The Dodgers entered the offseason with two distinct weaknesses: an elite closer, and a quality outfielder. I opined that I would have been happy with Robert Suarez as the closer, and signing Harrison Bader for two years waiting for at least one of the Fab 4 to emerge and take an OF spot.
Instead, the Dodgers signed the best reliever in MLB, Edwin Diaz, and the best free agent player (OF or otherwise), Kyle Tucker. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. Should I have been surprised? Many would say no. These are the superstars the Dodgers hunt for now, regardless of the financial ramifications. And yet, I was.
OTOH, to say I am disappointed that I was wrong would be a falsehood. I couldn’t be happier. Will there be obstacles to overcome? There always are. No team can stay injury free, but the Dodgers especially will have to monitor innings pitched and innings played. They have the depth to accomplish this task, but at some point, the team is going to have to get younger so that these expected injuries could be minimized.
Players can be placed on the 60-day IL once pitchers and catchers report to ST. For the Dodgers that is February 13. If placed on the 60-day IL on February 13, the player could be activated April 14. That would be the 17th game of the season, against NYM at home. Who might the Dodgers consider? I would not anticipate that either Blake Snell or Tommy Edman would be a “for sure” assignment. Both are working towards being available on Opening Day. Maybe they make it, maybe they do not.
But there is one pitcher who can be added to the 60-day IL once the opportunity arises, RHRP Brock Stewart. Why is that important? If the Dodgers are serious about adding Kiké Hernández this year, they would need a spot on the 40 man available. Once signed, he can be placed on the 60-day IL, and that could open a spot for Evan Phillips, who too could be signed and added to the 60-day IL.
The Dodgers have options when it comes to both Blake Snell and Tommy Edman. They could be placed in the 15-day IL and 10-day IL respectively out of ST. I will let the Dodgers front office determine when they anticipate the start date for either Snell or Edman. They understand roster manipulation much better than this blogger.
The Andy Ibáñez DFA caught me off guard. Maybe the thinking is that Ibáñez will clear waivers and the Dodgers could outright him to OKC. If he has been outrighted before, he could refuse the assignment, but he would forfeit his contract. That is an unlikely scenario. He is excellent insurance, so it is doubtful that he would be released.
With Ibáñez no longer on the 40-man, it looks like the Dodgers 26-man roster is set. If injuries were not a consideration, this is my take:
Starting Pitchers:
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (RHP)
- Blake Snell (LHP)
- Tyler Glasnow (RHP)
- Shohei Ohtani (RHP)
- Roki Sasaki (RHP)
- Emmet Sheehan (RHP)
Relief Pitchers:
- Edwin Diaz – Closer (RHP)
- Tanner Scott (LHP)
- Brusdar Graterol (RHP)
- Alex Vesia (LHP)
- Blake Treinen (RHP)
- Anthony Banda (LHP)
- Ben Casparius (RHP)
- Jack Dreyer (LHP)
Infield:
- Freddie Freeman (1B)
- Tommy Edman (2B)
- Max Muncy (3B)
- Mookie Betts (SS)
- Miguel Rojas (Utility)
- Hyeseong Kim (Utility)
Outfield:
- Teoscar Hernández (LF)
- Andy Pages (CF)
- Kyle Tucker (RF)
- Alex Call (4th OF)
Catchers:
- Will Smith
- Dalton Rushing
I suspect that Justin Wrobleski will get the call if Snell cannot start out of ST, and Alex Freeland will fill in for Tommy Edman for however long he is out.
Once Snell is ready, Wrobo will join the OKC rotation.
- Gavin Stone
- River Ryan
- Kyle Hurt
- Landon Knack
- Jackson Ferris
I am working on projecting the four affiliates rosters. It is all fluid and very much subject to change. And yet it is fun for me to project.
Great stuff but I can’t project the bullpen. Guys like Henriquez & Klein have a shot even with options.
