A relatively quiet offseason a year ago didn’t stop the Dodgers from continuing their incredible run of regular season success. But after another disappointing playoff performance, perhaps they will be more aggressive this winter. There are many ways to do that, but the big question is whether or not they land the most unique free agent in history.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Mookie Betts, IF/OF: $295MM through 2032
- Freddie Freeman, 1B: $108MM through 2027
- Chris Taylor, 1B/OF: $30MM through 2025 (includes buyout on ’26 option)
- Miguel Rojas, IF: $6MM through 2024 (includes buyout on ’25 option)
- Tony Gonsolin, RHP: $5.4MM through 2024 (eligible for two more arbitration years after that)
- Austin Barnes, C: $3.5MM through 2024 (includes ’25 option with no buyout)
Option Decisions
- Club holds $18MM option on RHP Lance Lynn with $1MM buyout
- Club holds $14MM option on IF Max Muncy with no buyout
- Club holds $9.5MM option on RHP Joe Kelly with $1MM buyout
- Club holds $6.5MM option on RHP Daniel Hudson with no buyout
- Club holds $3MM buyout on RHP Alex Reyes with $100K buyout
- Club holds option between $1MM and $7MM on Blake Treinen, depending on health
2024 financial commitments, assuming Muncy is the only option triggered: $98.9MM
Total future commitments, assuming Muncy is the only option triggered: $461.9MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Walker Buehler (5.168): $8.03MM
- Ryan Yarbrough (5.117): $3.8MM
- Caleb Ferguson (5.093): $2.3MM
- Yency Almonte (4.143): $1.9MM
- Will Smith (4.090): $9.3MM
- Dustin May (4.059): $2.4MM
- Brusdar Graterol (3.167): $2.5MM
- Wander Suero (3.144): $900K
- Evan Phillips (3.136): $3.4MM
- Gavin Lux (3.114): $1.1MM
- J.P. Feyereisen (3.108): $1MM
- Alex Vesia (3.078): $1.2MM
- Victor González (3.058): $1MM
Non-tender candidates: Yarbrough, Almonte, Suero
Free Agents
- Clayton Kershaw, Jason Heyward, J.D. Martinez, Julio Urías, Ryan Brasier, Shelby Miller, Jake Marisnick, Amed Rosario, David Peralta, Kolten Wong, Enrique Hernández, Jimmy Nelson
The Dodgers had a fairly quiet offseason after 2022, limiting themselves to one-year free agents like Noah Syndergaard and J.D. Martinez. That led some observers to predict that they could be dethroned in the West by the Padres, who had a far louder winter, or perhaps an upstart Diamondbacks club. But the Dodgers had yet another excellent season, winning 100 games for the fourth straight full season and fifth out of the last six. They won the West division title for the 10th time out of the last 11 seasons, with their only second-place finish being the 106-win club in 2021 getting edged out by the 107-win Giants.
There’s no question they’ve been the most consistently good regular season club over the past decade-plus, but the postseason is another matter. All of those playoff berths have resulted in just one title, which was in the shortened 2020 season, and they’ve been quickly bounced out of the NLDS in each of their past two trips.
Perhaps that will lead the club to make some more noise this winter, which they have the ability to do. They’ve been one of the top spenders in the past decade but have generally avoided long-term commitments. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are the only players under contract beyond 2025 and each of those two are continuing to play at MVP-caliber levels, meaning there’s almost no dead money on the books.
In terms of 2024, Roster Resource estimates their current payroll around $126MM, which includes the MLBTR arbitration projections. A few non-tenders could drop that closer to $120MM, particularly if they let go of Yarbrough, who was cut by the Rays at this time a year ago. Their luxury tax figure would be under $140MM if they did indeed cut Yarbrough. That gives the Dodgers plenty of room to be aggressive this winter, as they have frequently run Opening Day payrolls in the $240-280MM range, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Even if they want to reset their luxury tax status after paying the tax in the past two years, they could add about $100MM before getting near this year’s $237MM base threshold.
The Dodgers are likely to be one of many teams drawing up two distinct offseason plans, one that involves signing Shohei Ohtani and one that doesn’t. The most unique player in baseball history is about to become the most unique free agent in baseball history, with many pegging the Dodgers the most likely landing spot. Ohtani has frequently mentioned a desire to win as a priority and the Dodgers would have a compelling case in that department.
Of course, Ohtani will surely want to be compensated at a fair rate as well, but there’s nothing preventing the Dodgers from doing that. As mentioned, they have plenty of spending room both for the coming year and well into the future. It has been speculated that Ohtani might lean towards a West Coast club, since that was his preference when first coming over from Japan. At that time, he was limited by the amateur bonus pool system and was only going to be able to pull in a few million bucks, meaning that such a preference wouldn’t impact his earning power. Now he will be motivated to express an interest in any club, as expanding his market will help him secure the biggest possible guarantee. But if he privately holds onto that West Coast preference, it would only help the Dodgers.
