As I wrote with my FA post, I have no clue what the Dodgers are going to do this winter. I thought Dalton Rushing would headline a trade in a package for the Dodgers to get back a difference maker in CF or 3B. And then the Dodgers DFA’d Ben Rortvedt, and after Cincinnati claimed him off waivers, that made Dalton Rushing the backup catcher for 2026. So the Dodgers top prospect is a 25 year old backup catcher/1B.
I am going out on a limb and saying that the top LAD players are not going to be traded this winter: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki. They do not usually trade away players by paying down on their salary, however will some team be willing to pay for Tanner Scott and Teoscar Hernández?
It would have to be a PCA or Ceddanne Rafaela level trade to move Pages, but he has trade value that you cannot dismiss.
Without Rushing as a trade option, there is now just one MLB ready position player in the LAD organization who may have some trade value; infield utility Alex Freeland. He is not going to bring much in return. There are dozens of experienced MLB utility infielders that will not cost much.
There are some out there who believe that Rushing could still be traded. I do not see it. The Dodgers had the ideal backup catcher, but went with Rushing to be the backup. Yes, he will still get some play at 1B, but he is still a backup. Rushing put up good AAA numbers when in the lineup all the time as a catcher/DH. Not such good numbers with limited play time in 2025.
Who else on the LAD roster, MLB or MLB ready, do the Dodgers have who can help bring back a top return?
Starting pitching is the overwhelming strength of the Dodgers:
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Blake Snell
- Shohei Ohtani
- Tyler Glasnow
- Roki Sasaki
- Emmet Sheehan
Backup Starters:
- Gavin Stone
- River Ryan
- Ben Casparius (Swing starter)
- Justin Wrobleski (Swing starter)
- Landon Knack
- Bobby Miller (more reliever with LAD)
I am sure there are multiple teams who could use a Ben Casparius or Justin Wrobleski at the back end of a rotation. They are relievers for LAD. And I would not be upset with both pitchers in the 2026 LAD bullpen.
Landon Knack and Bobby Miller are not going to bring anything except a lottery ticket in return. I hope they move both so they can get a legit shot as a SP for some 2nd or 3rd tier team.
If the Dodgers are convinced that either Gavin Stone and/or River Ryan are healed enough to be a #6 pitcher, Emmet Sheehan becomes a trade option. If not, Stone and Ryan will be slow played in OKC for the sure to be injuries, and possibly a deadline trade possibility.
Is Jackson Ferris a legit trade option, or another SP insurance option? We will see if he is still listed as a top 100 candidate, but if I were to guess he would not be there. Some believe that LHSP Adam Serwinowski has surpassed him as the #1 LHSP prospect for LAD.
I suppose that Tommy Edman could be a trade option, but who is going to trade for a player with a winter ankle surgery. Hyeseong Kim? His value makes more sense as a Dodger than to be traded. If the Dodgers re-sign Miggy Ro, do they need 3 utility infielders?
If the Dodgers do sign Kyle Tucker, that makes Josue De Paula or Zyhir Hope available in a trade. I will let AF/BG decide who.
Teoscar Hernández is probably more suited to DH than OF at this point in his career. But his bat is still prolific and he can carry a team when healthy. I think the Dodgers will have a tough time trading him, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. And I am more than okay with him remaining a Dodger in a corner OF position, preferably LF.
With the number of relievers on the market, I cannot see any team paying for Tanner Scott. I am one of the few who does think he can have a rebound year, but no other team is going to count on that. Again with the number of relievers on the market (FA or trade), guys like Edgardo Henriquez or Will Klein, or even Brusdar Graterol are not headliners.
CF:
I am not a fan of Andy Pages in CF defensively, but the team won a WS with him out there. With a healthy ankle, could Edman play out there. Will the Dodgers look to acquire another CF? I may have on myopic glasses, but I cannot see PCA, Ceddanne Rafaela, Victor Scott, Michael Harris II, Julio Rodriguez, Jackson Merrill, being made available.
I would include Dalton Varsho in that group, except I still do not know what FA Toronto is going to sign and for how much. The Dodgers are not going to trade Emmet Sheehan for 1 year of Varsho. And Toronto is not the type of club that will accept 4-5 no better than average players in a trade for someone like Varsho.
