it should come as no surprise that their roster is littered with All-Star talent. With 11 players who have previously made at least one appearance in the Midsummer Classic, the Dodgers should lead the National League in All-Stars next season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers began the offseason with one of the most baffling signings in MLB. Two months later, the transaction is still one of the most curious—and potentially terrible. 

Soon after the World Series ended, the Dodgers re-signed reliever Brandon League. That in itself wasn't an objectionable move.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have worked hard to add to their roster this offseason, and that activity continued on Tuesday.

According to Los Angeles Times reporter Dylan Hernandez, the Dodgers have acquired Skip Schumaker from the Cardinals:

The Los Angeles Dodgers introduced the newest member of the team on Tuesday afternoon.

Zack Greinke, with a freshly-signed six-year, $147 million contract in tow, was the guest of honor at Dodger Stadium. Greinke is expected to team with Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw to form a potent 1-2 punch at the top of the starting rotation.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff has fallen on tough times recently. But there are reasons to believe that a turnaround is on the horizon, in spite of all that’s occurred over the past two weeks. In that time, the Dodgers have lost two of their most important pitchers to injury, possibly for the rest of the season.