It’s possible there are other factors that could work against them, at least speculatively. Ohtani hasn’t interacted with English-language media very much during his time as an Angel, at least compared to other superstars in the game. It has been speculated that moving to a bigger market club would make it harder for him to maintain that relative spotlight reluctance. Whether that’s something that actually matters to him can’t really be known.
There’s also the question of Ohtani’s leash to continue pitching deeper into his career. There’s no precedent for anything Ohtani does and different clubs will probably have different ideas about how long they want him to continue with the full two-way workload. Now that he’s coming off a second career Tommy John surgery, or something close to it, that only raises further questions about how he will hold up into his 30s. Some clubs may want to give him free rein to start for as long as he wants, others might have ideas about when a move to the bullpen will be warranted or when it would be time to stop pitching altogether. If the pitching eventually needs to stop, some clubs may view him as a viable outfielder, a position he played in Japan. Others might prefer to just keep him as a designated hitter as he ages.
It’s can’t really be known how the Dodgers view these matters, but these are things that will likely come up in offseason discussions with Ohtani and his reps. Ohtani is hitting free agency ahead of his age-29 season, two years younger than Aaron Judge was before his free agency. Since Judge was able to secure a nine-year deal, Ohtani will very likely be able to get into the double digits. Even though he’ll be a DH only in 2024, teams will undoubtedly be enticed by his potential return to being a two-way player, as well as the international marketing opportunities he can provide. But in the short-term, the free agency of Martinez means that the Dodgers have an open DH spot they can easily slot Ohtani into.
Gauging Ohtani’s interest in being a Dodger figures to be the number one priority for the club, with everything else following from there. But there will be some formalities that have to come first, with a large number of club options on the table. Each of Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen and Alex Reyes missed all or most of 2023 due to injuries and should have their options declined. The Dodgers are generally unafraid of banking on their injured players but would likely work out new deals with any of this group they wanted to take another chance on.
The net $8.5MM decision on Joe Kelly is borderline, but the club would likely prefer to keep that powder dry for now, with the ability to circle back to Kelly or someone similar later in the winter. Max Muncy is a lock to have his option picked up, despite the low batting average and high strikeouts. He launched 36 home runs this year and walked in 14.7% of his plate appearances, leading to a wRC+ of 118 and 2.9 wins above replacement in the eyes of FanGraphs. Though he was able to nudge the option price up to $14MM by reaching plate appearance escalators, it’s still a bargain. Lance Lynn is likely to be bought out after posting a 5.73 earned run average this year.
The Dodgers will be looking to replace some thump in their lineup, whether they sign Ohtani or not, even though Betts and Freeman will each be back. Martinez and Jason Heyward each had solid bounceback years, but both are now set to return to free agency. Martinez has yet to receive a qualifying offer in his career and the Dodgers could offer him one, but there are reasons they may not do so. Martinez settled for a one-year, $10MM to join the Dodgers a year ago and this year’s qualifying offer is expected to go over $20MM. That kind of pay raise might be tempting for a 36-year-old designated hitter. But the Dodgers may not want to risk that since players who accept a qualifying offer can’t be traded until June 15. Having both Martinez and Ohtani on the same club isn’t possible with just one DH slot, so the Dodgers probably can’t take a chance by putting the offer in front of Martinez.
But Martinez will likely want to wait on Ohtani before deciding where to sign, since many clubs may have him as a backup option. That means the Dodgers may be able to circle back to him if they don’t end up landing Ohtani. Other players who may be in a similar boat include Jorge Soler, Brandon Belt or old friends Justin Turner and Joc Pederson.
Replacing Heyward may not be as necessary. Betts spent a lot of time on the infield this year with Gavin Lux suffering a season-ending knee injury in Spring Training. If Lux is healthy enough to rejoin the middle infield next year, Betts can go back to being a primary right fielder next to center fielder James Outman. Left field will still be a question mark, but the club would have some internal options there with Chris Taylor, Andy Pages and Jonny Deluca some of them. It might be possible to fit Heyward in there, but he may have cleaner paths to playing time elsewhere.