Toronto would trade Myles Straw, but the Dodgers do not need another backup CF. The Dodgers have been rumored to be in the Luis Robert Jr. camp for a couple of years now. Is CWS willing to trade below THEIR perceived market value. How much would the Dodgers risk in such a trade? My guess is not a lot.
Jacob Young is an excellent defensive CF, but not nearly a good enough offensive player. But if the Dodgers did acquire him, I would be okay. Would Washington be amenable to Jackson Ferris and Kendall George?
As expected there is going to be a lot of teams interested in Harrison Bader, and multiple contenders. I still believe he is a good bet to end up back with Philly or NYY. Some have suggested that SFG and Cleveland would be interested. That would mean that the Giants have given up on Jung Hoo Lee. Lee has 4 years of a $113MM contract to swallow with a poor defensive CF. I do not think his bat fits in a corner OF spot. But some team would take him as their CF as long as SF offers enough cash. Cleveland would make sense for Bader as well. I have not heard that the Dodgers have any interest, but that does not mean squat.
Corner OF:
Boston has two potential trade targets, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu. I know many if not most would prefer Duran, but I am more inclined to want Abreu. Duran is a local player (Long Beach State), and I am partial to Southern California players. I lean to Abreu more because his bat is solid with good slug, but his glove is special. His strikeouts are coming down, and he has above MLB average walk rate. He is younger than Duran. And Boston could be an acceptable destination for Teoscar as their DH, parttime corner OF. Duran has two years control, while Abreu has three years.
I was okay with acquiring Steven Kwan at the deadline. I am more ambivalent in the off-season. He is only a LF. Great bat to ball skills with a GG. That is probably more important to us fans than it is to Dodger management. I cannot see the Dodgers trading for a LF without 20+ HR potential. Kwan is controlled for two more years, so he would fit in with the next LAD OF wave. Kwan has below MLB average OPS+ (96). Teoscar could be a fit in Cleveland, and they need pitching: SP and RP.
Kyle Stowers had a breakout year in 2025 as a 27 year old with Miami. Miami is seriously considering signing some FA and making significant trades as they believe with their pitching, they could be a contender. Miami might be inclined to trade Stowers as they would certainly be selling high. The issue would be who would they get in return. They need MLB or at least MLB ready offense to move Stowers. They are probably not in a rebuild mode for 2026. Dalton Rushing would have been an ideal headliner here, but not now. Miami is not going to pay Teoscar’s salary. They do not need pitching, and while Alex Freeland could be a trade option, he is not getting Stowers. If I had a say, I would try to not only get Stowers, but also LHSP Thomas White. He was who the Dodgers wanted in 2023, but was taken one spot before LAD picked by Miami. Dodgers settled for Kendall George. Miami chose well. Stowers has 4 years of control, so the cost would be high.
A name that has popped up all over the blogosphere is utility man Brendan Donovan. St. Louis needs pitching and the Dodgers could certainly oblige. Donovan is another utility player, who I would feel comfortable as the everyday LF for 2026, and sliding to 3B in 2027. Donovan has two years of control. Donovan is a lot like Kwan. Excellent bat to ball skills, though not quite at the Kwan level. Both LH hitters. Donovan has more upside as an offensive threat, but Kwan is a GG. If I had a choice, I would trade for Kwan.
I would bring up Taylor Ward, but I do not believe there is a prayer of hope that Arte Moreno would allow Minasian to trade with LAD. With him pulling the Stripling/Joc trade and then having Ohtani sign with LAD, there is a lot of bad blood there. But, yes, Taylor Ward would be a target.
One LF not talked about a lot is the A’s LF Tyler Soderstrom. He will be 24 and has 4 years of control. He is a prolific hitter with a lot of slug, with a 22.6% K rate. He is a +10 DRS defensive LF, and a +5 OAA. He will cost a lot because of the control, and yes it will hurt some. The A’s need pitching and even more pitching. The Dodgers could very well put together a reasonable package to get Soderstrom. The A’s are going to need to trade for pitching as no front line FA will agree to pitch in Sacramento for the next two years. I love Sutter Field as a MiLB park, but not a MLB park.
If I had a favorite, for corner OF, it would be Tyler Soderstrom. He fits everything LAD needs in a LF, and the A’s are a perfect trade partner.
