We just do not know what they will be!!
If nothing changes, the Dodgers have a few questions on relief pitching, but not much else.
Relievers projected by Fangraphs’ Roster Resource to be on the 26-man roster:
- Edwin Díaz (RHRP)
- Tanner Scott (LHRP)
- Blake Treinen (RHRP)
- Alex Vesia (LHRP)
- Will Klein (RHRP)
- Brusdar Graterol (RHRP)
- Anthony Banda (LHRP)
- Ben Casparius (RHRP)
Brock Stewart (RHRP) will start the season on the IL.
If Blake Treinen returns to his healthy self, he can dominate. If he gets hurt again, it will be time to move on. They have plenty of capable relievers to replace him. He has been so good for so long, that he deserves another opportunity.
Other relievers on the 40-man roster pushed to OKC per Fangraphs’ Roster Resource:
- Jack Dreyer (LHRP)
- Edgardo Henriquez (RHRP)
- Paul Gervase (RHRP)
- Ronan Kopp (LHRP)
- Bobby Miller (RHRP)
Potential relievers on the 40-man roster who are still considered SP per Fangraphs’ Roster Resource:
- Justin Wrobleski (LHP)
- Kyle Hurt (RHP)
- Landon Knack (RHP)
Starting pitchers on the 40-man roster who are scheduled to start the season in OKC:
- Gavin Stone (RHP)
- River Ryan (RHP)
With the projected relievers on the 26-man, here is the projected OKC rotation:
- Gavin Stone (RHSP) – 40-man
- River Ryan (RHSP) – 40-man
- Justin Wrobleski (LHSP) – 40-man
- Kyle Hurt (RHSP) – 40-man
- Landon Knack (RHSP) – 40-man
- Chris Campos (RHSP)
The key relievers at OKC figure to be:
- Jack Dreyer (LHRP) – 40-man
- Edgardo Henriquez (RHRP) – 40-man
- Paul Gervase (RHRP) – 40-man
- Ronan Kopp (LHRP) – 40-man
- Bobby Miller (RHRP) – 40-man
- José Rodriguez (RHRP)
- Lucas Wepf (RHRP)
- Antoine Kelly (newest) (LHRP)
Pitching looks to be very deep, but what about the other positions?
The starters figure to be (again per Fangraphs’ Roster Resource):
- C – Will Smith (R)
- 1B – Freddie Freeman (L)
- 2B – Hyeseong Kim (L)
- 3B – Max Muncy (L)
- SS – Mookie Betts (R)
- LF – Alex Call (R)
- CF – Andy Pages (R)
- RF – Teoscar Hernández (R)
- DH – Shohei Ohtani (L)
Bench:
- C – Dalton Rushing (L)
- INF – Miguel Rojas (R)
- OF – Ryan Ward (L)
- INF – Alex Freeland (S)
Tommy Edman figures to start the season on IL. That will leave Mike Siani and Esteury Ruiz as the sole remaining players on the 40-man roster to start in OKC. Neither player is knocking hard on the MLB ready door.
That’s it. No MLB ready C, 1B, 2B, 3B, or SS. Very heavy with pitching. I know, you can never have enough pitching. And what are the chances they all stay healthy?
Any injuries on the 26 man, outside of pitching, figures to present a problem. And with the Dodgers’ regulars age, they may have to figure out a creative way of making it through the 162-game season. Injuries will be a concern with Edman and Freeman already starting the year hurting. Teoscar and Max suffered soft tissue injuries last year, with Max experiencing soft tissue injuries multiple years now.
It is uneasy for me that the Dodgers appear to be closer to trading for LHSP Tarik Skubal than an elite OF or 2B/3B. The Dodgers clear primary asset is $$$$. It certainly appears that they do not really value the draft. Even with that, I do not figure they will lose 2 more draft picks by signing Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette. Maybe they sign a FA pitcher that did not sign a QO making it easier to trade from their current stable of pitchers.
Are there bad contracts they can take on and get an elite player back in trade?
As a CPA, I am detailed oriented, and somewhat of a control freak. While I believe that AF/BG have everything under control, they have not shared those ideas with me (how rude of them), and I am not comfortable not knowing.
The Dodgers do not have a Junior Caminero, Brice Turang, Nico Hoerner, PCA, Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., or Jackson Chourio close to MLB in their organization. Could they uncover a Kyle Stowers or Jakob Marsee clone? The Dodgers do not have a 3-time batting champ like Luis Arráez to use to acquire Marsee and others. It took Trevor Rogers to get Stowers and Connor Norby. Emmet Sheehan is controllable and figures to be in a rotation for most if not every MLB team. He could bring back a significant haul, including young MLB players and/or top MiLB prospects ready for MLB. But will AF/BG be so inclined?