On the infield, Freeman and Muncy should have the corners largely spoken for. The middle infield is a bit less certain, with the aforementioned Lux situation the major unanswered question. The club was planning to give him a shot to be an everyday shortstop before his injury. Whether that plan is back on the table remains to be seen. If he is able to secure the shortstop job, he could push Miguel Rojas to second base or perhaps into a depth role. Or perhaps Lux sticks at the less-demanding second base spot going forward. There are also prospects looming, with Michael Busch and Jorbit Vivas some of those potentially in the mix for the keystone. Since the free agent market doesn’t have too much to offer anyway, the Dodgers might stick with internal candidates here as well, though the trade market theoretically offers players like Gleyber Torres, Jonathan India or Brendan Donovan.
The catching spot seems fine with Will Smith having another strong season in 2023. Austin Barnes wasn’t great at the plate in 2023 but is already under contract and still got good marks for his framing. Cutting him loose and signing a veteran backup wouldn’t be shocking, but it wouldn’t be an ideal use of resources when the club has bigger priorities elsewhere.
Outside of the Ohtani question, the big focus for the Dodgers this winter will be the starting pitching. This year saw the pitching injuries pile up, and Julio Urías become unavailable due to a domestic violence situation, with the diminished rotation arguably serving as the club’s unraveling. They tried to patch things together by trading for Lynn, Yarbrough and Eduardo Rodriguez, but E-Rod used his no-trade clause to stay with the Tigers while Lynn wasn’t able to salvage his rough season as hoped. The club can keep Lynn around but $17MM for the age-37 season of a pitcher who just allowed 44 homers is fairly steep.
Both Urías and Clayton Kershaw are set to become free agents, and some of the pitching injuries will carry over into next year. Dustin May will likely miss the first half after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in July. Tony Gonsolin had Tommy John later in the year and will likely miss the entire 2024 season. That leaves the club with Walker Buehler, who missed all of 2023 due to his own Tommy John, atop their depth chart. Bobby Miller likely earned a spot after posting a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts in 2023. Ryan Pepiot, Emmet Sheehan, Michael Grove and Gavin Stone could compete for jobs as well but it’s arguable that none of them did enough to be guaranteed a gig.
That could position the Dodgers to seek out as many as three starting pitchers this offseason. One of them could be Kershaw coming back, though that’s become an annual question in recent years. The two most recent offseasons have seen him deciding between returning to the Dodgers, joining his hometown Rangers or retiring. Though he eventually returned to the Dodgers in each instance, it seems there’s less confidence in that path this year. His velocity dipped as he battled shoulder issues this year and he indicated he might take a few months before making his choice about 2024.
Even if the Dodgers land Ohtani, he won’t help the rotation since he won’t be pitching in 2024. The Dodgers have the spending capacity to play at any level of free agency, but it’s possible that their level of spending in this aisle is contingent on what happens with Ohtani and Kershaw. The top of the market will feature guys like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Aaron Nola, with each of them looking at nine-figure deals. Then there’s also solid guys at a lower tier, such as Seth Lugo or old friend Kenta Maeda, as well as bounceback candidates like Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty or Frankie Montas.
The trade market is another area the club could explore, though this path is a little trickier. Brandon Woodruff is out for most or perhaps all of 2024, which might mean the Brewers take Corbin Burnes off the market. Other theoretical trade candidates may be hard to pry loose as well, with the White Sox seemingly hoping to contend and therefore likely holding Dylan Cease. Perhaps Shane Bieber can be freed from Cleveland, but his stock is down after a bit of an uninspiring year and a late-season battle with elbow inflammation. The Pirates are probably looking to hold Mitch Keller as they try to build off some encouraging performances in 2023.
The bullpen is likely less of a priority, with plenty of strong arms still under club control next year. Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Caleb Ferguson, Victor Gonzálezand Alex Vesia all had good results in one way or another and each can be retained via affordable arbitration salaries. Adding a couple of veteran free agents to the group should be on the table, but the level of aggressiveness will likely be dictated by how the other priorities are addressed.
All signs point towards a bigger offseason for the Dodgers this year, though that could take a few different shapes. Maybe they can sign Ohtani or maybe they can’t. Maybe Kershaw comes back or maybe he doesn’t. Whether those guys are involved or not, the club will need to add to the rotation and the lineup. But there may not be any club with as much spending capacity this winter, meaning there’s a good chance this offseason looks very different from the last one.
In conjunction with this post, Darragh McDonald held a Dodgers-centric chat on 10-19-23. Click here to read the transcript.
I know the Dodgers are flush with cash. And I know Chris Taylor is beloved by the organization and fans. But I’d still be willing to bet that Friedman wishes he hadn’t given that contract.
Also, I would just like to take a brief moment to say that I am not at all surprised that Jason Heyward turned back into a productive player.
There is regular season, Chris Taylor, then his playoff Chris Taylor.
You’ll have to enlighten me. Does he strike out even more in the playoffs?
