The Los Angeles Dodgers enter a critical offseason with multiple key needs on their roster after getting eliminated in the playoffs by a National League West rival for a second consecutive year.
With the offseason fully underway, the Dodgers currently have a 40-man roster consisting of 35 players and an additional 16 free agents, including Clayton Kershaw, J.D. Martinez, Jason Heyward and Joe Kelly.
Despite their roster being almost full, the Dodgers need to be aggressive making moves, both to add talent to their organization and clear spots off their 40-man to allow their needs to be filled. They have a few players who could be designated for assignment to make room, and they’ll also likely need to trade some prospects, such as Michael Busch, Miguel Vargas and Jorbit Vivas.
The 2023 general managers meetings began on Tuesday in Scottsdale, Arizona, and run for three days. It’s a time when many GMs and executives begin to put the frameworks for potential deals together and start talking with free agents to build their respective 2024 rosters.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes are sure to be busy, both in Arizona, and when the Winter Meetings are held in Nashville at the beginning of December.
Dodgers 2024 offseason wishlist
Shohei Ohtani
The Dodgers are reportedly the frontrunners to sign Shohei Ohtani, and the two-way star should be their top target, even if he doesn’t fill their biggest need.
Ohtani presents the opportunity to add a generational talent to the roster, provide an upgrade to their lineup and eventually the pitching staff when his elbow recovers from a second Tommy John surgery.
In 135 games this year, he tallied 44 home runs, 95 RBI and 78 extra base hits, and led the Majors in slugging (.654), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.066) and bWAR (10.0). On the mound, Ohtani finished 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings. His 31.5% strikeout rate ranked second in the American League.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any team to add arguably the most talented athlete in history, so the Dodgers need to take full advantage of that.
Starting rotation
Starting pitching is undoubtedly the biggest need on the Dodgers roster, both in terms of top-of-the-rotation talent and depth. Currently, they only have Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot, Emmet Sheenan, Gavin Stone and Ryan Yarbrough under team control.
Kershaw is once again a free agent and could retire, return to the Dodgers or sign with the Rangers, but he will still not even be an option until later in the 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The Dodgers are likely going to add a starter via trade, with Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes already on their radar, and they will almost certainly add one or two in free agency as well.
Yoshinubo Yamamoto is the top free agent starter, and he should be the Dodgers’ 1B target, with Ohtani as 1A. Yamamoto would provide the team with an ace in their rotation for the next six or so years. Other top free agents also include Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, Eduardo Rodríguez and Jordan Montgomery.
Some midtier and fliers include Tyler Mahle, Lucas Giolito, Luis Severino, Michael Lorenzen, James Paxton, Seth Lugo, Jack Flaherty and Michael Wacha.
Expect the Dodgers to add at least one upper-echelon starter along with some mid-tier and flier starters this offseason.
Outfielders
The Dodgers have James Outman and Mookie Betts under contract as their starting outfielders, creating a need for one more. However, Betts is also going to see time in the infield, which opens another spot for an outfielder.
Chris Taylor could figure into that mix, but the team has been hesitant to give him a full-time role there. Jason Heyward and the Dodgers have mutual interest in a reunion, which could provide them with a solid platoon to pair with Taylor at one of the open spots.
L.A. should still be in the market for another quality outfielder even if they decide to role with that platoon, Outman and Betts as their primary group because it would allow them to have more versatility and improved depth.
Designated hitter/infielder
Ideally, the Dodgers will have Ohtani as their designated hitter for the next decade, but if they miss out on him, Max Muncy would be a prime fallback option. That would create the need for an additional infielder and one who can start at third base.
They could also leave Muncy at third base and reunite with Martinez, but they could benefit from upgrading their defense. Matt Chapman is the best available third baseman and Justin Turner is back on the market, if the Dodgers chose to fill their need externally.
Their infield situation and DH is connected, so this will be something to keep an eye on.
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