Outfielder Juan Soto grew to become a free agent this offseason. Will the Dodgers, who simply confronted him within the World Collection, make a play for him?
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)
The obvious holes on subsequent yr’s roster, as issues at present stand, are within the outfield and beginning rotation.
Even when the Dodgers hold Betts in proper discipline (a place he solely switched again to late this yr after initially shifting to the infield), the membership is with out a left fielder with Teoscar Hernández coming into free company. They will play Edman in heart, however provided that they’ve an alternative choice at shortstop. Additionally they have Pages, Taylor and James Outman on the roster, however none of these three may cement on a regular basis roles this yr.
It’s a part of the explanation why, even after spending greater than $1 billion final winter, the Dodgers may get entangled in one other high-priced free-agency sweepstakes for famous person Juan Soto this offseason — particularly in the event that they don’t re-sign Hernández.
As for the rotation, the Dodgers will seemingly want not less than one, if not a number of, new beginning pitchers.
Between the restricted workloads Ohtani, Could, Gonsolin and Kershaw are anticipated to be underneath coming off their accidents, and the six-day routine Yamamoto caught to this yr after coming over from Japan, it’s attainable the Dodgers use a six-man rotation for components of subsequent season.
And except they plan to rely totally upon unproven prospects, they’ll have to bolster their depth.
The highest of the free-agent beginning pitching market is wealthy with expertise, together with former Cy Younger award winners Blake Snell (whom the Dodgers made an unsuccessful late play for final offseason) and Corbin Burnes (whom the Dodgers as soon as had commerce curiosity in), in addition to Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried.
The Dodgers are additionally excessive on Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki, a budding 23-year-old expertise who is perhaps posted to MLB golf equipment this winter.
One other identify the Dodgers can be monitoring this offseason: shortstop Willy Adames, who has connections with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman going again to their days in Tampa Bay.
If the Dodgers elect to make Edman a full-time heart fielder, somebody like Adames may match as one other potential big-name addition to fill the shortstop opening, particularly after hitting a career-high 32 residence runs final yr.
