2026 LAD Free Agents:
- Michael Conforto – $17MM
- Clayton Kershaw – $16MM ($8.5MM in incentives)
- Max Muncy – $14.5MM – Has club option for $10MM
- Kirby Yates – $13MM
- Kiké Hernández – $6.5MM
- Tony Gonsolin – $5.4MM (Assume the Dodgers will non-tender Tony)
- Michael Kopech – $5.2MM
- Miguel Rojas – $5.0MM
Assuming the Dodgers exercise Max’s $10MM club option and re-sign Miggy Ro for the same $5MM, the Dodgers payroll will reduce by $67.6MM. That will be reduced by some increases in arbitration:
- Evan Phillips – $6.1MM (2025 salary)
- Brusdar Graterol – $2.8MM
- Ben Rortvedt – $1.125MM
- Anthony Banda – $1MM
- Emmet Sheehan – A1
- Esteury Ruiz – A1
There will be some additional considerations for AF/BG.
- I think Ruiz joins Gonsolin as a non-tender
- What to do with Evan Phillips? Phillips will become a FA after next season. Do the Dodgers want to pay him at least $6.1MM for three months? He is not going to get a cut. I do not see him returning from TJ surgery and ready to pitch in MLB until July. Perhaps they will. He would certainly be a nice deadline pickup, and they can certainly afford $6.1MM. It is also possible that the Dodgers do a 2-year deal with Phillips backloading the salary into year 2. Add on an option. Phillips deserves a legit consideration to remain. But it has to go both ways. How would Phillips feel about such a scenario? If the Dodgers did non-tender him, I do not think he would find a better deal out there, so why not stay with the team that developed you.
Just for kicks – Sign Phillips for 2 years $10MM, and a club option for $10MM with a $2.2MM buyout. That doubles his guaranteed $$$, and could increase by another $7.8MM for 2028 if LAD exercises the option. That would also give him assurance that he would have a job after next season with the distinct possibility of a work stoppage.
Let’s assume that Graterol, Rortvedt, Banda and Sheehan increase the payroll by $5MM. That will give the Dodgers north of $60MM to sign and/or trade for improvements for 2026.
I have already stated that IMO CF is the best position for improvement. Here are the noted Free Agent CF.
Cody Bellinger (30 years old) – player option (-3 DRS)
Harrison Bader (32) – mutual option (+6 DRS)
Trent Grisham (29) – (-11 DRS)
Cedric Mullins (31) – (-14 DRS)
Luis Robert Jr. (28) — club option (0 DRS)
Michael A. Taylor (35) – No reason to consider
Garrett Hampson (31) – No reason to consider
Manuel Margot (31) – No reason to consider
Cody Bellinger (30) – Cody is more of a LF now who can play CF. He was a +7DRS in LF, but -3 for CF. He has not been a plus DRS CF since 2020. IMO, Cody opted out so that he could re-negotiate with NYY. He can play CF, but he will be insurance if Jasson Domínguez does not play at his expected level. Jim Bowden and The Athletic projects Belli to get 6 years $168MM. $28MM AAV. That will take him through his Age 35 season.
Trent Grisham (29) and Cedric Mullins (31) are now considered poor defensive CF per fielding metrics. However, this is the first year that Grisham has been considered a poor defensive CF. He is a 2X GG winner (2020 and 2022). Offensively, this was Grisham’s best year, however, he has extreme splits. He hits RHP well, but is not good against LHP. Grisham broke into MLB with Milwaukee at 22. He will be 28 in 2026. Bowden predicts Grisham to sign a 2-year $30 MM deal.
Cedric Mullins has now had back to back negative defensive metrics. His last good offensive year was 2021. Baltimore accepted the mediocre offense because of his defense, but that has dissipated. Bowden list Mullins as his #50 top FA, and expects him to sign a 1 year $8MM deal.
Harrison Bader (32) continues to have positive defensive metrics. He had a +7 DRS in LF, and +6 DRS in CF. He had his best offensive period with Philadelphia in 2025. He has a $10MM mutual option. Harrison loves the East Coast. This could be one of those very rare times that both the player and the team exercise the mutual option. There is a high probability that Philadelphia will exercise the option. Now it comes down to will Bader exercise it to make $10MM for 1 year. Maybe he wants a multi-year deal. Maybe Philadelphia convinces Bader to sign a $10MM contract with another option with a higher buyout.
