Just what is the Dodger way? Lately it seems to be signing the best free agent’s available, trade some kids for help if needed, and steam roll the West. Well, it did not quite happen that way.
LA had to fight tooth and nail for this one. After the Padre series, they did not really play from behind the rest of the way. They were up 3-1 on the Mets before you knew it, and they went up 3-0 on the Yankees before ending it in five games.
Freddie became only the second Dodger in team history to hit four homers in a World Series. Duke Snider did it twice. He joined Johnny Podres, the first ever WS MVP, Larry Sherry, Koufax twice, Cey, Pedro and Boomer, the only co-MVPs in a series, Orel, and Seager as a World Series MVP. Tommy Edman stunned everyone with his MVP performance in the LCS.
The pitching was in a shambles for most of the year, but the bullpen and the trade acquisition of Jack Flaherty helped a lot, but they still went into the playoffs short-handed in the rotation. The amazing thing about this post season was they won their two elimination games against the Padres by shutouts. Then in the LCS, they shut out the Mets in games 1 and 3. Game four of the LDS and game 3 of the LCS were bullpen games. That in and of itself is amazing.
Since 2013, the Dodgers have also counted on an offense that scores runs in bunches. 3 times since 2014, the team scored under 700 runs, once was 2020, so that does not really count. They have scored over 800 the last 5 years in a row. In 23, they scored 906 runs. In 2024, they scored 842 runs, and that was with Betts and Muncy out for extended periods of time, and Will Smith fading like a 8-year-old nag the second half.
This winter they loaded up on pitching, re-tooled the starting lineup, and said goodbye to an old friend. Snell and Sasaki being the new starters, Yates and Scott bolstering the bullpen along with re-signing Blake Treinen. Michael Conforto basically replaces Heyward and Kiermaier. Teo being re-signed was huge. And then the last couple of days, they brought back Kike and Kersh. They traded Lux for a minor leaguer and some pool money, they traded Brasier to make room for Yates.
Some familiar names will be back in the mix, Dustn May and Tony Gonsolin. Five pitchers will end up on the 60-day IL, Stone, Ryan, Graterol, Hurt and Sheehan. The way it looks, they could be joined by Kopech and Phillips. Kershaw most likely will be out until mid-season. A lot is riding on the returning arms of May and Gonsolin, and the hopeful return of Bobby Miller to being the kind of pitcher he was his first season.
Hudson and Kiermaier retired. They allowed Walker Buehler, whose 9th inning performance in game five of the World Series will long be remembered, to leave via free agency and sign with the Red Sox for the same amount as the QO. Which they could have used to bring Walker back. But I think their minds were already made up to go in a different direction. Sasaki may have always been the way they wanted to go.
The out of nowhere signing, and the signing that led to trading Lux, was Haesong Kim. There was no chatter at all about Kim. And the next thing we knew, the kid had a 3-year deal. Now no one, not even the Dodgers, know how Kim will perform at the MLB level. But the team felt strongly enough to sign him. Now with spring training in full bloom, we will get to see how this all comes together. The new Dodgers will all get plenty of opportunities to show their wares. How well the team comes together will determine if they can become the first team in MLB to repeat as champions since the Yankees of 98-2000.
There is a huge target on their backs. How they respond to the challenge, remains to be seen. I remember as a kid having Al Campanis’s book, ” The Dodger Way to Play Baseball.” That book stressed fundamentals. I believe the 25 Dodgers will more than be up to the challenge. But of course, that is just a guess.
Getting better every day. Just coming home is the best medicine.
Did the last part of your article get cutoff?
Sasaki, Miller, and Kershaw will be at least part time starters as well.
May I add this thought…..I really don’t know how to feel about Ohtani resuming his SP role. If he reinjures his arm, can’t that possibly affect his hitting? Do we want to take that chance? Is there another viable option that makes more sense besides him being a full time SP?
JT now drawing interest from several teams, but not the Dodgers.
Love the Bregman signing for the BoSox, exciting times with a strong (top heavy, but what a top) farm and interesting diverse line up
Details on Clayton Kershaw contract:
$16MM for Kershaw for 16 starts and being on the active roster for at least half the season seems to be a very fair deal for the Dodgers. A guarantee of $7.5MM, regardless as to how many starts or for Kersh seems fair for him as well.
Last year, there was a tale of two Kershaws – one pre bone spur, ruptured plantar plate, and arthritis in his left foot (5 games), and two post injury (2 games).
1st five games – 24.0 IP, 2.63 ERA, 3.00 FIP, and .651 OPS against.
Last two games – 6.0 IP, 12.00 ERA, 5.67 FIP, and 1.231 OPS against.
I think we see more of the former than the latter.
The Dodgers have signed veteran reliever, Luis Garcia, to a minor league contract which includes an invite to spring training. Garcia has pitched for the Phillies, Angels, Rangers, Cardinals, Padres and Red Sox. He was 5-1 with a 3.71 ERA for the Angels last year with 4 saves before he was traded to the Sox. He was ineffective with the Sox posting a 0-0 record and a bloated 8.22 ERA in 15.1 innings. Career wise he is 26-28 with a 4.14 ERA, 107 holds, 15 career saves in 545 games. He is 38 years old and adds another veteran arm to the mix.
I, like some, are curious about how good the Dodger season will be next year. There are a couple of players that for me are less predictable that most other players.
Ohtani: A DH doesn’t have to stand on a hot and humid field nor have to concentrate defensively on every pitch. He is resting mentally and physically most of the game. I would keep him out of the batters box on days he pitches. The Dodgers will gain a good pitcher and lose a little offense from Othani next year IMHO.
Betts: I think he will do well at short and will hit better but I am curious how this move will work out.
Muncy: Muncy has become a good defensive player for balls he can get to but he doesn’t have much range going to his right. That is my assessment so maybe that isn’t accurate. He is capable of OPSing .850 and he is also capable of hitting .210. He didn’t have to swing in last years NLCS and therefore didn’t make outs but the opposite was true for the WS where he didn’t get on base and was mostly an out. More and more he was in the lineup only against righties. I can see him platooning with Kike’ all year. I am curious which Max will play most of the season next year.
Roki: I am mostly curious about the health of his arm otherwise he should be awesome.
Glasnow / May: I am curious if their arms will stay attached.
Gonsolin: I am not all that curious with Gonsolin. I think he will do well.
Miller: He might be a shrink away from having a great season. I’m curious if he will be able to keep his composure.
Outman: My main curiosity is whether Roberts will give him a chance more than I am curious about his ability. I am curious what he can do if given a chance.
Per Plunkett:
Brusdar Graterol said he feels like he has “a new arm” this spring after shoulder surgery last year. Labrum and ligament repaired. “Thank God it was not rotator cuff.”
Won’t begin throwing program for another month or so but vows to pitch in 2025.
The Dodgers have signed former Red Sox infielder Michael Chavis to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.