If it was up to me Klein would get all the chances in the world to secure a roster spot. He earned this advantage with his incredible performance in Game 3 of the WS.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can see a possible DFA or trade of Banda and think the Dodgers might “slow play” Graterol. Klein and Wrobleski should be in the BP to start the season IMHO.
You may be right that Graterol will be slow-played to start the season. However, he says he will be ready for ST and should be OK for opening day. He is throwing long toss (200 feet), and should throw a bullpen by next week to be ready for ST. He says everything was timed to be ready to be on the opening day roster. ST will decide a lot for him.
Wrobleski better not be in AAA
He has no spot unless they put him in the rotation at the beginning of the season. He is 7 or 8 on the starter depth chart, and they probably won’t need or carry a long reliever.
After reading this post and looking at that roster the first question that popped up in my mind was what does a healthy Hyeseong Kim look like? He was injured a good part last year. He could play everywhere Kiké plays defensively, and play better. He also projects a higher OPS than does Kiké. Once he learns to lay off curveballs in the dirt his OPS could jump to well over .700. He could be the ultimate bench player.
or not….
It looks like Kim will start at second to open the season. Who knows. He might stay there all year. In fact, that is what I hope happens.
I once again see only 1 pitcher with 130+ innings, only one player in that starting lineup with more than 575 at bats (Ohtani, ML average is 550) Muncy with only 350 again, nobody will hit .300 of course, nobody will win a Gold Glove, no Cy winner, but there will be multiple players on the All Star team. They are Dodgers so they will be chosen. And… Dodgers will win the West with a at least week to spare.
The goal is to have that starting lineup, and that top of that rotation, all playing in October. A strong bench and pitching depth will accomplish that. A strong bench begins with the #1 utility player. Edman, Kim or……..
Kim is going to lose a lot of time while with Korea for the WBC. I am guessing that Alex Freeland will try to take advantage.
There were 7 MLB qualified hitters to hit .300 or greater last year. Freddie was closest Dodger with .295. He was also 2nd behind Trea Turner in the NL. Hitting .300 is not as valued as it used to be. I grew up with it being a key metric and I still value it today. But MLB??? The Dodgers had only 5 qualified hitters for 2025.
There were 3 MLB pitchers with > 200 IP last year; 65 pitchers with at least 150. With a 6 man rotation, most pitchers will max out at 27 starts. At 5.0 IP/start, that is 135.0 IP. At 6.0 IP/start, they will get to 162 IP. IP is not a key metric for the Dodgers anymore They strive for October health. They will probably lead MLB in number of starters used, and number of pitchers used during the year. Hopefully there will be healthy pitchers who will not make the playoff roster, because of all the healthy pitchers that will.
Freeland needs to make the most of the opportunity, but I don’t think Kim is “losing time” in the WBC. He’ll be practicing and playing ball against good competition, and no doubt the Dodgers will keep tabs on him.
The Dodgers know Kim can field and run at elite levels. He learned a lot about himself as a rookie. If he can cut down on the Ks and improve his OBP, he can give the team a real boost. (Despite the Ks, he batted .280 in ’25 and his OPS was better than what Edman, Kike, Freeland, Rushing and Conforto delivered.)
Seems that it’s just a matter of time before Kike is welcomed back. Miguel Rojas said he’s been in touch with Kike and that’s what Rojas expects.
Do you really think that training with Korea is the same as training with the Dodgers? Working with Mookie?
I don’t see a big difference. It’s high-level baseball. He’ll have time to work with Mookie.
Plus, Kim will face more pressure representing his country than representing himself at Camelback Ranch.
I agree with this. Kim showing his stuff in the WBC is very important.
Between AAA and the Dodgers, Kim played in 108 games. He jammed his hand on a slide in a game in LA, so that might have affected his hitting some. His BB to K ratio raises some questions.
Not to me. He’s had 170 plate appearances. I give him 170 more and see where he is.
With his elite speed he should be bunting more. So many times I thought why don’t u bunt. He either can’t or they won’t let him. Most teams probably shorten up on him but Brett Butler bunted n all knew it was coming. Ok he is no Butler but he should try to improve his skills I would think.
