It’s been well chronicled how overworked the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen has been going on two straight years.

Injuries, underperforming, and general inconsistency has led to a host of arms shuttled in and out of the ‘pen. The team aimed to improve the unit last month by acquiring Brock Stewart from the Minnesota Twins. Stewart made four appearances for the Dodgers before going on the IL with a shoulder inflammation issue.

Bob Nightengale has been a longtime MLB pundit dating back decades. His sources are among the best in the industry. When he drops a nugget of information, the odds are there’s some real credibility to to it.

In an article he wrote for The Minnesota Star Tribune, Nightengale broke down the Twins’ decision to systematically dismantle their roster by dealing away nearly half their team. Relievers Griffin Jax (Tampa Bay Rays) and Jhoan Duran (Philadelphia Phillies) were two players drumming up immense interest.

Both seemed like good fits for a team in need of bullpen help such as the Dodgers. However, according to Nightengale, Los Angeles didn’t appear to be all-in on either player.

“The Dodgers didn’t show much interest in Duran or Jax, and the Twins valued Outman more than the prospects who were discussed.”

It’s somewhat shocking to hear that the Dodgers didn’t seriously pursue either player. The asking price may have been high — but the Dodgers certainly boast enough talent in the farm system to get a deal done for either player.

Jax is more of a high-leverage arm used in the seventh and eighth innings of ballgames. In nine appearances with the Rays thus far, Jax has allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs in 7.1 innings pitched.

Duran was the headliner, and for good reason. The 27-year-old flamethrower averages over 100 miles per hour on his fastball. His Baseball Savant page indicates that Duran ranks above the 90th percentile in seven different categories.

Duran’s splitter-four seamer-knuckle curve is among the best in baseball without a doubt. The Dodgers lack a true closer, and he could’ve filled that role with Tanner Scott moving back to his more comfortable spot as a setup man. As it stands, the Dodgers opted not to pursue Duran — and he instead ended up with one of LA’s biggest threats in the National League.

Given the bullpen issues, this news truly is surprising. There could be a world where the front office believes that Blake Treinen’s return coupled with the possible returns of Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol will end up working out.

However, if the bullpen implodes down the stretch or perhaps in the postseason, the inabilty to land a lockdown reliever at the deadline surely will be revisited.