Didn’t he hit like two or three home runs versus the Cardinals two years ago?
Two years ago? Probably. But that has nothing to do with this contract.
Not too mention he is one of way too few, to get a hit off of AZ. Point is, he’s clutch in the playoffs.
Braves, 2021
I’d agree but in the end their long term flexibility is still insanely good. CT3 provides a lot of value to the team and the deal just has two seasons left.
I get the flexibility but he has never really been a good hitter. Good season his contract year but rarely hits above. 250
Whaaaa? How dare you mention batting average! You are not allowed to bring that up in an article that call Max Muncy a bargain.
kd716
“rarely hits above. 250”
Batting average? Who cares?
That’s like saying Arraez had a .115 ISO last year and leaving it at that
He had a .323 wOBA last year, which was a bit better than league average
stymee
“How dare you mention batting average! ”
They didn’t “mention” batting average. They used it as if it was somehow meaningful as a metric that described Taylor’s offensive production
Batting average is about, but not quite, as useful as K% or BB%. You wouldn’t just cite one of those to talk about a hitter’s performance
Should be an interesting offseason for us Dodgers fans. I have to think that after the dud of the 2023 offseason that they go all in this year. Ohtani plus 2 of Yamamoto, Montgomery, Burnes, Nola, etc. Realistically, I’m prepared for something like Giolito, Severino, and Joc Pederson.
I’d love Pederson, there’s regular season, Pederson and postseason Pederson.
Oh you know Friedman is already rubbing his hands together, thinking of ways to fix Severino.
I do hope he gets fixed wherever he goes.
I say it only in half-jest
Ohtani + 2 of those guys lol. I don’t think even the Dodgers can ball that hard. Thats a billion dollars right there on 3 players. Cohen though.. it wouldn’t surprise me.
Dodgers only committments after 2024 are 1 year of taylor plus freddie and Mookie. A billion dollars spread out over 8-10 years isn’t even half the luxury tax threshold. they can absolutely afford 2-3 more long term contracts.
vtadave; no to Giito, Severino & Pederson.
Yes to Snell, Montgomery and/or Yamamoto or Dylan Cease.
With the pitchers they have injured it would seem very shortsighted to go for Ohtani as well as 2 of the SPs. This would be an ideal season to pull the reigns back again other than pushing for Ohtani and maybe Yamamoto. If so that would see a 100% Ohtani in 2025 as well as hopefully rest of their rotation healthy.
Just see to many holes to plug especially while some are temporary due to injury.
So to you pulling the reigns back is signing 2 of the best FAs? Lol. Ok.
Compared to some offseasons in recent years, yes that would be Dodgers showing restraint. Most have speculated for some time they’d be in on Ohtani. And Yamamoto is another player it seems they’d at least make a run at.
Overall though I’d say I’d they added one or even both their eye would still for the mist be on 2025. And being in on both isn’t all that much a stretch, had they looked to resign Urias it likely would ve just been Ohtani they sought. I see Yamamoto replacing Urias in their plans now.
Let go of all those half-assed junk players. Trade/sign only premier hitters and pitchers and try to trade for diamonds in a rough type players like Justin Turner and Chris Taylor’s in the past.
I thought Pepiot pitched pretty well, in limited opportunities. He should absolutely have a leg up on cracking the rotation. The only way he doesn’t get a spot is if he’s injured or pitches really poorly in Spring Training.
Let all the free agents go.
I’d be okay keeping Heyward, one of Brasier/MIller, and Kike. Maybe Reyes depending on how his rehab is coming, as $3 million is nothing.
Have a little nothing to spare? I could really do with some nothing right now.
and who fills the 13 or so empty spots?
” Bobby Miller likely earned a spot after posting a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts in 2023.”
He earned it. Barring injury, he’s 100% on the starting rotation in 2024
Im sitting here thinking how the Dodgers had been had they decided to pay Harper and Seager. Both are tearing it apart in the playoffs
They probably don’t win the Division if they have those guys instead of Freeman & Betts. Harper & Seager were hurt for a good chunk of their season.
Neither Harper or Seager wanted to play on the west coast. I know “wah wah I am wrong”, but when you get to the level of those two you CAN have preferences…
The money will be there. PERIOD, for a certain level of athlete.
Not being a hater….just some guys are willing to take a little less to play where they want…? Still funny to think “only a few million” when most of us won’t see a yearly salary for the “difference” they declined…
The Dodgers offered Harper 4 years for $45 million per year, a total of $180 million. He wanted long term security. They didn’t offer Seager because he always got hurt when he was in LA.
Harper is a Mormon from Vegas and Seager is from North Carolina so the geography argument rings a bit hollow.
