The Los Angeles Dodgers closed the book on the 2024 season by winning the World Series on Wednesday, meaning MLB free agency officially began at 6 a.m. PT Thursday morning.
For the Dodgers, that meant eight players no longer being under contract with the team.
The group consists of Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Kiké Hernández, Teoscar Hernández, Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly, Kevin Kiermaier and Blake Treinen.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers hold respective team options on Austin Barnes and Miguel Rojas for the 2025 season. Clayton Kershaw has a player option, and has already said he will return next year but isn’t sure if that will be under a new contract or by exercising his current deal.
After keeping the books clear in anticipation of the 2024 offseason, the Dodgers have a group of Tyler Glasnow, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani under contract through 2027 at the very least.
Beginning Thursday, teams have a five-day window to exclusively negotiate with their own free agents before players can have contact with all other clubs.
Dodgers free agents for 2025
Walker Buehler
Walker Buehler was headed toward top-of-the-line starting pitcher money in the form of an extension or in free agency. Unfortunately, a second Tommy John surgery in 2022 derailed a huge payday. Buehler returned to action in 2024 but it was clear he was not the same pitcher.
After battling through some more discomfort during the regular season and working to reinvent himself, Buehler flashed some promise a couple times in the postseason.
That culminated with entering in the ninth inning of Game 5 to close out the World Series.
Jack Flaherty
Jack Flaherty signed a one-contract with the Detroit Tigers after four injury-riddled and inconsistent seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles.
He blossomed while in Detroit with a 2.95 ERA at the trade deadline, which got him sent to the Dodgers for the rest of the season. Flaherty’s numbers dipped a bit upon joining L.A. and there was some inconsistency during the postseason.
Kiké Hernández
Kiké Hernández has been a solid player throughout his time with the Dodgers, but his real value comes in the playoffs, which he proved multiple times again this October. His 15 postseason home runs are 10th-most among active players.
The Dodgers could certainly use his services next season to bolster the bench.
Teoscar Hernández
The Dodgers’ signing of Teoscar Hernández was lost in the excitement of adding Ohtani and Yamamoto, but he was a vital part of their offensive attack and a much-needed counter against left-handed pitching.
In a weak free agent market and after a down year with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, Hernández signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers and did more than enough to earn himself a nice payday somewhere.
Hernández has expressed interest in re-signing with the Dodgers, but that could prove challenging if other suitors are aggressive.
Daniel Hudson
Daniel Hudson was a solid middle-inning option for the Dodgers in 2024, with a 3.00 ERA in 63 innings. There were bumps along the way, and those continued into the World Series.
But Hudson was part of a World Series team and decided to retire.
Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly’s 2024 season was plagued by injury and middling results. At 36 years old with replacement-level production the past three seasons, Kelly likely signs elsewhere.
Kevin Kiermaier
Kevin Kiermaier is expected to formally announce his retirement after 12 seasons in the Majors.
Blake Treinen
After missing the majority of the 2022 season and all of 2023 as he recovered from right shoulder surgery, Blake Treinen had one of his best showings as a professional at the ripe old age of 36. He has been a mainstay in the Dodgers bullpen since the 2020 season.
After pitching to the tune of a 1.93 in 46.2 innings, re-signing Treinen figures to be a high priority among Dodgers free agents.
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