A year ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers won a franchise-record 111 regular-season games with one of the most talented rosters they’ve ever assembled … and won one playoff game. This year, they took a step back in spending, opened a path for their top prospects and highly regarded rookies, exceeded expectations in another 100-win season … and won no playoff games.
Their mastery of the regular season has not carried into October. They have made the playoffs in 11 straight seasons, winning the division 10 times in that span, but have just one World Series championship from the truncated 2020 season during that time. They have not escaped the National League Division Series in either of the past two years.
After back-to-back first-round exits, they find themselves at an interesting inflection point this winter as they work to assemble a roster capable of doing more than reaching the postseason. Will their roster construction look similar to recent years? Or will their shortcomings over the past few Octobers cause them to fundamentally shift their strategy more substantially, prompting some major splashes?
Here are five burning questions for the Dodgers entering the offseason.
1. Will they get Shohei Ohtani?
The Dodgers were tied to Ohtani out of high school and were a finalist when he made the jump to the majors. Both times, they came up short. With a third chance approaching, it’s no secret they’re again the favorites to attract the unicorn. A match makes sense.
Signing with the Dodgers would allow Ohtani to remain in Southern California while giving him the chance to compete for a championship immediately. The advent of the designated hitter in the National League prevents a hold-up that existed during the Dodgers’ last pursuit. Many believe their decision to step back in spending last winter was with Ohtani in mind, and after back-to-back NLDS defeats at the hands of a division foe, they might be motivated to make a franchise-altering move.
Of course, things are a bit different now that Ohtani will only be hitting next year. He won’t be able to fix the Dodgers’ glaring rotation needs immediately, but he would fill their vacant DH role as J.D. Martinez hits free agency. A reunion with Martinez, who found his power again in 2023, only makes sense if Ohtani signs elsewhere.
The Dodgers could also give time at DH to Max Muncy and Michael Busch if Ohtani does find a home elsewhere, but don’t expect them to make any commitments at the spot until Ohtani’s decision is made. After the 2025 season, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are their only players with guaranteed deals. Adding Ohtani would create the most fearsome trio in the sport.
What are the top-three free-agent landing spots for Shohei Ohtani?
2. How will they upgrade the rotation?
While Ohtani will likely be the Dodgers’ greatest pursuit, he’s not pitching next year. And that’s the most glaring area of need.
Bobby Miller headlines a horde of young talent starting to make an impact at the big-league level, but the Dodgers lack experienced arms in the rotation. Clayton Kershaw has another decision to make and won’t be healthy at the start of 2024 regardless. The Dodgers will get Walker Buehler back but might elect to be careful with his innings and usage coming off a second Tommy John surgery. Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin both underwent elbow procedures this year and can’t be counted on in 2024. Julio Urías is a free agent and enters an uncertain future after his domestic violence arrest.
Luckily, there’s plenty of impact pitching available in free agency, particularly compared to the barren position player field. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Sonny Gray, Brandon Woodruff and Eduardo Rodríguez — would they dare try again? — would all immediately upgrade their rotation. Can they sign Ohtani and grab one of those pitchers? If not, expect them to explore the trade market. They simply have to add one or two starting pitchers before next season.
3. Has Kershaw thrown his last pitch for the Dodgers?
The last time Kershaw took the mound in a Dodgers uniform was also the worst performance of his illustrious 16-year career.
It was clear from August through the end of the year that Kershaw was not his usual self, but he managed to mitigate the damage until Game 1 of the NLDS, when the Diamondbacks pummeled him for six runs in the first inning before he departed after recording only one out. The image of Kershaw slumped at the end of the bench would be an unseemly way for the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout leader to go out.
Kershaw has said he plans to only sign one-year deals through the remainder of his career with either the Dodgers or his hometown Rangers. Will the latter team’s World Series championship impact his decision? Or will he want to end his time in Los Angeles on a more positive note?
We at least now know he intends on pitching in 2024. In an Instagram post earlier this month, Kershaw announced that he had undergone shoulder surgery with the hope of returning sometime next summer. That would indicate that he doesn’t plan on retiring, which was a possibility that lingers after each one-year deal.
4. Who will provide corner outfield depth?
Against lefties, the Dodgers can continue to roll out Chris Taylor in left field, James Outman in center and Mookie Betts in right. But Betts’ supernatural ability to play both right field and the middle infield opened the door for the Dodgers to utilize their lefty bats in the corner outfield against right-handed pitchers.
That’s no longer possible with David Peralta and Jason Heyward becoming free agents. The former provided more vibes than production, though we now know that he was playing through an arm injury that required surgery last month. The latter looked rejuvenated in Los Angeles. Heyward put together his best offensive season since the shortened 2020 season and his best full season since 2015, hitting 17% better than league average. The Dodgers could try to bring him back or turn toward free agency to solidify the group, but with Betts likely to continue splitting some time between right field and second base, the Dodgers will have more work to do adding to the corner outfield spots.
Tommy Pham, who had shown interest in becoming a Dodger before, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. helped lift the D-backs past the Dodgers in the NLDS — and both are among the free-agent options available on the market.
Tommy Pham, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit back-to-back homers
5. Could they trade for infield help?
As it stands today, Gavin Lux and Muncy are the likely answers at shortstop and third base, respectively. But Lux missed all of this past season with a torn ACL. Muncy, meanwhile, blasted 36 homers but also graded out as one of the worst defensive third basemen in the sport in 2023. Miguel Rojas and Busch provide added depth at shortstop and third base, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Dodgers explore the trade market at either spot, particularly if their Ohtani endeavor comes up empty, which would open up DH at-bats.
They’ve been linked in the past to Milwaukee’s Willy Adames, and with Adames and Corbin Burnes set to hit free agency after next season, there could be a match there if the Brewers decide to look toward the future and tap into the Dodgers’ robust farm system.
Second base is also a position to watch with deadline additions Kiké Hernández and Amed Rosario both hitting free agency. Hindered by a hand injury suffered in spring, Miguel Vargas didn’t pop off in his rookie year the way many expected. Rookies Vargas and Busch and veterans Betts, Taylor and Rojas could all factor into the second-base mix, but decisions loom ahead.
Rowan Kavner covers the Dodgers and MLB as a whole for FOX Sports. He previously was the Dodgers’ editor of digital and print publications. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
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