Luis Robert Jr. has two $20MM club options. We have no idea yet as to whether Robert Jr.’s option will be exercised by CWS. The Qualifying Offer for FA this year is $22.025MM. Do they not exercise his option but tack him with a QO so they could get something for him? CWS may fear that Robert Jr. will accept the QO. Or do they exercise his option and hope to trade him. It did not work last year. We will learn some time next week what happens with Luis Robert Jr. Jim Bowden had no idea how to read this one.
Since the Dodgers do not have a MLB ready CF, the other manner they could find a CF is via trade. Who are my elite CF for LAD to consider.
- Ceddanne Rafaela (25) – Boston (+20 DRS)
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (24) – Chicago Cubs (+15)
- Daulton Varsho (29) – Toronto (+10, 68 games)
- Julio Rodriguez (25) – Seattle (+9)
Next Tier
- Jacob Young (26) – Washington (+13)
- Victor Scott II (25) – St. Louis (+12)
- Michael Harris II (25) – Atlanta (+6)
- Myles Straw (31) – Toronto (+15)
- Jake Meyers (25) – Houston (+3)
- Kyle Isbel (29) – KC (+9)
Boston will try to move Jarren Duran (LF) before they even consider Rafaella. Rafaella has signed an 8 year $50MM contract to run through 2031. Extremely unlikely that Boston will trade Rafaella.
Pete Crow-Armstrong was right behind Rafaella as an elite defensive CF guru. He had his best offensive, including 31 HR. He does strike out a bit, and does not walk enough, but plenty of time to improve in those areas. He is a super 2 arbitration player who is not yet eligible for arbitration (2027). He is team controlled through 2030. Does anybody really believe the Cubs would even consider trading him?
Julio Rodríguez is potentially controlled through 2034 with a reasonable contract. In 4 years of MLB experience, he was ROY, 3X All Star, and 2 X Silver Slugger. He is not getting traded.
Other than Rafaella, my first target would be Daulton Varsho. Varsho has one more year of arbitration, and will become a FA after next year. He made $8.2MM last year. I readily acknowledge that Toronto has sufficient payroll capacity to manage whatever increase in arbitration salary he will receive. Bo Bichette wants to remain with Toronto and I would guess that Toronto would like to keep him. Jim Bowden predicts Bichette to get a 7 year $289MM deal. Toronto is going to need pitching and they are not afraid to pay free agent deals for pitching. Varsho has had a couple of injury marred seasons with a shoulder and hamstring issue. His shoulder is still a concern. He will have all winter to build up.
I am thinking that if Toronto wants Bichette, and needs to allocate $$ to pitching, and with Varsho’s injury history, they may want to try and leverage Varsho to maximize their return. LAD has MLB and MLB ready pitching and elite OF prospects. Toronto also has Myles Straw they can utilize in CF.
Tier II:
Jacob Young – His OPS+ was 68. He will become a FA in 2030. He is an elite defensive CF, but just does not hit enough. I do think Washington is willing to move him. I just do not think he is good enough to spike the LAD interest.
Victor Scott II – His OPS+ was 72, and will become a FA in 2031. St. Louis is going to be in a rebuild, and Scott is the type of player they will want to build around. They would look to trade Lars Nootbaar. Nootbaar is an OF who can play CF, not a CF. Dodgers have one of those.
Michael Harris II – His OPS+ was a more palatable 88. He signed an 8 year deal for $72MM that runs through 2030. He has a club option for $15MM with a $5MM buyout for 2031 and a $20MM option also with a $5MM buyout. Harris is not the player the Braves will trade to reduce their payroll, and is needed for their rebuild.
Myles Straw – His OPS+ was 87. Straw is owed $7.4MM for 2026 with options of $8MM for 2027 ($1.75MM buyout) and $8.5MM for 2028 ($500K buyout).
Jake Meyers – His OPS+ was 103. He is a good defensive CF, even if not quite at the elite level. He is in his 2nd year arbitration, and will be a FA for 2028.
Kyle Isbel – His OPS+ was 83. Like Meyers, Isbel is in his 2nd year of arbitration and will become a FA in 2028. KC is a monstrous stadium and requires .an elite defensive CF. KC needs OF production, but IMO they will try to find that without trading Isbel. One of their options is to re-sign Mike Yasztremski who hit very well for KC after being traded. They also have pitching they can trade for that OF production.
IMO, the Dodgers next CF is probably 2 years away. Mike Sirota (23) should be in AA with Josue De Paula (21) and Zyhir Hope (22) to form a very formidable OF. It is about time the Dodgers pushed their players.
Kendall George is more of a 4th OF. A better Justin Dean if you will.
