The Los Angeles Dodgers represented the National League in the World Series for a second consecutive season but again fell short of their ultimate goal in ending a 30-year championship drought.
In the wake of another disappointing defeat, the Dodgers now turn their attention to what’s expected to be a significantly more active offseason when compared to last winter.
The club was inactive for the most part, prioritizing slashing payroll in order to get beneath the $197 million luxury tax threshold.
Los Angeles successfully did so and can once again flex their financial muscle in free agency, where Bryce Harper and Manny Machado headline a historic class.
Listed below is a full breakdown of where the 2018 Dodgers roster currently stands entering the early days of the offseason.
Under contract
The Dodgers have five players under contract for the 2019 season: Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, Matt Kemp, Kenta Maeda and Justin Turner. Of the group, Hill and Kemp head into the final year of their respective contracts.
Chase Utley is technically under team control as well, but he previously announced his intention to formally retire at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Cuban-signee Yaisel Sierra, who isn’t part of the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, also remains under contract through the 2021 season.
Eighteen additional players who have yet to log three years of Major League service time are still under team control as well.
That group is comprised of Scott Alexander, Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, J.T. Chargois, Kyle Farmer, Caleb Ferguson, Dylan Floro, Rocky Gale, Tim Locastro, Max Muncy, Dennis Santana, Brock Stewart, Ross Stripling, Andrew Toles, Julio Urias, Pat Venditte and Alex Verdugo.
Players with options
While Clayton Kershaw has two more years remaining on the mega extension he signed prior to the 2014 season, he can forego the $55 million still owed to him and become a free agent using his opt-out clause.
Moreover, the Dodgers hold a $6 million club option on August acquisition David Freese. While picking it up seems to be a given, they can also buy him out for $500,000.
Arbitration eligible
The Dodgers this winter have 13 players who are eligible for salary arbitration: Pedro Baez, Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields, Yimi Garcia, Erik Goeddel, Kiké Hernandez, Tom Koehler, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Zac Rosscup, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor and Alex Wood.
Among the players who will be going through the process for the first time in their career include Puig, Seager and Taylor. The Dodgers successfully avoided arbitration with each of their eligible players last offseason.
Free agents
On Monday morning, the Dodgers saw seven players reach the open market. The group is headlined by Machado and rounded out by John Axford, Brian Dozier, Yasmani Grandal, Daniel Hudson, Ryan Madson and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Ryu, who enjoyed a resurgent year in 2018, figures to be the most likely player to return of the group. Machado is slated to cash in with perhaps the most lucrative contract in MLB history.