3B:
Minnesota’s Royce Lewis has to be considered. He has been injured for much of his professional career, with 2 ACL surgeries. He is no longer a valid SS prospect, but he can play 3B, although not at an elite level (-2 DRS, +1 OAA). He had his poorest offensive year, but he will turn 27 in June. He has a HIGH ceiling which the Dodgers like. He is a RH hitter with 20+ HR potential, but with even splits. He would be a gamble to stay healthy, but he might be worth the risk.
My number one 3B target would be Toronto’s Ernie Clement. He will be 30 next March and has 3 years control. That would be about the time that the LAD infield prospects would be ready, especially Emil Morales. I admit I did not know much about him until LAD played Toronto this summer, but I grew to like him a lot. He is a RH hitter who hits LHP very well. He does not have a lot of slug, but strikes out only 10.4% of his PA. He would be a perfect platoon partner with Max, who does not hit LHP at all. Clement is an excellent defensive 3B (+11 DRS, +5 OAA) and can also play well at 2B (+10 DRS, +5 OAA). Toronto needs pitching, both SP and relief pitching. I proposed a trade of Brock Stewart and Edgardo Henriquez for Clement, and it was not pooh-poohed. I think most were ambivalent. Maybe if the Dodgers included Landon Knack or Bobby Miller.
Toronto could then move Addison Barger to 3B. Depending as to what happens with Anthony Santander, I suppose George Springer and Teoscar could co-exist as RF/DH. Toronto fans are very fond of Teo. There are options here, and if the two sides are amenable, a trade could be consummated.
Addison Barger is 4 years younger than Clement, and has 5 years of control. He is LH making him not a platoon option with Muncy in 2026. He could play RF and then move to 3B in 2027. He has more power than Clement, and while adequate, he is not the defender that Clement is. He strikes out 24.1% of his PA.
I still think the Dodgers could sign a back end rotation starter, like Lucas Giolito, and then make one of the LAD back end starters with control available to teams not wanting to pony up the $$$.
The Dodgers do not need much. I would be more than happy if the Dodgers could trade for Tyler Soderstrom for LF, and Ernie Clement for 3B platoon with Max. Both the A’s and Toronto need pitching which the Dodgers can oblige.
Relievers:
There are too many FA relievers available for the Dodgers to consider a trade for one. Of course if the Dodgers are able to make a trade with Cleveland for Steven Kwan, it could get sweetened with the inclusion of Cade Smith or Hunter Gaddis. I do not believe we will see straight trades for a reliever in the 2025-2026 off-season transactions by AF/BG.
I still do not believe that Bo Bichette will leave Toronto. But other than Kyle Tucker, Bichette would be the only FA that I believe the Dodgers would sign with a QO.
It is going to be a very interesting off season. AF will tweak the roster, that we know for sure. Re-signing Kike seems like it won’t happen since his surgery, it is doubtful he will be ready when spring training starts. He could get a minor league deal if he is not signed by some other team after June.
Jeff, thanks for the article. I love the hot stove league portion of the season, the prospective trades, and FA signings are a fun way to stay engaged in the off season.
Up until the last couple of days I would have thought talking about Royce Lewis in a trade would be a waste of time, never believed they would move him, but with the latest rumors coming out, it sounds like they want to cut more salary. It doesn’t look like anyone is safe over there, maybe you will need to make an addendum to your article and throw Buxton into the CF trade mix. Thanks again
A lot to think about there.
The overwhelming strength you mention concerns me the same way the starting pitching did early this year. I didn’t see anyone I trusted to pitch 150 innings, 1 did, and I thought maybe Snell and Glasnow would pitch over 130. Nope. I think it would be a good idea to line up 10 starters ready to go until November.
3B. How many games is Muncy projected to play? Too bad Kim can’t back him. Or can he. Freeland?
Outfield. The Dodgers are probably looking for two things: WAR and Star power. Tucker has both. Teo, Pages, Tucker. . Or, Tucker, Bader, Pages. Or…
It looks like 1B Josh Naylor will be the first significant FA signed. He is finalizing a 5 year deal to re-sign with Seattle subject to passing physical.
Great post, Jeff. Lots of stuff to consider.
Tyler Soderstrom – must admit I had never thought about him because I assumed the A’s would consider him a building block with the years of control he has left.
Question: If we could convince them to send us Soderstrom, wouldn’t that make Rushing expendable? Play Soderstrom in LF 5 days a week and use him as Will’s backup at catcher twice a week.