I’m not a Dodgers fan but I live in the greater LA area.
latimes.com/sports/story/2022-11-01/bryce-harper-p…
Harper’s offseason home is in Las Vegas. If he preferred a coast, seems logical it would be the west and not the east.
LA must buy out Lance Lynn. Give him his $1,000,000 and throw his HR throwin arse outta there!
Paying Lance Lynn $18 to be a #3 (Kershaw stuff aside) is the going rate…. His 44hr looks to be an outlier given his career. Add in the Dodgers injury stuff and his career consistency? And it’s a contract year for him?
Who else can you lock in to make 30 starts….?
-signed a phillies lifer…..
If he pitches like that, he won’t be allowed 30 starts.
Lynn just isn’t a #3 guy anymore. Last year was his worst year no doubt, but regression signs are already there – he had a 10% HR/fly ball rate in ’21, jumped to 14% last year, and then 19% this year. He’s trending in the wrong direction. No coincidence that it’s consistent with his velocity loss – FB average 94 in ’21, down to 93, now down to 92.6 – he’s becoming batting practice.
The Dodgers are better off throwing the ball to a guy like Sheehan, who can (at worst) do what Lynn does for a lot cheaper.
Give Lynn to the Padres. Please. Then the Dodgers can take batting practice at Petco every so often.
They should bring back Bauer.
When the team cares more about pleasing cyberbullies than about winning, that is what happens.
Did Antonia Franco renove my reply?
There will be plenty of offense out there but Friedman has to address that rotation. A reclamation project is fine as a supplement but the team needs a clear #1 starter. Yamamoto’s age will be a factor that makes him spend big. A 9 year deal for him would expire at age 34 which you never see from top free agent
I DONT care about the regular season. Harper and Seager can be hurt in Mikanos during the season as long as they show up and do what they’re doing in the playoffs.
9 year deal for a dude coming from over seas? Good thing you’re not GM. Sheesh.
5 years is more than enough and it gives him an option to enter the free agent market at 29 for another pay day.
Giving a dude 9 years outright would be ludicrous cause then you’re stuck with a 15, 20, 25 mill aav contract for 9 years if he doesn’t work out.
Friedman commented that there’s not going to be any major changes. That tells me that it’s extremely unlikely that he will sign any major free agent. Expect more of the same; 1 yr contracts of has beens, never weres, and reclamation projects (ala Sore Kindergard, and we all know how that turned out.) Friedman believes that the playoffs are a crap shoot and so why build up a playoff team. He’d rather build a team that vies for the division title and roll the dice in the playoffs. We’ve all seen how that works out. Expect more of the same. So sad. A team with so much money but won’t take the steps needed to get to the top of the mountain.
Sad, but true. Friedman admits he doesn’t know what went wrong this postseason, and he said exactly the same thing last year. It’s gotten so I totally believe him, and also that his corporate masters don’t expect him to ever actually figure it out.
I mean he said the rotation and offense were bad. Didn’t provide an underlying reason as to why the bats didn’t hit but he knows what the issues were. There is zero chance he can pass off another nothing burger offseason to the fanbase. Ownership knows this. It’s like after 2019 when they got Mookie.
29 teams failed to win the WS this year. Its a 1 in 30 chance to start the year. 1 in 12 if they make the playoffs. How much you spend can’t change those odds.
Nice arithmetic, but meaningless — and strangely wrong for this year.
No response to my actual point though, huh?
You know why the Dodgers lost?
stymee
“How much you spend can’t change those odds.”
Correct in spirit even if it’s not technically right
Spending can definitely increase your odds in the regular season
It can also increase your odds in the playoffs, just not by as much since it’s 19 games vs 162
Haven’t the dodgers gone to the play offs every year for like a decade? That’s way more impressive and fun for fans than a team who goes “all in” for two years, then is terrible for 10 years. That’s what my tigers did and they didn’t even with the word series. I’d much rather have a team that reliably goes to the play offs every year than one who goes all in and then is weighed down by bloated contracts for the next decade. Also, didn’t the dodges just win a WS like 3 years ago? Seems like they’ve been on “top of the mountain” for about 10 years now. Not sad at all, I’d be proud as hell to be a dodgers fan.
Yes, but their record in the postseason is awful. Management has figured out how to build good regular season teams, for which they deserve credit, but not how to build teams that can win playoff games. They have to own that outcome too.
I’d like to resign Brasier, Shelby Miller and Kike
If the Dodgers were a drama film they’d be The Choking Game
Can’t imagine Miller and Pepiot not getting shots at being in the rotation. We dont have a ton of options and they both were good this year. Unless they are injured/terrible in ST, no way they are in AAA.to start the year
Both of them are majors ready, but the question is whether either of them can head up a rotation. They’re going to have to spend big to fill in those top two or three, and with a complete lack of corporate urgency for changing the way the Dodgers conduct their business, I’m guessing they don’t.