That means that the Dodgers need to bridge to make it to 2028. Varsho gives them one year, and they need two years. I would worry about the 2nd year in 2027. Maybe the Dodgers push Sirota to be ready in 2027. Maybe Tommy Edman could be a bridge for 2027.
If Harrison Bader does not stay with Philadelphia, and is willing to play on the West Coast, the Dodgers should vigorously pursue him.
Maybe Trent Grisham could be signed for two years to be that 2-year bridge. His $15MM AAV is not that onerous.
Myles Straw and Jake Meyers are two players who could be that bridge for two years.
There is virtually no chance the Dodgers have any chance to get an elite CF, however as I proposed, Daulton Varsho could be the one exception.
Whatever they do, this cannot make a mistake.
Harrison Bader makes a lot of sense.
Heck, he made a lot of sense this season too.
Here’s the might-have-been scenario:
Dodgers trade some prospects plus James Outman to the Twins for CF Harrison Bader and RP Louis Varland….
I also thought Bader made a lot of sense as a free agent last winter. Worst case: an excellent, energetic guy for CF who would be fine batting 8th or 9th. But AF, of course, had his heart set on paying a lot more for Conforto.
Spilt milk.
And now Louis Varland is kicking ass for the Blue Jays…
There’s a picture in the Times this morning of Ohtani in mid swing flailing away at a pitch that clearly fooled him. His hips are closed, his bottom hand is off the bat, his face looks like that of a puffer fish and his eyes are half closed staring forward to where he thought the pitch was going to be but obviously wasn’t.
And that picture sums up where this year’s Dodger team finds itself. They are back to the summer Dodgers. They can’t hit sh*t. Add to this problem a bullpen in disarray and by all appearances, and by what is being written about them, it’s all over but the nation of Canada shouting.
This team was initially constructed to win 116 games. Initially. It started like a rocket and it appears that rocket is listlessly parachuting to earth, landing with a thud on foreign soil.
There is a lot that needs to be addressed with this team, and with this organization. I’m sure there will continue to be stimulating conversation here and all over the internet throughout the winter. But in the meantime, there is a game to be played tonight. And to the Dodgers I will simply say this: get your heads out of your collective asses and put up a fight. I would also say “go down swinging” but I fear they may do exactly that – at pitches a foot outside or bouncing in the dirt.
I remain hopeful. Next game, next pitch. Make sure it’s a strike and drive it where it’s pitched.
The Blue Jays have outscored the Dodgers 29-18 in this World Series, with Toronto hitting .261/.341/.389 with a 105 wRC+ as a team compared to just .201/.296/.354 with a 79 wRC+. With runners in scoring position, the Blue Jays are hitting .282/.392/.436 with 51 such plate appearances in five games, while the Dodgers are 6-for-30 with no extra-base hits (.200/.286/.200) in only 36 PA.
No extra base hits with runners in scoring position. Someone has to be a hero tonight for the Dodgers to win. Who is that going to be? Andy Pages hits a three run HR to put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the fifth inning and Yammamoto pitches another gem.
Tomorrow is “all hands on deck” with Mookie being the hero. Ohtani starts and goes 2 innings, Glasnow pitches 4 innings and BP gets a shutdown 3 innings.
Book it. Go Dodgers!
I’ll take Duran
We don’t have to worry about the 27 season. We’ll be lucky if we get half a season in. There will be a lockout
2027 is Manfred’s last chance of achieving his goal of breaking the players union.
If there is, that will be it for me. Millionaires fighting billionaires and we pay for all of it? Screw that.
I would rather roll with Kike in CF or try Kim out there. We have guys in the minors for 2027. We seemed to have done just fine with Pages there this year. I would prefer Pages in RF Teo in LF and Kike/Kim/Edman in CF until one of the kids are ready.
Your outfield minus Kike’ is a strong possibility. My in-house long shot is Kendall George.
Iwould welcome Outman back.
What do the Cubs need? I want Armstrong. I’ll overpay.
I’m still a no on Muncy. Save $10M. Trade for Royce Lewis.
You are being funny here Bum, aren’t you? Why would anyone welcome a .100+ back in LA? Minnesota doesn’t even want him now after his .147, 7 RBIs year after the trade.
The Cubs would probably start with Pages, Emmet Sheehan, and Mike Sirota. Yes that is an extreme overpay, but why else would Chicago trade PCA.
That might be an overpay but I’m still not sure the Cubs would do it. Pages has probably lowered his trade value with his performance this October and Sirota is still a big unproven/unknown.