Believe it or not, the Trade Simulator values Rushing slightly higher than Soderstrom. I can’t see the A’s doing that one for one. I would assume we’d have to include at least one decent pitching prospect, maybe like Jackson Ferris or Wrobo.
The A’s may indeed consider Soderstrom as an untouchable. My thoughts were that the A’s need pitching and the Dodgers have a lot of it. SP and RP. The A’s will build around Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson. They also have Brent Rooker and will be looking for a bounceback year from Butler. Rooker is a DH, and the Dodgers do not need one of them. It will not be an easy trade, but Soderstrom is the LF I would target.
BTW, not that it means anything, but Baseball Trade Values says that Emmet Sheehan is a significant overpay for Soderstrom.
Jeff, you’re about Sutter field, I made it there for an A’s game this year, great field, had a really good time. I know it’s temporary but the people of Sacramento should enjoy it while they can. It was a great way to see an MLB game.
Instead of signing a Giolito or equivalent I would prefer they sign Tatsuya Imai when he gets posted and then Sheehan could be used for Soderstrom. Barger or Abreu would be great if either or both could be acquired.
Tatsuya Imai is projected 6-7 years in the $150MM to $160MM range. Lucas Giolito projected at 2 years $32MM. Imai is a mid to front end rotation SP which the Dodgers do not need. Giolito could slide into the #5 or #6 in the rotation. He would be home. If LAD is going to spend $$$, they have other needs. But you could very well be right that the Dodgers decide to go big again with SP. No QO.
Either way, Sheehan would be available in a trade.
Dodgers traded LHP Robinson Ortiz to Seattle for MiLB RHSP Tyler Gough. The Dodgers now have an extra 40 man spot as Ortiz was just added to the 40-man.
Off season is failure without the addition of a middle of the order bat. Buxton for me
Cassidy, please check the guy’s stats on baseball reference. He is turning 32 in December and has played more than 100 games 3 times in 11 years. At 32, your skills start deteriorating, not improving. They need some youth on the roster, not broken-down old men.
Agreed, they need a middle of the order bat
Every team needs another middle of the order bat, which is why they are not looking to trades theirs. I agree with Bear. Buxton is skilled, but is not dependable. He is regressing defensively in CF. If oft-injured CF with skills is who you like, why not Luis Robert Jr.? 4 years younger (baseball age), better defensive CF, and capable of being a middle of the order bat.
I was surprised to learn that Soderstrom is a good leftfielder. I thought he had been moved simply to make room for Kurtz at 1B. But I assume RF is not an option for him.
One reason Soderstrom is intriguing is that he could eventually succeed Freddie at 1B.
I’ve cooled to the idea of Kwan, partly because his offense tailed off last season. I ask myself: Would I rather have Kwan’s defense and contact skills in LF, or Teo’s power? I lean toward Teo, knowing that a late-inning defensive replacement can help.
At any rate, I prefer both Abreu and Duran, in that order, to Kwan. If Teo was dealt to Boston, he might conjure memories of Big Papi with his power and upbeat Latin personality. Dodgers might have to eat some salary, but Teo +Casparius/??? + Bobby Miller for Abreu could at least get a conversation started. Or perhaps the Red Sox would ask for a better SP (Sheehan?) instead of Teo. It’s all negotiable.
I used to be eager to move Pages to a corner, but the Dodgers seem happy with Pages in CF, and certainly his defense has been improving. He has the tools, clearly, and he’s still young and should still be improving. Edman is about 5-6 years older, and now he’s having surgery on his ankle. He can probably still play CF, but he’s bound to lose some speed, so I don’t see him as a starter. (A platoon is possible given Pages’s inconsistency.)
If the Dodgers can acquire Abreu and keep Teo, the OF would read Teo-Pages-Abreu. That’s a potent group with three first-rate arms. Alex Call could be Teo’s defensive replacement. OF prospects DePaula, Hope, etc should be ready when Teo’s contract ends.
And all of this is probably moot if the brass decides to writes a big, fat check for Kyle Tucker, or swing a blockbuster for Byron Buxton.
Kwan’s upside is that he is just 28 years old and a contact hitter. LA could use some of that at the bottom of the lineup to set the table for the big guns. He is a career .281 hitter who can get you close to 10 homers a year. Call is close to that guy with less defensive chops and little power.
