Despite not winning a World Series since 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers have become one of the model organizations in Major League Baseball under the leadership of Guggenheim and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
The Dodgers have won the National League West a record six straight times, claiming the NL pennant in each of the last two seasons all while maintaining one of the best farm systems in baseball.
Depth has been key for the Dodgers in recent years as they have been able to withstand injuries that many other teams would not have been in position to absorb. As it currently stands, the Dodgers have a majority of their team from a season ago coming back into 2019.
Expectations are they will again reign supreme in the NL West and compete for a spot in the World Series.
Friedman currently has plenty depth and payroll flexibility to make some big moves to put the Dodgers over the top, but even if he doesn’t, he is confident the players they have right now are capable of contending, via SportsNet LA:
“We feel really good about our jumping off point right now in terms of the base of talent that we have. We feel very confident that if the season started tomorrow, we’d be in a position to contend for a championship. It’s about maintaining the strengths we have, addressing the weaknesses that we have, and making us even stronger.”
While it may not be the specific moves that some fans will want, Friedman and his staff certainly figure to make some changes to the roster this winter in effort to improve.
Friedman recently pinpointed the catcher position as their most important need right now, with Yasmani Grandal expected to leave in free agency. The Dodgers are also always looking to add pitching, and perhaps an everyday second baseman as well.
If they look to the trade market to address those needs, Friedman has an excess of outfielders and starting pitching to use in potential deals.
