It certainly appears as if the hot stove league broke out strong with a lot of smoke, but there really is no fire yet. Mostly a lot of kicking tires and getting ready for the Winter Meetings that begin a week from Sunday (December 7), but the movement is more brisk than the last two years.
Four players accepted QO of $22.05MM this year.
- Brandon Woodruff (RHSP) – Milwaukee
- Trent Grisham (OF) – NYY
- Shota Imanaga (RHSP) – Cubs
- Gleyber Torres (2B) – Detroit
Top free agents signing started on November 17 with 1B Josh Naylor, who re-signed with Seattle for 5 years, $92.5MM.
That was followed by:
- November 19 – RHRP Raisel Iglesias re-signed with Atlanta, 1 year, $16MM.
- November 26 – RHSP Dylan Cease signed with Toronto for 7 years, $210MM, including deferrals making the present value of the contract guesstimated to be around $185.5MM (per Spotrac).
- November 29 – RHRP Ryan Helsley signed with Baltimore for 2 years, $26MM, with an opt out after 1st
Eight other not as significant FA signings thus far in November:
- RHRP Keegan Thompson – 1 year split contract; $1.3MM MLB, $300K MiLB
- OF Leody Tavares – 1 year, $2MM, Baltimore
- RHRP Alex Lange – 1 year, $900K, Kansas City
- Catcher James McCann – 1 year, 2.75MM, Arizona
- OF Jake Fraley – 1 year, 1 year, $3MM, Tampa Bay
- RHRP Joel Payamps – 1 year, $2.25MM, Atlanta
- RHRP Ryan Yarbrough – 1 year, $2.5MM, NYY
- RHRP Phil Maton – 2 years, $14.5MM, Chicago Cubs
- LHRP Sam Hentges – 1 year, $1.4MM, San Francisco
Before the 2024 Winter Meetings there were 22 free agent signings, 11 in November, including Blake Snell on 11-24-2024.
Before the 2023 Winter Meetings there were 31 free agent signings, 15 in November. The Dodgers signed Ricky Vanasco (11-16-2023) and Joe Kelly (12-02-2023) before the Winter Meeting.
As usual there are numerous MiLB FA signings throughout MLB. The Dodgers have signed four thus far, only two with professional experience, both assigned to OKC:
- Eliezer Alfonzo – Catcher, assigned OKC
- Antoine Kelly – LHP, assigned OKC
- Nick Putnam – RHP, assigned ACL Dodgers (Rookie League)
- Junior Pena – LHP – Not yet assigned, but at 17 years old seems headed to one of two LAD DSL teams.
Thus far there have been four significant trades:
- Angels trade OF Taylor Ward to Baltimore for RHSP Grayson Rodriguez.
- Louis trades RHSP Sonny Gray to Boston for RHSP Richard Fitts and $20MM cash.
- Houston trades utility Mauricio Dubón to Atlanta for SS Nick Allen.
- Mets trade OF Brandon Nimmo to Texas for 2B Marcus Semien.
There is still time for AF/BG to sign someone before next Sunday.
One interesting storyline starting to percolate is Milwaukee might be having a payroll crunch. So much so that there are rumors that Ace RHSP Freddy Peralta could be traded. He is owed only $8MM for 2026, his final year before free agency.
The thinking about trading Peralta makes little sense after giving RHSP Brandon Woodruff a QO paying him $22.05MM. I assume that Milwaukee did not anticipate Woodruff accepting the offer. The Brewers need Peralta if they still want to contend in 2025.
Instead, the rumors have Milwaukee shopping RHRPs Trevor Megill ($4.2MM) and Nick Mears ($1.6MM). They both have 2 years of control.
The Brewers are still struggling to justify the Christian Yelich contract. He signed a 9 year, $215MM contract. For the 1st 6 years, he has played to a $105.5MM value. He has three years to play to a 13.7 fWAR and $109.5 fWAR. That is averaging 4.6 fWAR per season for the next three years. That is hard for Milwaukee to overcome.
IMO, the Dodgers could make a run for Trevor Megill rather than sign a multi-year deal for another reliever. They could do a lot worse.
While I would be okay with Ryan Ward in LF, I am not AF/BG. It is not in their DNA to choose an unproven rookie when they can get a veteran. I honestly do not see the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, but I can see them trading for one of the Boston outfielders: Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu. Duran has three years control while Abreu has 4 years.
Other OF brought up by fans:
- PCA – Bums dream CF, let him have it.
- Byron Buxton
- Luis Robert Jr.
- Harrison Bader
- Steven Kwan
- Brendan Donovan
- Addison Barger
I do not see them signing Bo Bichette, but he is a better potential LAD FA option than Tucker.
- Ernie Clement
- Brendan Donovan
- Addison Barger
- Royce Lewis
- Alec Bohm
- Nico Hoerner
- Munetaka Murakami
- Kazuma Okamoto
- Brandon Lowe
The Dodgers have been linked to every FA reliever, and is more than capable of trading for any available reliever.
I also would not be surprised if the Dodgers come away with another SP to further their depth and open other trade avenues.
We have a week before the MLB executives, players/agents, managers/staff all get together. Who knows maybe the picture will become more clear for the Winter Meetings.
I think I agree on Tucker. So close to prospect time. Bader is a pretty good fit.
Backstage Dodgers on the 2025 WS Championship run. If this doesn’t get the juices flowing for 2026…… nothing will.
I know we have to get younger and more athletic, but if Miggy Ro is not re-signed it would be very disappointing. Enjoy!
I just watched this. I think we took the Blue Jays lightly. Coming off a 4-game sweep we were smacked in the face. Game 3 was a miracle and I think we celebrated that one a bit too much. Still crazy we survived all that. Freaking Rojas.
