The Los Angeles Dodgers could not fulfill their quest of repeating as World Series champions as they were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. The Braves went on to win the World Series, extending a Dodgers’ streak.
The club now faces an offseason of uncertainty, with several key contributors becoming free agents. Among the 11 players on open market include Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager and Kenley Jansen.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is aware that it will be difficult — and unlikely — to retain all of the club’s free agents, and lamented not being able to win another World Series with the current roster.
“A lot’s going to be happening this winter,” Roberts answered when asked if he has processed the possibility that the Dodgers core played its final game together.
“I think part of the great thing about players and service time is you get a chance to choose where you want to play and earn what you want to earn. So we have some guys that are free agents and we all know who they are. So potentially to not see those guys back, it’s sort of a changing of the guard.
“If they’re not back, whoever is not back, I’m certainly going to miss them personally and our team’s going to miss them. The six years that I’ve been here it’s been a core group of guys that potentially could be turned over this winter.
“I’m not looking forward to it. I’m not looking forward to it. They’re great players and great men and I wish we could have won another one with this group.”
While it remains to be seen how things play out in free agency, both Seager and Jansen already have expressed a desire to re-sign with the Dodgers.
Roberts hopes Dodgers initiate contract extension talks during offseason
With one season remaining on a four-year extension he signed after the 2018 season, Roberts hopes the Dodgers initiate talks for a new contract this offseason.
Since taking the helm as manager at the start of the 2016 season, Roberts has led the organization to an MLB-best 542-329 record, five NL West titles, three NL pennants and one World Series championship.
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