I agree that the Cubs would turn this down. But AF would not offer that much less any additional assets. So — No PCA is not getting traded. I know he was traded for, but it sure would be nice to have the Dodgers find their own PCA.
I would rather offer Pages, Sirota, Glasnow, and money. I was hoping Pepiot, Stone, and Sheehan would be long term pieces of the rotation.
You have been a no on Muncy since he signed with the Dodgers. 😄
Royce Lewis will not cost $10MM. He made $1.6MM last year and he will be entering his 2nd of 4 arbitration years. It will be the prospect capital required in a trade. I would start with Dalton Rushing (Minnesota needs a catcher), and go from there. Minnesota might be looking to move Ryan Jeffers. I have read that Washington is tiring of Keibert Ruiz making them a possible landing spot for Rushing as well.
Kendall George will be a better Justin Dean. Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero are clear upgrades over George (IMO). Brendan Tunink and Charles Davalan will get a shot in CF and are considered upgrades over George. The sleeper could be Kellon Lindsey who could find himself out in CF instead of SS. But I like him at SS.
Muncy intrigues me and annoys me. I hold two contrary thoughts in my head simultaneously. If Lewis winds up at $2.5M next year the Dodgers save $7.5M. I think a key-player trade involving Rushing and Lewis would be awesome.
I mention Kendall George only because maybe he could survive in the MLB by bunting, slapping, and otherwise just trying to make contact versus hitting the ball hard. The latter would require a lot more skill and experience.
Lindsey could be the Dodger version of the Padres Jackson Merrill. That would be nice.
As you know, I’ve been on the Royce Lewis bandwagon with you Fred. Just letting you know that I’m officially jumping off. His first two years were great and made me a huge supporter; however the last two years have been mediocre to poor and in the latter two years he had more at bats than the years he did well. That, coupled with his consistent inability to stay on the field convinces me we can find a better solution for third base. I’m just waiting for Jeff to come up with it.
Royce is a good defensive player with power. If he can be obtained for Rushing the Dodgers will have made a good swap.
I have a couple in mind, but only one seems feasible. That will be my next position wish list.
I like how you think there, Bum
Maybe a swap with Rushing?
Below is a link to an article that looks to be a scathing indictment on Tony Clark and financial improprieties involving a “youth baseball organization”, Players Way. There are a number of whistle blowers claiming MLBPA wasted $$$ on this organization. Tony Clark has been accused of self-dealing, misuse of resources and abuse of power at the union.
“By its own accounting, the union spent more than $3 million on Players Way from its founding in 2019 until November 2024. During that time, the union said, the company held six baseball clinics for kids, four “mental skills webinars” and several “panel discussions,” including one attended by Clark. The events could cost up to $499 to attend for a two-day camp, according to the website.”
“While the union said it has put $3.9 million into the company, two sources with knowledge of union finances and who have talked with investigators told ESPN that the amount is closer to $10 million.” The additional funding source is rumored to be MLB Players Inc., its for-profit licensing firm. “The Union also has a discretionary fund that they can pull from. Like Players Way, the finances of Players Inc. are not disclosed to the Department of Labor.”
Players Way lists its company headquarters at 13506 Summerport Village Parkway, Suite 226, in Windermere, Florida. The suite is a mailbox at a UPS Store.
Tony Clark could be in trouble here. Just how much will this hurt MLBPA and the upcoming Collective Bargaining negotiations?
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46770967/feds-probe-profit-venture-mlb-players-association-sent-millions
Per Buster Olney, Mookie will be batting cleanup, Edman to CF, and Miggy Ro at 2B.
Searching for answers this deep into the WS
“I’ve been searching …so long… to find an answer.”
Doc has pushed his cards to the middle of table and gone all in. Mookie probably should be hitting more like 6th or 7th.
Will it work? We shall see. I thought Doc might put Pages back in the line-up so my earlier prediction that Pages would hit a three-run HR has changed to Miggy Ro getting a big hit.
Even Doc has come around on the LAD piss poor aproach to hitting.
Hopefully this indicates Roberts will lobby Friedman/Gomes this off-season to embrace some new approaches to hitting, and then replace RVS with someone else.
Wayne I seriously believe that as the baseball pendulum swings, contact, defense and more winning (small) ball will be back in and the Brewers and Jays style of baseball will become more popular. At least I hope so.
I think it’s already swinging that way phil.
I nominate JD Martinez or Nomar.
Amen, and amen!
