The Dodgers’ first Main League free-agent deal of the offseason isn’t a flashy one, nevertheless it’s however a stable one to spherical out the roster. Rojas was a very good possibility off the bench through the common season, hitting .262 with a .715 OPS and taking part in sturdy protection at second base, third base and shortstop. He was additionally a pacesetter within the clubhouse, on the core of the staff’s tradition throughout this championship window.
Throughout the Dodgers’ back-to-back championship seasons, staff tradition has been some extent of emphasis. Whereas assembling as a lot expertise as potential is the highest precedence, hanging the suitable steadiness to protect the present chemistry of the group is one other consideration for the staff within the offseason.
With that in thoughts, of the Dodgers who grew to become free brokers this offseason, solely two stand out as probably candidates to rejoin the staff: utility man Kiké Hernández and reliever Evan Phillips. However as a result of each are coping with accidents that ought to trigger them to overlook a while at the start of the season — and since L.A. has restricted area on the 40-man roster — it might appear unlikely that both would re-sign earlier than nearer to the beginning of Spring Coaching.
Hernández introduced in November that he had surgical procedure on his left elbow, which had troubled him for a lot of the season. He didn’t initially share the process or a timetable for a return, however he later mentioned on Adam Ottavino’s Baseball & Espresso present that he underwent an extensor restore that can probably preserve him out for “a month or two” of the common season.
All through his 12 seasons within the Majors, Hernández has not constantly been an affect participant within the common season, however he turns into a drive within the postseason. The Dodgers’ all-time chief in postseason appearances, Hernández has a profession .825 OPS within the playoffs, in contrast with .708 within the common season.
Throughout the 2025 marketing campaign, during which Hernández spent almost two months on the injured checklist as a result of his elbow and performed via discomfort at instances earlier than and after the stint, the 34-year-old hit simply .203 with a .621 OPS in 93 video games.
Hernández’s postseason monitor document speaks for itself, however different groups is probably not as keen because the Dodgers are to look past his regular-season efficiency. That might very properly imply that he stays available on the market at the start of Spring Coaching, when the Dodgers might re-sign him and place him on the 60-day IL, if he’s certainly more likely to miss the primary two months.
Phillips is the same case, because the 31-year-old right-hander is rehabbing from Tommy John surgical procedure in June. He started a throwing program proper on schedule in early November, however he’ll probably miss a minimum of the primary half of the 2026 season.
Heading into what would have been his remaining 12 months of arbitration, Phillips was non-tendered by the Dodgers — however the staff is keen on bringing him again on a brand new deal. Since being claimed off waivers from the Rays in 2021, Phillips has been one among L.A.’s high choices to shut out video games, posting a 2.22 ERA with 45 saves in 201 appearances as a Dodger.
Not like Hernández, there could also be extra curiosity from different groups on the subject of signing Phillips. Given his physique of labor and restoration timetable, in addition to the state of the aid market, he could possibly be a candidate for a two-year contract. Whereas the Dodgers might attempt to wait till the 60-day IL opens to re-sign Phillips, it is potential that they would wish to behave sooner.
Whereas Phillips was restricted to solely seven appearances for the Dodgers in 2025, he remained a useful determine for the bullpen from the sidelines. That is a standard thread between him, Hernández and Rojas: They discover methods so as to add worth each on and off the sphere.