Multiple teams have been linked with a possible trade with Houston for Isaac Paredes. The Dodgers do not appear to be one of those teams. Paredes is not a player who will shine with a glove, but he was a 130 OPS+ hitter for Tampa Bay at the age of 24 in 2023, and as a 26-year-old he was a 123 OPS+ hitter for Houston in 2025.
I am sure there are a dozen players outside of the “already made its” who have caught the eye of AF/BG. Will AF/BG go for the high-profile MLB ready player or the established player?
Chances are it will be the established player that will help to cement the 2026 Dodgers roster in their quest for a 3-peat.
There are several who think that resigning Kike will happen after he has recovered from his surgery. My problem with that is Kike does not make the offense better and he himself is now approaching his mid-30s. He has never been a great offensive player during the regular season, and his post-season numbers last season were not all that awe inspiring. I believe they need an influx of youth on the offensive side of the game. Hopefully Kim will be a spark plug, and Ward gets a shot at some significant playing time early to show what he can do. I would love to see them get a significant bat, but I doubt that will happen. There is also a rumor that Justin Turner will sign a one-day deal and retire a Dodger. I could see that.
Defense played a big role in the WS.
I expect Kike to be back even though the Dodgers could upgrade. Like Teo, he seems vital to the team chemistry. “The Hernandez Brother” could go after another ring.
Edman also figures to be delayed, though not as long as Kike. Perhaps Freeland and Siani will have a chance to show they belong in the first few weeks of the season.
When I look at that roster, I’m struck–again–by the embarrassment of riches. It makes me want to overpay for Buxton, in part because it’s so unlikely that the Twins will be a factor in October and in part because Buxton is a risky, high-upside. Why not? YOLO!
An overpay with a contender could be a problem.
I agree with Bear’s assessment of Kiki. He isn’t “vital to team chemistry”. You have Teoscar (for now) to maintain chemistry along with a mostly veteran team.
No to Buxton as well. With an aging veteran team that will be more susceptible to injuries, the last thing the team needs is a another aging player with a awful history of injuries.
I would like them to trade for Brendan Donovan in lieu of resigning Kiki.
He’s younger and way more productive at the plate. He may not have the defensive skills of Kiki, but his position flexibility is right in the Dodger wheelhouse.
I’m still on the Wilyer Abreu trade bandwagon. After reading Timmons evaluation of Pages in CF, and he being only 25, I believe can can continue to improve at the position. If in fact the Dodgers agree, then trading for Abreu to play RF and move Teoscar to LF should really help shore up the defense. Alex Call would be available to fill in at LF or RF when necessary. Edman, on his return, be the backup in CF.
With their pitching depth, I don’t understand the possibility of Dodgers trading for Skubal. Like Jeff mentioned, the Dodgers would seem to be better off using prospects to add position depth or starters like the two players I mentioned above.
I guess we will wait and see what else AF and BG might surprise us with.
Carry on.
I don’t think they need Kike. He is a redundant piece. He is mediocre during the season and he is another year older. They have too many utility types as it is. Buxton is injury prone. They have enough of that too. Get someone younger who can stay on the field.
I love Keekay but I’m ready to move on
Buxton’s numbers over the years are both impressive and a bit troubling. For whatever the reasons he’s not been an everyday player. But maybe the Dodgers don’t need that. Maybe 450 at bats and 30 home runs would work. Personally I would like to see every day players added. Who that might be I don’t know but someone under 30 would have a better chance at being that guy.
I like Kiké but the Dodgers appear to be deep in utility players already. Looking at the fangraphs roster resource page shows Kim, Edman, Freeland, Rojas and Call. (Ryan Ward isn’t even listed) If that’s how it shakes down in late April there doesn’t appear to be room for Kiké. Of course anything can happen over the course of a long year and knowing the Dodgers history it probably will.
Reviewing the Dodgers pitching roster above (another great piece Jeff, thank you) one could say the Dodgers are going to make up for any lineup inconsistencies with dominant pitching. I’m ok with that.
I’d be more optimistic with Ward if he had ever been ranked in the top 30 Dodger prospects
Good read. I’m not sure what to think of any noise about pitching. I think we already have all we need and if anything I’d expect a small reliever-for-prospects deal involving someone like Banda.
On the positional front, it’s clear we need a starting OF. If the org is fine with Freeland being a utility IF then we may stand pat there too. Due to the strength of the rest of the IF, I think we can get by with Edman/Kim/Freeland at 2B.
So the only question really remains how big to swing for an OF. Tucker, Duran, Bader, Isaac Collins?