Buxton is 32 next month. He has played over 100 games just 3 times in his 11 years in the majors. He averages 75 games a year. Dynamic player when healthy, but at 32, he is on the downside of his career. Like Robert Jr, too injury prone in my eyes.
Back in the early 1960s, I think Jim Gilliam started one season as a coach, but was later activated as player after somebody got hurt.
Is this right? Bear, can we get a little help here?
Yes, that’s my plan for Miggy Ro.
Instead of bringing back Kike, I’d want to get younger by trading for the Cards’ Brendan Donovan, age 28. Sure, Freeland could be promoted–but his debut this season was underwhelming.
No doubt the Dodgers have thoroughly scouted Murakami and Okamoto. If they believe in their talent, the Dodgers could pounce. For some reason I think these guys wouldn’t mind becoming Dodgers.
In both 1965 and 66, Gilliam started the season as a coach and was activated during the season. It wasn’t because of injury; it was because of less than stellar performances by Tracewski, John Kennedy and Don LeJohn. Junior batted .280 in 65 in 111 games. He also played a huge role in the Series win over the Twins. Junior was a 2.8 WAR player that year. The combined WAR of the other 3 guys was 0.5. In 66 he played in just 88 games, mostly as a backup for Kennedy who was the starter that year. The other 3B on the team that year, was Dick Schofield. I still think LA will pass on Murakami no matter how much power he brings, his 30% K rate is just too high. As far as Kike is concerned, it is doubtful he will be ready by spring training since he already stated that he will miss playing for the Puerto Rican team in the WBC. Myself, I hope the Dodgers do not have anyone playing in that tournament. I still remember them losing Hanley Ramirez in 13 when he fractured his hand in a WBC game. He ended up playing just 85 games.
After coming off an additional 5 weeks of play the past two seasons due to the playoffs, the Dodger’s players should stay away from the WBC they owe it to there bodies, and threepeet dreams to not over tax their bodies any more than needed.
Great article Jeff, you always bring up names I never considered. I agree that letting Rortveldt go changed what many of us saw a pathway to trading Rushing. I still think that.might happen since it shouldn’t be that difficult to get a backup.catcher thrown into a package trade or pick one up some other way.
There are surely many ways they could go in the outfield but in any scenario they seem to need a solid centerfielder.
We only need Buxton for 2 years and then the Calvary arrives in the outfield from the minors. We’re not signing him to an extension
Mookie Betts. Looking at his BR stat page under Awards I see 10 straight years where he had AS, GG, SS, along MVP votes. Year after after year. Then this year? Nothing. Blank. Zip. Nada. Zilch.
Did he just get old in one year? If that’s the case, if he is now a 104 OPS+ hitter with a .326 OBP maybe he should be dropped in the order. Who moves up? Freddie? He projects an .857 OPS with .367 OBP so, yeah, I put him in the 2 hole. Ohtani, Freddie, Smith, Tucker, Mookie. Teo, Muncy, Pages and whoever. Along with a 10 man rotation the addition of Robert Suarez and some deadline wheelin’ and dealin’ the Dodgers 3peat. So let it be typed, so let it be done.
I never liked Mookie playing SS I think it affects his hitting, it could have been the illness, we’ll see this year. Most players as they get older, are moving off of taxing defensive positions, et al catcher, or SS, not moving to them. I do think Mookie did a fantastic job playing SS this season, much better than I expected, Mookie is such a great athlete.
Mookie’s defense at SS exceeded expectations–and his offense dropped off. But correlation is not causation.
Remember: He lost about 20 pounds from his modest frame due to illness at the start of the season.
He played through much of his recovery, and didn’t start hitting until late in the season.
Seems to me his illness and willing to play through his recovery had an bigger impact on his offense than the fact he moved to SS.
Could age be a factor? Of course. But I expect the Mookie’s offensive production will be up in ’26, assuming better health.
People forget that prior to Mookie breaking his hand in 2024, his first 72 games were played as the SS. He hit .304/.405/.488/.892, 16 doubles, 3 triples, 10 HR, 47 walks and just 30 K. Playing SS didn’t seem to hurt his offense early 2024. He was a leader in the MVP race until he broke his hand.
