Prior to MLB team owners unanimously imposing a lockout at the beginning of December, there was a flurry of activity in free agency as several notable players signed contracts. The group included Corey Seager, Max Scherzer and Marcus Semien, among others.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of the more quiet teams in the pre-lockout frenzy, only signing Andrew Heaney and Daniel Hudson to one-year contracts while also retaining Chris Taylor on a four-year deal.
With the work stoppage still in effect, all Major League player activity continues to be frozen. When a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) comes to fruition, there is expected to be another run on free agents as teams look to build out their roster for the 2022 season.
Manager Dave Roberts relayed the Dodgers are already formulating different plans on how to proceed in free agency once business resumes, via SportsNet LA:
“It’s just kind of a Plan A, B, C and D as far as the organization and trying to figure out how we’re going to put together and structure our roster. Because I think it’s going to be quick once we get the green light to go. There’s going to be a lot of player movement, so I think we’ve got to be able to read and react. So Andrew and the baseball ops. guys are having a lot of conversations and figuring out what the world might look like in a week or four weeks.”
The Dodgers, as is, stand to be one of the most talented teams in baseball this season, but they will surely look to improve their roster when the lockout ends.
One area of focus figures to be the starting rotation after Scherzer departed for the New York Mets on a record-setting three-year contract. Clayton Kershaw also remains on the open market, and while a return to L.A. is possible, some believe he may prefer pitching for his hometown Texas Rangers.
The Dodgers must also replace Seager’s bat in the lineup, which could lead to signing Atlanta Braves free agent Freddie Freeman. The five-time All-Star, however, is expected to draw interest from a slew of teams, including the New York Yankees.
Roberts eager for MLB lockout to end
Roberts has enjoyed spending extra time with his family this winter, but noted he is ready for the lockout to end and move forward with the 2022 season.
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