FanPost

Grading every Dodgers player (including a few prospects)

Enough said. I'll start with the pitchers:

Clayton Kershaw: B

This was a down year by Kershaw standards. He is no longer the ace of the club, but he is still one of the best in the league. There's just a few that are better now...

Walker Buehler: A+

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE, DODGER FANS! Speaking of better than Kersh, this guy is nothing short of electric. And he's only, what, 24? This is a guy to watch.

Hyun-Jin Ryu: B+

Ryu was good, but he wasn't healthy enough to get an A. He's a free agent and likely won't be back, but he knows how to pitch and can help himself in the field or at the plate.

Alex Wood: C-

I had high expectations for him. I didn't expect a guy who struggled and was so bad at the tail end that he lost a rotation spot to a 38-year old and a guy who hasn't qualified for the league leaderboard since 2014. I expected a #2 starter, I got a league-average swingman.

Kenta Maeda: C+

He's a reliever, I tell you! But he struggled in the playoffs, even with respectable numbers. He's a good guy to have if you need a spot start to eat innings, and he can be effective out of the bullpen.

Rich Hill: B-

Oh, God, that spinner! Such a good curveball, and he's a guy that can get a team, and their fans, going. Speaking of going, he should have stayed in game 4. But the most fun memory from this year was his baserunning misadventures against the Pirates.

Ross Stripling: A-

Chicken Strip was an ace. Until he got knocked around in the all-star game. If he keeps it up for a full season, we've got a new toy.

Kenley Jansen: B

B for Jansen is A for anyone else. He had heart issues and was inconsistient, but remains the best closer in the NL.

Caleb Ferguson: A

We've found our setup man, boys. Look no further than the 22-year old rookie converted starter. If he's on the World Series roster, we'd have won game 4.

Pedro Baez: B+

First half: C. Second half: A+. Enough said.

Dylan Floro: A-

Game 4 aside, he was our best righty reliever not named Kenley.

Erik Goedell: B

I'd never heard of the dude until his Dodger debut. Now I consider him a bullpen weapon.

Josh Fields: B

Good, but on the DL too much

Yimi Garcia: C-

He missed two seasons with TJ surgery. What did you expect? A 1.25 ERA and 40 holds?

Tony Cingrani: D+

He was hurt, and wasn't effective when we had him.

Scott Alexander: D+

Speaking of ineffective, this dude was good in June and July, but sucked in every other month, even Spring Training!

JT Chargois: C+

He was effective, he really was. But I wouldn't say I'd go to him in a high-leverage spot yet.

Pat Venditte: B-/C+

I don't really know where to start. He was good. He could steal an inning. But come on, he pitched, what, 15 innings?

Ryan Madson, Brock Stewart: D

They just weren't effective.

Dennis Santana: D+

One outing, a win, but he hit better than he pitched and then hurt his shoulder and didn't throw off a mound again until August.

Julio Urías: A

Four outing in the regular season, seven in the playoffs. But boy, he was good when we put him in.

AND NOW TO POSITION PLAYERS...

Yasmani Grandal: C+

Hitting: B+. Fielding: F

Austin Barnes: C+

Hitting: D-. Fielding: A+

Max Muncy: A+

Came out of nowhere

Cody Bellinger: B-

Sophomore slump. He put up respectable numbers.

David Freese: B

Solid player, lefty masher. Nice role player to have on a young team

Logan Forsythe: F

'Nuff said.

Chase Utley, Brian Dozier: C-

Dozier was playing hurt, so I get it. Utley is a legend, and he had two DL stints himself. He was a liability on offense, but his influence in the clubhouse was something special.

Corey Seager, Manny Machado: B

I'd actually take Seags over Manny. But they were both good for us

Justin Turner: B+

If only he was healthy all year...

Chris Taylor, Kiké Hernandez: B-

The two utility men. Both were effective, both are good players.

Yasiel Puig: B

Solid, consistent, really good.

Matt Kemp, Joc Pederson: A-

Both had resurgent seasons, and I just put both in the same boat.

Alex Verdugo: B+

Man, just let the dude play!

NOW TO A FEW PROSPECTS AND THEIR STOCK

Dustin May: A

I'm excited to watch the kid in a couple years

Gavin Lux: B

He boosted his stock this year too.

Yadier Alvarez: F, FAIL, ABSOLUTELY SUCKED, WHY THE HECK IS THIS GUY EVEN A PROSPECT?

The less said, the better.

This is a fan-written post that is in no way affiliated with or related to any of the authors or editors of True Blue LA. The opinions reflected in this post do not necessarily reflect those of True Blue LA, its authors or editors.