The Los Angeles Dodgers cruised to a franchise-best 106 wins and seventh consecutive National League West title in 2019, only to have their season end much sooner than anticipated after being upset by the eventual World Series-champion Washington Nationals in the NL Division Series.
The disappointing outcome was difficult to grasp for players and fans alike. Clayton Kershaw was particularly tough on himself, while Max Muncy admitted it would take some time for him to move past the stunning Game 5 loss.
There were still plenty of positives to take away from the Dodgers’ 2019 season, including Hyun-Jin Ryu’s dominance for most of the year and Cody Bellinger’s two-way success that culminated with being named NL MVP.
In addition to winning MVP, Bellinger earned a Gold Glove in right field, a pair of Fielding Bible Awards and a Silver Slugger to boot.
Having collected a plethora of hardware this offseason, the 24-year-old reminded his primary goal moving forward is helping the Dodgers win a World Series, via Pedro Moura of The Athletic:
“Honestly that’s No. 1 priority, and that’s not just me. That’s everyone in our whole organization,” Bellinger said. “Myself included, we’re gonna have to find a way to get through it.”
Since making his MLB debut in 2017, Bellinger has been fortunate enough to participate in three different postseasons with the Dodgers. Though they are still in search of their first championship since 1988, L.A. is set up for the long run with financial flexibility and one of the deepest farm systems in all of baseball.
The Dodgers entered the offseason with the majority of their core under contract for the foreseeable future, as only four players reached free agency at the conclusion of the World Series.
Ryu headlines the crop and is poised to receive a lucrative contract offer in the coming weeks. While he reportedly prefers to re-sign with the Dodgers, the left-hander could attract other suitors such as the L.A. Angels and Texas Rangers.
The Dodgers additionally been linked to Gerrit Cole, and on the position-player side, reportedly have shown interest in Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson as well.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously explained he plans to be aggressive this offseason without crossing a line into recklessness.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events and more!