Qrusher
Miller for sure.
Pepiot, I’d be surprised. We just saw blue important depth is. You’ve got to figure at least 7 starters. Pepiot will be number 6.
Pretty thorough article. Must be a Dodger fan?
Get the band back together for the rotation
Sign: Maeda, Ryu, Wood, Stripling, Greinke and Hill.
Tell Kershaw spend the offseason, April, May, June and July with his family. In August he can pitch in the minors as spring training, then in the Majors in September as a tune up and ready to go for October.
Then piggyback the other starters to create mismatches and save innings
“Rotation” looks like this
SP Miller
PB1: Ryu/Maeda
PB2: Wood/Buehler
PB3: Stripling/Pepiot
PB4: Hill/Greinke
Kershaw back in September, Stone, Grove, Sheehan, Hurt and Knack in AAA or traded.
Sign Ohtani for DH
Let’s roll
Delusional and casual fan all rolled into one. Carry 15 pitchers which 10 are starters. Ok.
HB
At least I can count
The Kershaw resting until August is the only way I’d want him back on the team. That’s actually a good take but the Dodgers need offense.
Afraid filihok is off the wagon. Stay off the drugs son.
Nf
I don’t, in any way, expect this to happen
But I do like the idea of piggyback staters.
One starter faces 18 hitters. This is usually about 4 innings – frequently more
Then a second starter faces 18 more hitters. Another 4ish innings. Often this will finish the game.
Sometimes a reliever is needed in the 5th inning to finish a partial inning if the first starter pitches a partial inning. Say, gets one out.
And sometimes you need a reliever to finish the game.
If the two staters are opposite handed, this gives an additional advantage. The opposing team will have a harder time platooning.
A piggyback starter making 30 starts will pitch around 120 innings. It’s s good way to limit innings for young pitchers, or old pitchers or pitchers who have injury concerns.
Yes, though, be careful with drugs
filihok
Lol Ur right giving batters diff looks w/new fresh Ps is harder on hitters cause they don’t repeatedly see same pitches frm same P. N as u say flipping righty n lefty Ps early can mess w/lineups. Piggybacking of bulk inn guys is in its infancy but already has shown sum promise. Not sure it’s going to replace the traditional 5man rotation except4 slot or2 on most tms. So hard 2get mlb 2try new outside the box thinking n ideas. Like there’s archaic unwritten rules that it will be done as it’s always been done just because w/o ever knowing if better more conducive way exist. Any system of Ps use that will provide more positive arm health overall 4pitching staff should be evaluated.
Yes, precation w/mind altering substances … unless u have Dr’s note
Uhhhhh. NO.
BVT values
Kershaw – $27.3
Maeda – $14
Ryu – $5
Wood – $9
Hill – $0
Greinke – $7
Ohtani – $35.8
Seems Miquel Vargas has ceased to exist, so we can forget about him, but we did get the most unique oxymoron three-bagger for Ohtani.
And where does Michael Busch fit in?
Busch at least rated a passing mention in this analysis. OTOH, Vargas (the starting 2B at the beginning of the season), was disappeared. The rest of his season after he was demoted to OKC was actually pretty good. Seems like he’d figure into the Dodgers plans for next year somehow.
Vargas, Lux and Outman will be busts. No where near Seager and Bellinger prospects
Oh, thanks for straightening us out about that!
Outman was never a top prospect. He was a AAAA college guy who has shown an ability to hit in the majors
I believe he was in the top five in the Dodgers organization for a couple of years before being promoted.
You may be right about Vargas. However I will have to disagree with you about Lux + Outman.
Lux was looking really good before he got hurt and I expect him to come back just as strong in 2024.
Outman had a really good rookie year and I think he will continue to build on it.
First, hope to see Dodgers sign Kershaw for one last one-year deal at around $20 miilion, which is a bargain. Where else can you sign for one year a pitcher who will get you 20 regular season starts with a 2.48 era and who still gets the strikeouts. Dodgers just need to pull a Billy Eppler and have Clayton rest for a couple months before the post-season and slot him in game three or four not game two.
Lux should be the everyday 2B, with Freeman and Muncy at the corners and Smith behind the plate. Bullpen is good enough. Betts in RF and Outman is a weak but acceptable CF.