Butler was special . He was a heck of a leadoff hitter
Yes, he was. He also caused a lot of problems when they replacement players came in. LA’s clubhouse was not very friendly to them.
Butler is one of my all time favorite Dodgers. I always thought Chris Taylor should have modeled his game more after Butler than trying to be a slugger.
Sounds about right. He said velocity was his weakness. I’m sure he worked on that.
I dislike high K rates no matter how many at bats a player has. He wasn’t much better at AAA.
OPS is the marker now. If he can manage an OPS+ of 100 in his second year in the Majors he can help this club win.
I understand that. But personally, I hate strikeouts period Nothing but wasted at bats.
Strikeouts really suck. I would like to see Ohtani cut down on his SO’s. Players don’t change their 2 strike approach these days.
Your analysis makes perfect sense. AAA roster will be a little hard to project as LA has not signed many to minor league deals yet.
Read on yard barker this morning that some believe the Valdez signing all but assures that Skubal will not get extended. But it is doubtful Detroit trades him if they are in the race come deadline time. Him and Valdez as a 1-2 are pretty solid.
I see no way Skubal will accept an extension from Detroit. I do not think it was a mistake by Detroit signing Valdez to a $38.33MM AAV (subject to deferral adjustment) on the day of his arbitration hearing where Detroit now has to justify their $19MM arbitration figure. It seems to be a message. Not necessarily to Skubal, but to the rest of MLB. Regardless, with Skubal and Valdez, the Tigers have a great 1-2 rotation. They are not going to trade him because of $13MM (if they lose). Instead they are going to ride the big lefty to the end, unless they are out of it by the deadline, which is highly unlikely. What Detroit did was to solidify their intentiions of competing this year.
Do they now go out and sign Verlander to finish his career where he started? Comerica Park will be jumping. Dodgers play Detroit in Detroit this year (August 28-30). That ought to be fun.
Verlander back to Detroit would be fun!
Extended by Detroit? That was never going to happen.
I don’t see them as serious contenders, neither do any data-driven expert-anayzed prediction sites. Detroit is going to ride that twice rebuilt arm as long and as hard as they possibly can. If he were here now he could get some time off during the year, in preparation for October. He won’t likely get that in Detroit. He could have 130 innings on that arm by the deadline. If he’s here now, on this staff, they could keep him under 150 every year.
Recently he’s pitched.03333 WAR/IP. 150 innings is 5 WAR. 5 WAR x $8 per is $40 million.
He’s 30 in November. Through his year 35 is 6 seasons. If after
Detroit tries to throw his arm off in the first half of this season would anyone here give Detroit what they want then give give him 6 years and $240 million then ask him to give 150 innings instead of 195?
I think the mets will give him 10y/500m next offseason.
Sounds about right.
Would the Dodgers offer $400 million for six years?
Im not sure the Dodgers need him. But I was wrong about Soto and we went after him.
The Dodgers certainly don’t need Skubal.
But they might want him.
Re Soto, I wonder if they were just driving up the price.
The money is just so crazy, especially adding the luxury tx.
Yoiks. For a 30+ twice reconstructed 100 mph sling shot?
One could state the success rate and reduced career span of pitchers after two major arm surgeries, but we’ve done so before so everyone knows the risk.
ef it. It’s only money and the Dodgers have an endless supply of that, right?
Skubal won his arbitration case, so he will make $32mil this year.
Let’s see now how this impacts any potential trades!
A lot of players now getting minor league deals. Brendan Rogers, the former Rockie, sighed with the Red Sox. LA has made no real significant position player signings.
Ryan Brasier is finalizing a contract with the Rangers.
Reggie Smith, the switch-hitting outfielder whose powerful bat and clubhouse leadership helped fuel three National League pennant-winning teams and a World Series championship, will be inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball on Aug. 15 at Dodger Stadium.