This is another reason why I love Roberts so much….he doesn’t hold back punches. He is not afraid to be non-political and tell it like it is.
If we’re going to go down, I’m glad it will be with Miggy in the lineup. And I’m sure if Phil gets over here today, he’ll second that opinion.
Mookie is the first hitter in history to be demoted to the cleanup spot.
I’d be tempted to put him lower, but who do you move up in a must win game on the road?
The guys that need to come through are the top 6 in the order. They are paid to hit. It’s time for them to earn their money.
Well that’s a great start!
STRONG SECOND STB. I lobbied for Edman to center and Miggy to 2nd just yesterday.
I skipped the part about Mookie moving to clean up.
Oh, I’m so predictable……………
ps – and young manager hires perhaps with successful college experience
The Dodgers cannot see a ball spinning forward. I don’t understand this. It looks completely different than a ball spinning backwards.
This is your moment Mookie
Yes!!!!!!!! Who decided to move Mookie to cleanup!!!!! So happy for Mookie!
Well at least we hit a fair ball in the 2nd!
Yamamoto may throw a complete game shutout and it might not be enough
So is this 21 Ks in last 33 outs?
No matter how many times it is said about swinging at bad pitches, it just doesn’t change.doesn’t change.
Even if Yamamoto throws a no-hitter, I am not convinced that the Dodgers will score.
Ohtani swung at first two splitters that were balls out of hand. Smith swung at four pitches that were all balls, three of which were balls out of hand (three splitters and 1 4-seamer). Freeman swung at one pitch that was a ball out of hand (splitter).
Teoscar swung at strike 3 that was a ball (splitter).
Muncy’s strike 2 was out of the zone.
I think the Dodgers are in a position to set a record for chases.
Why would any Blue Jays pitcher throw anything but a splitter. The Dodgers do not come close to hitting it.
OTOH, Lukes’ hit came on a splitter.
Yamo not so sharp tonite
Jays have better pitch recognition skills. Yamamoto will battle them.
Truer words have never been spoken…..or written
What a clutch pitch! Another great outing by Yamamoto even tho not as sharp as last outing. Can our bullpen bring it home and can this weak offense put another run on the board?
Looks like it will be the bullpen to win it. Gulp.
Teo. Just so pathetic. One hit from Freddie. Mookie or Teo puts this game away. The bottom of Toronto’s lineup is more productive than the heart of our lineup. Let’s see if Roki can bring it home
How many seeing eye hits do they have!!!!!!!!!
Just not enough. they needed 1 more
Wow! Shocking ending.
A very flawed team has made it to game 7! Major props to Roberts on his game 6 decisions!!
Great win!!
offense still sucks!!
wouldnt it be ironic if the dodgers put up a 10 spot tomorrow. They haven’t put a really good offensive game together yet!! They should be able to.
I will say Rojas had a great defensive game!! No offense but we don’t win without him. Also, Dean very heady play. If not the jays score 1 n mb more.
i hope mad max blows up tomorrow in the first inning. The Dodgers are due to have an offensive explosion. Who does Roberts start on the mound? Can Glasnow co
me back?
Great ending. Good heads up play by two veterans. And a team that has gotten this far by not making mistakes makes a huge one in the bottom of the 9th.
Game 7 of the World Series. I sure hope it’s a memorable one.
As I said in the last post, this team has given me a hell of a lot of joy this post season. What a beautiful, crazy ending to that game — again demonstrating why baseball is such a unique sport, And I now have the pleasure of watching my team play a single game for the overall championship — how about that!
Unbelievable game. Exhilarating and frustrating at the same time. Great pitching by Yammaoto and Wrobo. Sasaki shaky both in the 8th and 9th.
Not sure how Doc is going to pitch tomorrow other than Shohei getting the start. Is Snell available? Somehow the Dodgers need to break this offensive slump and put up some crooked numbers in multiple innings.
Way too many strikeouts and quick innings with no stress on the Jays. How do we get Shohei, Smith, Muncy, Mookie and Freeman to come up big in the last game of the year?
Lets go Dodgers!!!
Also heck of a play by Dean to not panic and pick up the ball. Otherwise 3-2 with Barger on third. No Kike double play.
it really is man.
I mean, win or lose, who wouldnt take playing on Nov 1, if asked on March 15.
Maybe Pages should play and Teo sit.
YES Fred! I was just thinking the same thing right before I read your post! Teo has totally lost it at the plate.
So with all our flaws, here we are 1 game to go.
We can win it all with a win for the first time all year.