The Dodgers have shown us fans they value depth and power over youth and defense (in the PO’s). All these things, of course, are not mutually exclusive–e.g., a Jackson Merrill checks multiple boxes– but the Dodgers seem to prefer veteran, power hitting line-ups in October.
I have been re-watching playoff highlights against the Phillies and Blue Jays and come away with the feeling that we dodge bullets in several games with poor defense and hitting.
I feel like our “D” can’t get much worse (Teo, Conforto, Muncy, Pages) so I look for improvement.
Regarding hitting, the Dodgers have to determine if the hitting woes during the playoffs were anomalies, or the result of injuries and age. i tend to think it was a mix of all three.
Every team has injuries, several Blue Jays limped through the WS. I look for the Dodgers to trust their stars for another year while building above avg bench strength around them to provide much more rest than the past 2 years.
I really dislike the idea of a platoon at 3B. If the Dodgers obtain a good longer-term 3rd baseman they should not water it down because of Muncy.
Donavan, Clement, Lewis, Soderstrom–all look good to me.
What the heck, dream bigger
Masyn Blaze Winn
Check out this video, “catch in center field where he fell down rolled over and still caught the ball” https://share.google/75q0hSfFte9D64lUr
Why do you think I am always pushing for Varsho? This is his walk year, so I still believe he is a possible trade option. Because he will be a rental, I would not offer enough to make Toronto want to move him.
Doesn’t he have a weak arm though?
He did this year because of his shoulder surgery in September 2024.
Incredible how someone could be so clumsy and so athletic all in the same play.
Exactly
There is a lot of talk about 3B possibilities. I haven’t heard much talk about Will Smith possibly moving there in the future. Is this still in the thinking process? If so, when might it take place? It would sure be nice for Rushing to take over as starting catcher.
We had a post on it last week.
As I said, I do not understand the logic of wanting to move an All Star catcher, and best catcher in MLB not named Cal Raleigh, for an unproven catcher prospect. If playing 3B is so easy, then just move Rushing to 3B. For me, that makes more sense than downgrading two positions.
Jeff, excellent report on the Dodgers going into the off-season.
Yor stated “There are some out there who believe that Rushing could still be traded. I do not see it. The Dodgers had the ideal backup catcher, but went with Rushing to be the backup”.
This whole Dodger back-up catcher situation confuses me. Ben Rortvelt was a godsend when Smith went down and was terrific defensively. He looked like the perfect back-up catcher for the next few years.
And then he was DFA’ed and pick up by the Reds. I don’t get that. Did the Dodgers think he’d slip through waivers? Or do they know something we don’t about Dalton Rushing?
I understand the high regard Rushing got as a number 1 prospect and possible a big trade piece this off-season. But do we really know that Rushing is an MLB catcher? I completely understand his AAA numbers and that he suffered from a limited role and hitting opportunities this season, hitting .204/.582 with a whopping 41% K-rate. Ryan Ward had terrific AAA numbers and held little regard by the Dodgers, yet Rushing remains a top prospect despite losing his back-up job to Rortveldt.
Is Rushing just another over-rated Dodger catching prospect? We have had a few in Keibert Ruiz who is serviceable for the Nats now and Diego Cartaya who was billed as the best thing since sliced bread but has yet to see any MLB time and in 6 MiLB seasons has posted .230/.757.
Rortvedt’s departure means that the Dodgers will feature Dalton Rushing as Will Smith’s backup in 2026. The confusing thing for me is that Rushing hasn’t yet demonstrated that he’s a viable option.
I do not know how Rushing becomes that prolific hitter that so many think he will be as a backup catcher and occasional backup 1B. Fans can complain that Freddie needs more time off. Problem is that Freddie doesn’t. Who do you think wins that argument, the fans or Freddie?
I think Rushing could have broken out and been another Michael Busch had he been traded and allowed to be a regular starting catcher for another team. Instead he is a backup catcher for LAD, and will be playing in less than half the games. At 25, he is no longer a prospect. He is going to be pigeon-holed as a backup and lose a lot of $$$. Rushing is team controlled through 2031, and can become a FA at the age of 31. There will be a point in time when Smith and Rushing will switch roles. But when will that be?
If the Dodgers truly believed he could play LF, they would have stuck him out there.