Dodgers need a DH and LF but should stay cheap on those spots to go all out and get the best two starting pitchers on the board. Then they need to trade from their amazing prospect pool to get a real shortstop. Rushing or Cartaya, plus Sheehan or Frasso, should be able to get them an amazing shortstop. I think the Reds are the perfect trading partner for an exchange of high level young talent . Rojas and Rosario (FA) will not do. With Kershaw, Miller and Buehler and a # 3, # 4 and # 5, and Peiot and May waiting as depth, the Dodgers can and should spend up to $30 million per year for two elite starting pitchers. NO Ohtani, I want Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell. I could settle for Jordan Montgomery instead of Snell.
Sign Aaron Nola and Jeff Montgomery.. Find a cheaper backup catcher. Try to trade Rojas (Don’t need him.). Hope one or more of the injured SP rebound and can help in 2024.
Would rather have montgomery than snell.
Muncy is a waste of roster spot he is really bad at third base. Makes errors at the worst times. Sign chapman to play third.
RE Larry
“Muncy is a waste of roster spot”
Imagine thinking that a 3 WAR player is a waste of a roster spot
If you discount the abbreviated 60-game 2020 season, LA has gone 35 years without winning a WS. Hard to believe given all the great and HOF players they’ve had and still do have.
Something is missing. Might be time to sign a few gritty got-my-uniform-dirty guys. LA cool ain’t cutting it.
BCttBC
If you discount all the World Series they’ve ever won, they’ve never won a World Series
What a failure of an organization
Dodgers have just ONE full season World Championship since 1966.
And all New York teams combined have 0 since 2000 while the Lakers Rams and Dodgers are perennially champions.
JSS
Ok?
Again, if you discount all the World Series they’ve ever won, they’ve never won a World Series
I don’t understand the “logic” in this argument.
When the Dodgers have a great regular season and lose in the offseason, the complaint is that they can only win in the regular season and are chokers “when it counts”.
When the playoffs make up a larger percentage of all the games and the Dodgers win, the complaint is that it doesn’t count because the regular season was too short
If they win in the regular season, it’s not good enough
If they win in the playoffs, it’s not good enough
Every team played under the same rules
It makes no sense
And all New York teams combined have 0. While the Lakers, Rams and Dodgers are perennially champions since 2000
@Austin Hedges
2020 was an even harder WS to win because they let over half the league into the playoffs. Basically anybody could’ve won it. Anybody who says that 2020 was not a legit title is just fooling themselves. Any other team that could’ve, but didn’t still would love to be able to boast that they won it all in 2020.
Although to be fair it does hurt a little bit that Julio Wife Beater Urias was on the mound to close that one out…
Ouch maybe Julio want seeing eye to eye with her
Ohtani to dodgers is a lock. Why else would they let so much talent go over past couple seasons ??
I believe that mlb pushed ohtani to other LA team when he came over initially due to how stacked the dodgers where at that time. Now he’s going to make market value and dodgers have the most to spend and best location for him. It’s a lock
I too think the Dodgers will get Ohtani. It will be interesting to see if he wants a short term deal to pprove he can still pitch or take a lower AAV for a long term deal. Ohtani’s floor is having a Betts, Judge, or Harper level outfielder.
On the business side he’s worth more than the other three because of merchandising.
You are forgetting that Ohtani is not an outfielder. He is a currently injured DH who may never pitch again.
You’re forgetting Ohtani is an excellent outfielder who was a DH to rest between pitching starts. He’s still one of the best players in the league if he never pitches again. That’s not even including the fact that he’s the most marketable baseball player on the planet.
When has Ohtani ever played the outfield? He can’t even throw the ball right now.
JCL
“When has Ohtani ever played the outfield? ”
In Japan
SF would be a harder sell, but money talks.
I don’t think anyone else, aside from the Mets or Giants, can even afford Ohtani much less be destinations where he could market himself. It really is the Dodgers that get Ohtani just not sure how that’s going to play out. Short-term high AAV, or long-term lower AAV.
The sportswriters love this narrative, but it ignores the simple fact that the Dodgers very rarely make the kind of massive contract offers Ohtani will get from somebody. Could Ohtani be an exception? Maybe, but is it a lock? Definitely not.
BlueSkies
Ohtani and the Dodgers could do a high AAV on a one year deal, that way he’d go back on the market as both a hitter and a pitcher in 2025. This scenario is very plausible from the way the Dodgers operate.
Could happen, but I’d sooner expect a creative contact with a longer guarantee, performance bonuses, and multiple opt-outs.
Not sure the Dodgers want to surrender the draft capital for one year of hitter only Ohtani, with an uncertain timeline of when he will be 100 percent healthy.
I hope you are right and Ohtani sighs with the dodgers. Get 2 good pitchers we need 1 or 2 LH pitchers.
