The Los Angeles Dodgers have put collectively as good an offseason as we’ve ever seen. The entrance workplace spent over $1 billion in free company, signing the best player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani, and the best pitcher on the market in Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
However that’s not all.
The entrance workplace additionally completed a blockbuster deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, bringing RHP Tyler Glasnow to Los Angeles together with OF Manuel Margot. Glasnow and the Dodgers then agreed on a five-year extension, fortifying the beginning rotation for the foreseeable future.
Whereas the Dodgers have made these main strikes — together with re-signing OF Jason Heyward and RHP Joe Kelly — they’re not done yet. They nonetheless have cash to play with, prospects to commerce and some holes to fill.
So, I believed it could be a good suggestion to reassess the energetic roster, and see precisely the place they may use upgrades earlier than Opening Day in South Korea.
Observe: The Yoshinobu Yamamoto signing is just not but official, however for the sake of this train, I’m slotting him into the rotation.
Dodgers Energetic Roster Outlook
Beginning Rotation
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP
- Tyler Glasnow, RHP
- Walker Buehler, RHP
- Bobby Miller, RHP
- Emmet Sheehan, RHP
Bullpen
- Yency Almonte, RHP
- Caleb Ferguson, LHP
- Brusdar Graterol, RHP
- Joe Kelly, RHP
- Evan Phillips, RHP
- Alex Vesia, LHP
- Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
- J.P. Feyerisen/Blake Treinen/Michael Grove/Kyle Harm, RHPs
Lineup (vs. RHP)
- Mookie Betts, 2B
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Will Smith, C
- Max Muncy, 3B
- James Outman, CF
- Chris Taylor, LF
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Gavin Lux, SS
Bench
- Austin Barnes, C
- Miguel Rojas, SS
- Manuel Margot, OF
- Miguel Vargas/Michael Busch, INF/OF
Lineup (vs. LHP)
- Mookie Betts, 2B
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Will Smith, C
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Chris Taylor, LF
- Manuel Margot, RF
- James Outman, CF
- Miguel Rojas, SS
Dodgers Beginning Rotation Outlook
The Dodgers’ beginning rotation is leaps and bounds higher than it was on the finish of 2023.
Whereas the Dodgers had an injured Clayton Kershaw, a rookie Bobby Miller and home run-happy Lance Lynn pitching within the NLDS in opposition to Arizona, this 12 months, they’ll have a deck of aces to select from.
Does that imply the rotation couldn’t use one other participant, although? Completely not.
How May the Dodgers Improve Their Rotation?
Emmet Sheehan is presently slated to be the No. 5 starter. Whereas he confirmed elite flashes in 13 video games in 2024, the Dodgers might elect to have him open the season within the bullpen — or doubtlessly as a sixth man/swing man within the rotation.
Moreover, Tyler Glasnow hasn’t pitched more than 120 innings in a season, whereas Walker Buehler is working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery.
So, the Dodgers might nonetheless look to add someone like RHP Lucas Giolito to the rotation to eat some innings, or they’ll look so as to add a lefty, one thing they’re clearly missing.
The Dodgers might nonetheless look to the commerce market so as to add one other starter, contemplating they’ve a loaded farm system even after buying and selling RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca.
Whereas somebody like Corbin Burnes or Dylan Cease is probably not crucial anymore, somebody like LHP Jesus Luzardo would make a ton of sense, including a hard-throwing lefty with a number of years of staff management to the combo.
Moreover, we nonetheless don’t know what Kershaw is going to do, however the Dodgers will always welcome him back for a late summer return.
Dodgers Bullpen Outlook
The Dodgers’ bullpen dramatically improved over the course of the 2023 season, and is coming into 2024 on a excessive. Nevertheless, bullpens are probably the most risky a part of a serious league roster, and the Dodgers know they’ll at all times enhance with confirmed expertise.
Yency Almonte, Caleb Ferguson, Alex Vesia and Michael Grove all had up-and-down 2023 seasons, whereas Blake Treinen and J.P. Feyereisen will likely be hoping to work their way back from serious injuries.
How May the Dodgers Improve Their Bullpen?
Whereas the Dodgers are likely out on All-Star closer Josh Hader now that they’ve shelled out over $1 billion this offseason, they may nonetheless look to bring back the dominant Ryan Brasier. Shelby Miller signed with the Detroit Tigers on Friday morning, so Brasier is the final key free agent the Dodgers ought to look to carry again on the pitching facet.
Moreover, it’s been rumored that the Dodgers might make a splash for someone like Cleveland Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase. It might take a haul of prospects, however it’s positively a transfer L.A. ought to take into account to make their bullpen really formidable.
Dodgers Lineup Outlook
The Dodgers will likely be deploying arguably the most effective top-of-the-lineup in MLB historical past with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani (order but to be decided).
Then, they’ve certainly one of baseball’s finest hitting catchers in Will Smith, adopted by the power-hitting Max Muncy.
That’s unfair.
The underside of the lineup might at all times use upgrading, particularly with one other right-handed bat who hits lefties effectively.
Moreover, with the unknowns surrounding Gavin Lux amid his return from a torn ACL, the Dodgers might want a greater bat behind him as an alternative of Miguel Rojas — however Rojas’ protection is a big plus.
How May the Dodgers Improve Their Offense?
The obvious transfer could be re-signing Kiké Hernández, as he can play all around the diamond, hit left-handed pitching and is an general constructive within the clubhouse.
The Dodgers might additionally look to the commerce market so as to add somebody like switch-hitting outfielder Dylan Carlson.
When it comes to different free brokers, there are different OFs like Adum Duvall and Tommy Pham.
Do the Dodgers Have to Make Any Extra Upgrades?
Whereas a staff might at all times use extra depth, if the Dodgers didn’t make one other transfer this offseason, they’d nonetheless be the World Sequence favourite coming into 2024 and past.
Not solely have they got probably the most proficient rosters ever, they’ve have a farm system oozing with main league prepared expertise.
The Dodgers are constructed to win now and sooner or later, and that’s in no small half as a result of work that Andrew Friedman and his employees have performed during the last decade.
Whereas the Dodgers have dominated the final decade, making the postseason 11 straight years and successful 10 NL West titles, this subsequent decade could also be even higher.
Photograph Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