We do not have all the information that AF/BG has on any player. There are those who say that Rushing is going hit a ton. How about another scenario, just as much of a guess, that AF/BG floated trading Rushing and found that the consensus from other teams is that Rushing IS a backup catcher, and does not have the trade value we may think he has. Thus the Dodgers feel that if he is valued as a backup catcher, he might as well be the Dodgers backup catcher. I am not saying that is what happened, but isn’t it just as much of a possibility as moving Smith to 3B to make room for Rushing?
Maybe he can be traded to the Reds for Rortveldt with either the Reds or Dodgers having to add players to make the deal.😀
There are a lot of players who have trouble hitting their first time facing MLB pitching. So the optimist in me says give him a chance. That said I was sure he would be traded this winter.
My biggest concern with Rushing is he had trouble blocking balls. Seemed to call a good game, but Glasnow raved about Rortvedt working him through his problems while pitching. Looks like the Dodger brass blew this one.
I agree Sam. I think they should have kept Rortvedt and used Rushing in a trade for a CF or stud reliever.
You don’t see this front office make too many mistakes but they definitely read the room wrong with Rortveldt passing through waivers.
Ohtani and Yamamoto were named first-team All-MLB this season, and Smith was the second-team All-MLB catcher.
BBWAA releases 2026 Hall of Fame ballot
The first time eligibles are:
Ryan Braun
Shin-Soo Choo
Edwin Encarnacion
Gio Gonzalez
Alex Gordon
Cole Hamels
Matt Kemp
Howie Kendrick
Nick Markakis
Daniel Murphy
Hunter Pence
Rick Porcello
No one on this list will get in.
Here are the returning candidates:
Carlos Beltrán | 70.3% | Enters 4th year on ballot
Andruw Jones | 66.2% | 9th year
Chase Utley | 39.8% | 3rd year
Álex Rodríguez | 37.1% | 5th year
Manny Ramírez | 34.3% | 10th-and-final year
Andy Pettitte | 27.9% | 8th year
Félix Hernández | 20.6% | 2nd year
Bobby Abreu | 19.5% | 7th year
Jimmy Rollins | 18.0% | 5th year
Omar Vizquel | 17.8% | 9th year
Dustin Pedroia | 11.9% | 2nd year
Mark Buehrle | 11.4% | 6th year
Francisco Rodríguez | 10.2% | 4th year
David Wright | 8.1% | 3rd year
Torii Hunter | 5.1% | 6th year
I would not vote for anyone on this list either. Some darn good players, but no HOF’ers. JMO.
I cannot believe that Carlos Beltrán is that close to getting into the HOF. He is the mastermind behind the Astros’ cheating scandal. Denied it after the investigation, and only admitted that they “crossed” the line in 2022 when he was going to appear on the HOF ballot for the 1st time.
To put this known cheater into the HOF and leave out Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens who were never proven to have used PED, is an injustice. They undoubtedly did, just like Mike Piazza, but again, never proven.
So if a known mastermind cheater gets inducted, then Bonds and Clemens need to be as well. How about all of the HOF players including Joe Morgan who used “greenies” in the 50’s. 60’s and 70’s.
Per Willie McCovey:
So if they let the known mastermind cheater in…open it up to the best and add that while included on the Mitchell Report, nothing was ever proven.
Same with Pete Rose…Beltrán in then put in the far better baseball player who has more hits than anyone in MLB history and will likely not ever be broken.
Well, hopefully none of them ever get in except Rose.
When Ohtani signed his $700 million dollar contract he deferred all but $2 million per year. His reason was simple, he didn’t want to limit the Dodgers ability to sign free agents. I believe that is why AF signed Scott and Yates. Not only to meet a specific need but to forfull an obligation to Ohtani and his contract.
Between that and the possible end to free agency signings as we know it, I expect AF to sign someone big. While Diaz is an option as a closer, I suspect Williams or Fairbanks being more likely. That leaves me thinking that someone like Tucker or Bichette will be in AF sights. Trades on the other hand will be to fill-in the margins. Perhaps slmeone like Donavan.
Harrison Bader is going to have a lot of suitors and 4 of them are in his preferred Northeast: Philadelphia, NYY, NYM, and Baltimore. Dave Dombrowski has already spoken to the Bader team, but since Bader had his best year, they want to ride this out and see what they can get. While he definitely found a home in Philadelphia, I think he is also hoping that his hometown team, NYY, wants him.
