The Los Angeles Dodgers will enter this season in much better shape in the bullpen than what took place in 2025. That's going to give everyone, from Dodgers fans to manager Dave Roberts, a chance to breathe a little easier in the eighth and ninth innings.

Edwin Díaz will be the closer. There's no competition for that position at all. It's signed, sealed, and delivered.

Yet the rest of the Dodgers' bullpen might be looking at some competition among the other pitchers at this point.

Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior will be able, though, to observe who stands out among the rest of the bullpen staff during Spring Training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen of MLB.com offered some insights into how the bullpen is shaping up as Spring Training is just getting warmed up. Chen sees left-hander Tanner Scott and right-hander Blake Treinen looking to fill a setup role for the ballclub. 

The bullpen will welcome Brusdar Graterol back into the fold after he missed last season. 

"Aside from the locks -- Díaz, Scott, Treinen, Graterol and Alex Vesia -- there should be some competition in the 'pen," Chen wrote. "They already eliminated one option by designating lefty Anthony Banda for assignment and subsequently trading him to the Twins for international bonus pool money.

"There are three spots open, and while there may be some frontrunners, the situation also depends on (Blake) Snell's status because several of the bullpen depth arms are also capable of stretching out to start if needed," Chen wrote.

One thing that should be worth watching for as Dodgers fans tune into Spring Training games is who gets some work late in games. This will be a time for some Dodgers pitchers to stake their claim, if you will, to specific, definite bullpen roles.

Every pitcher needs to put their best arm forward right now. Thankfully, the 2026 MLB season doesn't start in earnest right now. That's true for all 30 MLB clubs as well.

But the Dodgers know that a strong bullpen can become an asset as the ballclub looks for a third straight World Series championship. Any championship team over the past few years ends up leaning heavily on its bullpen.

Right now, there are some strengths in place for Los Angeles. 

It'll be interesting to see who steps up the most as the bullpen picture looks a bit clearer than in 2025. Don't expect to see Roki Sasaki in the bullpen at all. He's slotted to be part of the Dodgers' starting rotation where he truly belongs.

The time has come for those Dodgers pitchers looking to produce consistently out of the bullpen to step up their game.

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