I think we need an impact athletic player so I’ll go with Duran. Not sure the cost. Maybe that’s where our depth comes in. I find it hard to believe Glasnow is viewed as a savior by other teams.
I do not think that AF/BG will trade for Skubal. I am not in favor of it either. My point was Skubal is the only smoke out there. No smoke on either of the Boston OF. In fact, The Athletic had a nice article where the author (Jim Bowden, I believe), said that Boston is looking for an impact corner INF. Don’t think the Dodgers match up well there.
No smoke on Buxton or Donovan. The Dodgers do not match up well with many teams. In that same article, Bowden indicated trades are more MLB player for MLB player or MLB ready. IMO, that is not new. The prospects are mentioned at the Deadline, not so much in the Winter. Teams want young and controllable players with MLB experience. The Dodgers have one…Emmet Sheehan, with any potential significant return.
The 2026 regular season Dodgers will be a balancing act of slow-playing our high-end pitchers and our aging position players.
Young Dodger arms like Wrobleski, Knack, Hurt, Ryan, Stone, et al will get plenty of innings to prove themselves.
As for position players, I think it’s reasonable to assume Muncy, Freeman, Teo and maybe even Smith and/or Mookie, will spend time on the injured dealing with minor (hopefully) injuries.
The Dodgers will at times look like a minor league team with a few all-stars (Shohei) sprinkled in.
This can work if we have depth amongst position players or players like Call, Kim, Pages play above past performaces.
Your first two paragraphs are dead on.
How many innings/ABs can we get from the young players and stay in the lead?
Hint: the more the better.
With an aging roster we have to gradually turn it over. Experience will only help the greenies.
Dodgers not worried about getting younger trying to three peat. It’s all about getting better right now. Getting younger will happen in 27 when young outfielders ready to join the club. I’d be giving DePaula some time at 1B to replace Freddie. Priority for me this year is getting the biggest bat that we can. Another year older isn’t going to be better for this lineup. The only two guys I see having better years in 26 are a healthy Edman and Mookie. Freddie, Teo and Max are all on the wrong side of the age curve. Ohtani will be pitching full time and it will have a negative effect on his offense. Pages and Smith both had ceiling years in 25 and will be fortunate to match those numbers. This was not a good offense in second half of last year and needs some help in 26. It would be a shame to lose 2-1 games in October.
I actually am quite concerned about the offense. My son & I still talk through the WS win:
G1: Get stomped
G2: The Yamamoto game
G3: Offense does nothing for like ten innings straight
G4/G5: Pretty noncompetitive losses
G6: Early 3-0 lead barely holds up
G7: Three late HRs save our season
Hats off to Toronto’s pitching but our bats were outshined. That can’t happen again.
you’re right, had we not won, this would be the narrative.
Sounds like something might happen on the position player side. Stay tuned.
Well that’s definitely not Tarik Skubal, as he has zero hits in 2 at bats, so he’s not good on both sides of the ball.
Just sign Bader for 2 years. A lot of problems solved. Doesn’t block our up and coming OF prospects. Makes our outfield defense better. Pages to RF. Teo to LF. I would like to see Teo traded and Ward and Call given a shot. If they fail, improve at the deadline.
Who do you want to get with a trade package that includes Teo?
I prefer to start Freeland at 3rd with Max part of the bench especially if Kawn or Tucker become Dodgers.
Well that’s not happening
Who is this Kawn you’re talking about?
Free land doesn’t hit well enough to start in front of Max .Get real guys Max is still a good stick.
Give a young guy a chance while Dodgers still have a fallback capability such as Max and Freddie still very good
It looks like Kenley has landed with the Tigers on a one year deal. No $ terms announced yet.
Phew
Does that comment indicate you didn’t want him here?
What if Andrew was willing to trade Max and make Kenley the third baseman. I bet you’d agree to that. 🙂
More likely to trade Rushing and make Kenley the backup catcher
Cardinals sign Dustin May for 1 year with a mutual option for 2027. Financial terms still coming.
Forget Teo to KC. Milwaukee traded OF Isaac Collins and RHRP Nick Mears to KC for LHRP Angel Zerpa. Not sure what Milwaukee’s motivation for this deal was. Nick Mears looks to be a better reliever than Zerpa, and KC also got a sneaky good OF, Isaac Collins. Milwaukee does have LH relievers. I like the KC side of this deal.
I actually had been looking up Collins last couple of days. I think we’re hubting something bigger.
NorCal, thanks for that Friedman interview I hadn’t seen it, and it was nice to hear that Andrew is still working on some things, we usually don’t hear much from the Dodgers FO, they are to good at keeping secrets.