There are three other teams that seem interested: Giants, LAA, and KC. KC has Kyle Isbel, who right now is a better defensive CF, so I do not understand why they would want Bader. They do need OF, but Bader does not push the needle much for that offensive thumper. He has never been on a WS winning team, so that could also play in his decision. Believing that both SFG and LAA are not true title contenders and are on the West Coast, does not bode well for them.
If I were predicting, I would say that Bader re-signs with Philadelphia, with NYY and NYM as fall back options.
Just because we fans may want a certain player does not necessarily make it a possibility. And if that player does not sign with LAD does not make it AF/BG’s fault. There are a number of players who do not want to play with LAD. I think the same is true for Cody Bellinger. Some may want him back with the Dodgers, but I doubt that he would have interest in coming back to LAD where he and the team did not part amicably.
Not all players like to play on the big stage. Maybe that is why Byron Buxton is so comfortable in Minnesota. He may agree to waive his no-trade, but there is a real possibility that LAD would not make the cut for his acceptable teams.
I don’t want Bader.
Me neither. We need a bigger bat
It will be interesting in watching Seattle this Winter. They have a 22 year old top catcher prospect in Harry Ford (1st round/12th overall). He is the third best catcher prospect per MLB Pipeline. But he is blocked by Cal Raleigh. I wonder if Mariner fans are clamoring for Raleigh to move so that Ford can be the regular catcher. MLBTR wonders whether Ford will end up the backup catcher or get traded. The difference there is that Raleigh could spend more time as a DH giving Ford more opportunities. Like Rushing, Seattle played Ford in LF in 2024 in MiLB. He did not play in LF in 2025 or anywhere other than catcher/DH.
Rushng could be our starting 1b in 2028 after FF’s contract is up. Woukd be his first year of arb.
So instead of maxing his trade value, you would rather keep him as a backup catcher to maybe be a 1B when Freddie’s contract is up at 27? Rushing is a catcher.
I don’t expect Freddie to leave after 2027. I assume he’ll sign on for another 2 or 3 years after that.
I agree. So why are fans thinking that Rushing will be 1B in 2028?
Because they don’t know what we know. 😂
If he is a weak pitch blocker then he might be a weak scooper at first. I’m not going to trust Rushing until he cuts his Ks.
Someone with more connections than any of us, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reports the Dodgers aren’t interested in the big, lengthy contract analysts expect Tucker to land in the winter.
Well I hope they are right. Just sign Bader and a high leverage reliever.
Just noise
Why, you have better information? Please share.
Just re-read some of the posts and I know you are all waiting eagerly for my sage insights….
–Re Rushing, the Dodgers can still trade him in the right deal and find a suitable backup. Perhaps Rushing could be the big piece in a package for Byron Buxton, for example. How about: Rushing, Kendall George/Ryan Ward, Wrobleski, Casparius… Something like that.
–Re Teo. I’m feeling conflicted. Should he stay or should he go? I’ve put him in various fantasy deals, but simply shifting him to LF would alleviate much of his shortcomings on defense. The Dodgers, and fans, would miss his upbeat personality and power. Still, a deal built around Teo for Abreu or Duran would make the Dodgers younger.
Decisions, decisions…
If the Dodgers pass on Tucker and swing a trad for Buxton, they could shift Pages to RF and move Teo to LF…. An outfield that reads Teo-Buxton-Pages would be a potent force–and Call can be Teo’s late-inning defensive replacement.
–Ryan Ward. The Dodgers just traded the other recent 40-man addition, Robinson Ortiz, for a low-level minor leaguer. At 27, Ward profiles a late bloomer coming of an MVP season in AAA ball. If the Dodgers deal him, it should be in a package for an impact player like Buxton. But I’d be happy to see Ward finally get a fair shake from the Dodgers, perhaps in a platoon in LF with Call.
Maybe someone can explain to me why everyone seems to think we can hide Teo in left field. In LF he’s probably going to get more chances than in RF since there are more righty hitters. The only difference would be that he wouldn’t need as strong an arm in left, but last I looked throwing wasn’t his main problem.
I’m going to leave this decision to the front office. If they think his health will be better next year and that will lead to a passable defensive performance, I’ll be fine with keeping him. Whether he plays in LF or RF will depend what other outfield moves they make, if any.
Left field is closer to third base.