FanGraphs says so. I mean the best #1, above average 2-5, and as they stand, I doubt their is a better 6-8 than Wood/Ryu, Bolsinger and Frias, with guys like JDL, Montas, Cotton, Lee (yea, I know) and Urias backing them up. Behind all of them is Ross Stripling.
I wonder if they'd consider packaging prospects along with Wood for Odorizzi and McGee/Boxberger. Kershaw/Kazmir/Odorizzi/Maeda/Ryu would be filthy. Another concern of mine is a rotation that despite being very good doesn't go too deep into games, especially when Ryu and McCarthy are just getting back. Another elite reliever would help that.
I wouldn't be surprised, not a fan of the idea of moving Alex Wood unless another starter is coming back given the uncertainty of early season availability and effectiveness of Ryu.
With the current construction of this roster you can probably make a case that a slightly worse pitcher who is capable of going 200 innings is more valuable than Wood at 160-170
As odd as it might sound, guys who pitch 200 innings aren't that common, only 28 did so in 2015. The only guy who did it with KC in 2015, Edinson Volquez. Cueto did too, but over half of those innings were in the NL.
I'm guessing there thinking is that they're fine with Wood and others going 150-170 innings when you have other guys hopefully ready to take over in the later half
Scouting report on Maeda. http://riveraveblues.com/2015/12/scouting-the-free-agent-market-kenta-maeda-131587/ Tried to post this with my laptop but I can't load DSP. ?
Maeda update: Rosenmidget says the deal is coming apart because of his physical and new terms the Dodgers want to add to the deal because of the results of his physical.
Can't tell what you are trying to accomplish with that post koufax. According to twitter Rosenthal is on vacation for a week so I'm assuming you are just bored.
fwiw, not really telling us anything we don't already know... Maeda’s contract complicated with bonuses by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 16 minutes ago Up to Wednesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the signing of Scott Kazmir to a three-year, $48 million contract, the club had largely been left on the outside looking in as it pertained to free-agent starting pitchers. Los Angeles was in a bidding war with the San Francisco Giants for Zack Greinke before the Arizona Diamondbacks stole the right-hander with a six-year, $206.5 million contract. Then Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto, whom the Dodgers were linked to, both signed with the Giants. Still open to adding another starting pitcher even with Kazmir in the fold, the Dodgers reportedly agreed to terms with Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda on Thursday. The Hiroshima Carp posted the 27 year old for the maximum $20 million release fee on Dec. 10. While a deal was said to be in place, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reported that’s not yet the case: Bill Shaikin ✔ @BillShaikin Source: #Dodgers deal with Kenta Maeda is close, but not finalized. 4:17 PM - 31 Dec 2015 Additionally, Maeda’s contract is expected to be for at least five years and include performance bonuses, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post: Joel Sherman ✔ @Joelsherman1 Told Maeda agreement with #Dodgers is complicated and at least 5 yrs, and loaded with performance bonuses. 3:59 PM - 31 Dec 2015 Maeda went 15-8 with a 2.09 ERA in 29 starts last season. He won the Sawamura Award, which is the Japanese equivalent to Major League Baseball’s Cy Young. In eight seasons with Hiroshima, Maeda is 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. The righty projects as a mid-rotation starter in the Majors with a strong curveball and changeup, and someone who relies on command to get hitters out. Should the contract with Maeda be made official, the Dodgers will have six starting pitchers. The surplus could make someone like Alex Wood expendable, though the depth may very well be needed. Injuries last season forced Los Angeles to use 16 different starters.