“It’s gonna be interesting. They are fighting (for a spot),” Roberts said.

Gonsolin or May could start the season on the injured list to complete their rehabs. But Roberts said they would also be options for a bullpen role if not in the rotation.

“Absolutely,” Roberts said. “But I do think that right now, at this point, they’re both building up. They’re both viewing themselves, we’re viewing them, as starters. We’ll see how the rest of the spring plays out, which obviously is a long ways away. That’s really not impacted until Opening Day here, in the States, so we’ve got a lot of time.”

Relievers Evan Phillips (shoulder) and Michael Kopech (forearm) are also expected to start the season on the IL, opening up two potential spots in the bullpen.

Friedman said the Dodgers are “not sure yet” when Ohtani will join the rotation, though Roberts has said “some time in May” is likely. Ohtani is expected to throw his first bullpen session of the spring soon.

“We’re going to go through his progression and be able to read and react,” Friedman said. “It’s not something that we’re going to set an arbitrary date and say, ‘Now we’ve got to fit from where we are now to that date.’

“We’re just going to let him continue his progression, watch how he’s recovering. I’m sure that it will continue to be as good as it’s been to this point and we’ll continue to move forward. But the date’s going to kind of fall out of that process as opposed to us having a target date.”

NEW ARM

Right-hander Brusdar Graterol said he feels like he has “a new arm” after surgery on his right shoulder in November. Graterol missed much of the 2024 season with recurring discomfort in his pitching shoulder. The surgery dealt with issues in his labrum and a ligament in his shoulder, he said.

“Thank God, it was not the rotator cuff,” he said.

Graterol is still a month away from starting a throwing program. But he vows to pitch before the end of this season.

“The playoffs — just like last year,” he said.

Graterol made just seven regular-season appearances for the Dodgers last year due to his shoulder ailment and a hamstring injury. But he returned in time to make three appearances in the World Series.

VETERAN RELIEVER

The Dodgers added another experienced reliever to their bullpen options by signing right-hander Luis Garcia to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp.

Garcia, 38, signed with the Angels as a free agent a year ago and was 5-1 with four saves and a 3.71 ERA for them. Traded to Boston at the deadline, however, he had an 8.22 ERA in 15 appearances for the Red Sox.

A veteran of 12 big league seasons with six teams, Garcia has a career ERA of 4.14.