A 17-year Major Leaguer who hit 97 home runs with Los Angeles between 1976 and 1981, Smith becomes the 10th member of the Legends of Dodger Baseball, joining Don Newcombe (2019), Steve Garvey (2019), Fernando Valenzuela (2019), Maury Wills (2022), Kirk Gibson (2022), Manny Mota (2023), Orel Hershiser (2023), Dusty Baker (2024) and Ron Cey (2025).
I am surprised Lopes and Russell are not in.
I am surprised that Gilliam is not in. That in and of itself is a travesty. Gilliam was a career, Dodger. Without his selflessness at bat, Wills might never have had a great success stealing bases. Gilliam should have went in before any of those guys.
Good call.
Put ’em in!
The A’s have claimed infielder/outfielder Andy Ibañez off waivers from the Dodgers.
And we have just claimed back Rortvedt.
Took a while but Andrew got his man.
Will Taylor and Verdugo and Buehler catch on with somebody. Got to believe someone will give Walker a shot
Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Buehler wind up in SD.
I like Walker
Wow, Dodgers have dfa’d Banda to make room for Rortvedt on the 40-man.
They should certainly be able to get something for him in a trade.
Yep. Happy to have Ben back tho
Dodgers DFA Anthony Banda
I liked Banda. He served us well. I’m not down with fans who instantly turn their backs on our guys like it’s 100% business. Cuz it ain’t.
Braves signed Kyle Farmer to a minor league deal. Two pitchers, Edwin Uceta and Graham Ashcraft both won their arbitration hearings. Angels signed Brent Suter. A’s DFAd Max Schuemann. I believe Banda will be claimed if he is not traded. Scott, Vesia, Dreyer all slot ahead of him in a 7-man bullpen. Ronan Kopp will get some looks in spring.
Dont forget Wrobleski
Wtobo is still considered a starter. He will be stretched out as a starter. If Snell is out for any period of time, Wrobo would start in his place. The Dodgers do not need a #6 starter until April 8 (Game 11) vs, Blue Jays. Snell could go on 15 day IL some tme in the Freeway Series and he could come off the IL by April 8.
OKC will be in season, and Snell could rehab there if needed.
Id prefer Wrobo starting
If those three lefties make the 26-man roster out of spring training, Wrobo will start the season at AAA. They are not going to carry four left handed relievers.
Could we see a possible Rushing/Pages & ? for Buxton?
Answer me this, why in the world would you trade two of the youngest players, both very talented, for a 32-year-old player who has played 100 games or more just 3 times in his 11-year career? Pages is 23 and Rushing turns 25 this month. Buxton is talented, but injury prone. No way LA even proposes a trade like that.
I think the Twins would be happy with that deal but I don’t see any way that Andrew does it.
Would the Cubs?
Yes, the Cubs would trade Buxton for those two, but no, they wouldn’t trade PCA.
😀
It would appear Rushing doesn’t have a job here.
I don’t think Rushing is traded unless the return is significant. He has options and could be sent to OKC to play every day.
Back to OKC just feels wrong to me. Rushing is 25 this year. He’s been a top prospect for three years, the #1 prospect two years ago. He should be playing in the bigs, if not here then somewhere else. The signing of a .190 BA .549 OPS hitter to take his position sends a resounding message.
Trade him. And do it now.
Rushing plus dePaula or Quntero or Hope for Buxton.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What is the obsession with Buxton? They would then have to most certainly trade Teo. Buxton is 32, Pages is 23. They are NOT going to trade for Buxton. Ferget about it!
People fall in love with a name and potential instead of actual production.
Who wants to be a full-tine catcher anyway? That shit’s hard!
115/45 split?
I would hope not ! Pages will be a better player than Burton and healthy
He certainly could be. If he knows center is his and works all winter preparing for it, he could be terrific out there. He projects 25 home runs and OPS as high as .775. From the bottom of the order. I look forward to see improvement from him.
I look forward to Friedman surprising me one more time
I hope you’re right, Bum.