ORLANDO, Fla. — Because the lodge foyer on the Signia by Hilton Orlando crammed at MLB’s winter conferences on Tuesday morning, an sudden prize was falling into the Dodgers’ lap.
Edwin Díaz, the highest reliever on this yr’s free-agent market, was immediately slipping away from the incumbent New York Mets, who reportedly made the fan favourite nearer solely a three-year provide that did little to entice him to re-sign with the staff.
The Dodgers, in the meantime, have been swooping in late to grab away the hard-throwing right-hander, submitting a extra profitable three-year bid that might pay Díaz a relief-pitcher-record $23 million per season.
Identical to that, the Dodgers had gone from a superbly content material, however unremarkably quiet winter, to 1 through which they’d as soon as once more flexed their monetary muscular tissues and shocked the baseball trade.
“There were a lot of scenarios [that could have potentially played out this winter] where we didn’t necessarily end up with a top-end reliever,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated Tuesday night time, whereas declining to touch upon Díaz immediately because the transaction wasn’t finalized. “But we just kind of prepared on a bunch of different fronts. And being aggressive, if something lined up, we’ve known all along [it is something we would do].”
The Díaz signing was an affirmation of the staff’s working process on the free-agent market. They at all times at the very least goal prime expertise. They at all times at the very least keep across the proverbial blackboard, as Friedman calls it, in case a participant’s market doesn’t develop as anticipated. And now, they’re armed with the type of countless assets that may make them a risk to scoop up any rebound.
As they go away Orlando this week and embark on the remainder of this offseason, it serves as a reminder:
The Dodgers won’t have to make one other large transfer, in the identical approach they downplayed the necessity for any large acquisition coming into the winter.
However they’ll actually be able to pounce if one other alternative materializes.
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“I would say we definitely can,” Friedman hinted when requested if one other large transfer this offseason might be doable. “Whether that makes the most sense within the timing of our roster — there’s so many factors that go into it, and any decision you make has a future cost. It’s just weighing that. So, yes, we can. How likely it is, is probably another question.”
Begin with the highest general obtainable free agent, Kyle Tucker.
The Dodgers should not anticipated to entertain a long-term contract for the soon-to-be 29-year-old and four-time All-Star. If his bidding warfare, as projected, ends in affords upwards of 8-10 years and $400 million, the membership is unlikely to have interaction; given the glut of long-term contracts already on their books, and the crop of younger outfield prospects anticipated to succeed in the majors within the subsequent a number of seasons.
However what if Tucker’s market cools? What if, like Díaz, he’s left to contemplate comparatively shorter-term offers with greater annual salaries? Granted, that’s unlikely to occur, contemplating the large curiosity Tucker is reportedly attracting, together with from the Toronto Blue Jays and their immediately big-spending entrance workplace. If it does, nonetheless, the Dodgers may as soon as once more turn out to be candidates for a blockbuster, nonetheless needing to fill out their outfield as they embark on a quest for a World Collection three-peat.
The identical dynamic might be in play with different prime free brokers. The Dodgers have already proven curiosity in acquainted face Cody Bellinger, who may convey each positional versatility and a extra refined hitting method than he had throughout his first stint with the membership. Bo Bichette additionally presents the type of balanced offensive profile the Dodgers are believed to searching for, as they attempt to shore up a lineup that too typically was boom-or-bust final yr.
Like Tucker, each gamers are unlikely to suit the Dodgers’ bigger-picture plans if their free companies develop as anticipated (with Bellinger pegged for roughly 5 years and $150 million, and Bichette maybe eight years and greater than $200 million).
However due to the staff’s flush monetary outlook — and the truth that a wage cap might be coming subsequent yr, probably incentivizing additional spending proper now — all it may take is a slight cooling in both participant’s market to make them extra sensible targets for the two-time defending champions.
So long as there isn’t an overburdensome long-term threat, the Dodgers don’t appear afraid of profitable shorter-term commitments to maintain their newly cemented dynasty.
“We have not only a really talented group of players, but an extremely driven group of players, who want to take care of their legacy and create a dynasty and be part of something really special,” Friedman stated. “Because of that mindset, it makes it easier to invest. And do everything we can to help support that and be a part of helping bring that to fruition.”
The Dodgers may alternatively get aggressive on the commerce market. Brandon Donovan and Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals are seen internally as matches. Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians can be a fair bigger-name addition, albeit is much less more likely to be dealt this winter.
Then there may be the true white whale: Two-time Cy Younger Award-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.
For now, it’s unsure at greatest that Skubal, who might be a free agent after subsequent season and is unlikely to signal a contract extension with the Tigers (or every other staff that trades for him) earlier than then, will get moved this winter.
If he does, it figures to return at an especially steep value for a beginning pitcher with one yr remaining of staff management.
If there’s any staff that has the ammunition to drag it off, nonetheless, it’s the Dodgers, with their ample pitching depth and top-ranked farm system. Like with their free-agent pursuits, there may be more likely to be a restrict for a way a lot they’d half with. But when the Tigers severely think about a commerce, it will be no shock to see the Dodgers be severely concerned.
There are much less splashy routes for this offseason to go down, after all. If the Dodgers don’t make one other marquee addition, they nonetheless really feel assured with the roster core they’ve in place.
Then once more, that’s the tone they have been placing coming into these Winter Conferences, earlier than swiping away Díaz within the shock transfer of the week.
Thus, the baseball world has been placed on alert once more: The Dodgers gained’t be reckless. They need to keep longer-term flexibility. But when they see worth in a top-talent goal within the short-term, they gained’t be afraid to as soon as once more spend large.