Oh, how I’ve missed this yearly tradition of speculating about whether Clayton Kershaw will retire or not! It’s like a suspenseful thriller with the same plot twists every season. Will he stay with the Dodgers, join his hometown Rangers, or simply ride off into the sunset? The anticipation is killing me!
And don’t even get me started on the “most unique free agent in history,” Shohei Ohtani. I mean, it’s not like he’s the reigning American League MVP, or anything. Of course, the Dodgers will have the edge because they’re on the West Coast, and that’s where Ohtani prefers. Who cares about making sure he’s fairly compensated, right?
Let’s not forget about Jason Heyward, who had a decent season. But who needs him when Mookie Betts can just play right field, center field, left field, shortstop, catcher, and sell hot dogs during the seventh-inning stretch?
As for replacing J.D. Martinez, why offer him a qualifying offer? I mean, why risk it when you can’t trade him until mid-June if he accepts? Clearly, the Dodgers should be in no hurry to secure a power hitter in the lineup.
The bullpen? Yeah, it’s less of a priority. Who needs a strong bullpen when you have “strong arms” with “good results” that can be kept on the cheap? Bring on the suspense, the retirement dramas, and the unique free agents. The Dodgers’ offseason should be a real nail-biter!
You will offend Harambe. He will get annoyed you mentioned Kershaw to Texas.
Hey, how can you miss something that been happening every year for the last several, and is repeating again this year? Kershaw retiring or finishing his career in Texas is another beloved sportswriter storyline. And all you need to be right about it eventually is make the same prediction every year.
Let Kershaw go just let it be. Cut or trade his buddy Barnes and upgrade there guy can’t hit squat. Third trade Muncy no need for him if we sign Ohtani hes a terrible fielder at 3rd base. Last yr they tried to upgrade CF try that again and move Outman to lf where he can platoon w Taylor. Go get Tommy edman who can play stellar defense and steal bases instead of old man Rojas. Payroll can be lowered and still sign the Japanese pitcher.
First of all, I don’t think you understand the point of a backup catcher. Barnes is not on the roster to hit.
Also, if we let kershaw go and sign the Japanese guy, that still leaves us with only two reliable starting pitchers (Miller). There is no guarantee that he is even good. Kershaw is proven to be good, not to mention face of the franchise who sells tickets. He will either retire or return. No other option.
I don’t see a need to upgrade center field. Outman had a very good rookie year and will likely only continue to get better. With Lux back, we will have no need for Tommy Edman. I could see them resigning Rojas as a backup SS and vet Leader.
Realistically I don’t think Ohtani is a great target for the Dodgers anymore. Who knows if his arm will ever be the same, and have his value is in his pitching. JD Martinez can provide almost as much value with the bat as Ohtani and will be a hell of a lot cheaper
Let’s get this straight, Brendan Donovan is not getting traded by the Cardinals unless it is for a front-line pitcher. Donovan starts the offense. with high OBP and strung out ABs. His utility ability is a must keep to allow rest for other players and to sub in for injured players.
Donovan will not be traded (until he is).
LA is such a well run team that I wouldn’t worry about what the FO has planned this off season. There line up has a few holes but where I’ll really be interested in is what they do with that staff. Kershaw has an open invitation to come back so that door is always open. But the way he looked at the end of the year he can’t go a full season. As for Lynn I can see the value of picking up that option considering what’s out there. I think they will be in on Othani but more on Yamamoto. Not sure where Othani will land Mets Dodgers or my surprise team the Mariners wouldn’t surprise me. But you gotta figure LA will be in
The article talks about Muncy being a lock to come back, and partner up with Freeman on the infield corners. But I’m not entirely sure the Dodgers want Muncy to be their Plan A at 3B. They’ve shown an appetite to upgrade when they went after Arenado at the trade deadline, and Muncy’s defensive issues at the hot corner were obvious for all to see as the season went on. His bat is still productive, but defensively he’s an awkward fit.
Muncy needs to get in contact with the GoLo and Nutri-System people..
OD
Muted
Ryan Yarbrough is a bargain at that projected salary. His hard hit ball averages career-wise are four miles below league averages. Also came into many games when starter couldn’t go long and put out the fire and took the hit for the rest of the bullpen by taking down 3 or more innings. Valuable guy to have around at low price point.
After way organization prematurely dipd outa playoffs last 2yrs after very successful reg seasons Dodgers R gonna flex there might n slam dunk winning hot stove league (4what its worth.) Goin BIG, read all about it … O h t a n i ! ! ! & Yamamoto or Snell, Time 2 go all in. Go Dodgers !
#freeBauer2024
Move OF fences back 75feet n resign Lynn.