What is the name of the song at the end of the you tube?
“Parade” by Kevin Morby
Thank you
Is there any way to embed a twitter post in the comments? I found an interesting tweet by AT(@YankeeWRLD) mentioning how weak 2026-2027 FA is going to be outside of Tarik Skubal. And hence why Tucker is so popular – not that I am advocating Dodgers to go out and acquire Tucker.
Thank you
I’ve seen Megill rumors as well. Either him or Williams/Fairbanks is my guess. No to Tucker or Bellinger.
Made it to California safely.
On one hand, I know for a fact we’re not going into 2026 Threepeat Year with Ward/Call platooning in LF. BUT, as easy as outbidding everyone for Tucker would be, that’s only the best option up to a point; past that it cripples you. I’m sure we’ll look at opportunistic trades [Buxton or Duran?] but I don’t see us overextending on prospect cost.
If we’re trading Sheehan & Freeland somewhere, for example, it needs to be a player coming back.
Do you like Pages in CF or do you think the FO prefers.Tommy there? Do you think Teo should move to leftfield?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are worth an estimated $7.73 billion as of March 2025
In N Out Burger began in 1948 with a 10 foot hamburger stand and is now worth $7.3 billion as of July 2025.
Put one inside Dodger Stadium and watch the lines form.
Not a bad profit, about about 5.6 billion in thirteen and a half years. This has been a fantastic ownership group I don’t begrudge them one bit.
The Astros are willing to trade Jake Myers for a controllable starter.
I like Jake Meyers. He is two years younger than Harrison Bader, but without the power. Bader might be willing to sign a two year deal, and that would give him the same team control as Meyers. I still think Bader prefers east coast. If the Dodgers cannot get Bader, Meyers would be a nice fall back as a bridge to Sirota. But Houston wants a controllable starter. The Dodgers are not trading Sasaki, Sheehan, Gavin Stone, or River Ryan for Meyers, and Houston would not bite on Casparius or Wrobleski or Miller. The closest baseball trade value I could see was Kyle Hurt. The Dodgers could throw in Alex Call so Houston had a capable CF. But would Houston want to gamble on Hurt as a SP and one just coming off TJ surgery? Ferris would be a comp, but he is a year away.
Maybe if Houston is willing to move Isaac Paredes the Dodgers could push the rotation starter
Just read that. I like that guy, he is a solid defender and has decent power.
Astros open to trading CF Jake Myers for pitching help. LH hittting CF who is very good defensively. Good contact hitter.
Given the fact Max Muncy is in his mid-30s and has one year left on his current contract, the Los Angeles Dodgers could be in the market for a third baseman relatively soon.
According to The Chosun Daily, the Dodgers are considering bringing on Korean infielder Sun-Mun Song. While Japanese players Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto have higher profiles, Song could end up being the better fit for the Dodgers.
Song, 29, has the reputation as a very solid defender with a good bat. For his ballclub Kiwoom in the KBO this past year, Song hit .315 with 26 homers and 90 runs batted in. This included a .917 OPS and 37 doubles. Song also struck out only 96 times in 646 plate appearances.
The infielder has seen time at third base, first base, and second base. A left-handed hitter, he’d offer some better balance to what’s been a right-handed-heavy group over the last few years.
Hyeseong Kim was Song’s Kiwoom Heroes teammate in Korea. Kim is also LH and is 3 years younger. In Kim’s final year in Korea he batted .326/.383/.458/.840, with a 10.9% K rate, and a GG at 2B.
Song has more power, but does strike out a bit higher (14.9%). While not as gifted with the glove, he is not a bad defensive infielder. Song does have more experience at 3B than Kim.
Ha-Seong Kim, also from Kiwoom Heroes, was the best of the three Korean infielders from Korea. He hit more HRs and struck out less than Song.
All three are best utilized as utility players. I am not sure that Song provides any upgrade over Hyeseong Kim. Plus, he does not provide Muncy with a platoon partner as both hit LH. He would not be near the top of my 3B wish list, but the Dodgers do love their utility players.
Agree he’s a better fit if RHH
Bear what is your thought on stowers the kid from Miami . What could the dodgers give up for him
He is 27 years old, under team control for 5 more years. Excellent fielder who plays LF most of the time. If Miami was inclined to trade him, it would probably take at least 2 of the Dodgers top prospects if not more. Doubtful they have any position player that would interest the Marlins except maybe Pages.
Devin Williams signs a 3-year deal with the Mets
Well that takes him off the list, he was the guy I thought the Dodgers would go after, ok so let’s go get Suarez now.
I know I am a little late and this was discussed on a previous post. I’ve been taking a short break from writing and Dodgers to focus on work and holiday stuff. But my opinion is that you should keep going over here Jeff. I’m not just saying this because of Mark’s site, or any kind of animosity towards Mark or anyone. For the record, I have no issue with Mark at all, and wish him nothing but the best. I even apologized to him for saying some pretty harsh words towards him. I think that is all water under the bridge now.
I say this because you do a fine job over here Jeff and I think it is always best to be in control of your own site. (unless it is a tomb where nobody visits anymore like my site). It’s always better to have your own place where you can control and have a home. It’s like owning your own house. Always better to own than rent, even though it can be exponentially more expensive to own then rent.
Perhaps you can cut costs by switching to a different hosting provider? I pay around 300 dollars per year to host LADR. Granted I do not get as much traffic as I used to back in the glory days, but I am not paying in the thousands of dollars every year. Unless you had to upgrade to support the increased page views and traffic. I’ve never had any tech support, just myself, google search, and a wing and prayer.
I’m just saying you do a fine job Jeff and this is a good place. Stick with it if you can. I would support you no matter where you decide to write.