This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
LOS ANGELES — Days after successful the World Collection, the Dodgers took to the streets of Los Angeles to rejoice with the followers. It was a day the Dodgers had waited a long time for.
However in the midst of that celebration, the Dodgers have been already interested by desirous to do it once more in 2025 – ideally with as most of the similar faces as they’d this previous season.
Baseball, in fact, is a enterprise. No crew ever appears to be like the identical from 12 months to 12 months. This 12 months’s Dodgers will probably be no exception, as evidenced by the addition of Blake Snell to their rotation, which means a pitcher — or a number of — will probably be changed this winter.
With that every one being mentioned, nonetheless, the Dodgers are going to attempt to “run it again” as a lot as doable for the ‘25 season. Now that the winter is in full drive, let’s check out the crew’s 5 key free brokers and their possibilities of coming again to L.A.
No person endeared himself to the followers of L.A. over the past calendar 12 months greater than Hernández. The Dominican outfielder signed a “show it” contract final winter with the Dodgers, and all of it paid off. Hernández had probably the greatest seasons of his profession, setting himself up for a pleasant payday this winter.
Hernández mentioned all through the season — and so far all the offseason — that he desires to be again with the Dodgers. Of the present free brokers, he’s the almost certainly to return to the lineup. Either side have maintained communication, and a decision may come sooner somewhat than later.
Flaherty solely spent three months with the Dodgers after being acquired from the Tigers on the Commerce Deadline, however the Burbank native made his mark throughout that point. The proper-hander was the Dodgers’ Sport 1 starter all through the postseason and will have a fairly wholesome market.
With Snell now within the combine, it’s unlikely that Flaherty returns.
The Dodgers don’t win the championship with out Kiké.
After the Dodgers fell behind 2-1 to the Padres within the NL Division Collection, it was Kiké who set the tone and the angle for the remainder of the postseason. The veteran utilityman not solely talked the discuss, however he walked the stroll, opening the scoring in Sport 5 with a solo homer.
It took a while for Kiké to signal a deal final offseason; it didn’t occur till virtually halfway by way of Spring Coaching. He’ll possible want all of his persistence as soon as once more, however in the long run, the Dodgers ought to look to deliver again the Puerto Rican spark plug to solidify each their bench and their October presence.
After sitting out a lot of the final two seasons, Treinen was again on the mound in ‘24 and shortly confirmed why he was one of the crucial dominant pitchers within the Majors earlier than present process surgical procedure on his proper shoulder.
Treinen didn’t throw as arduous as he did pre-surgery, however the stuff was nonetheless simply as sharp. When he’s proper, there aren’t many hitters on the planet that may hit his slider. Within the postseason, Treinen was leaned upon because the de facto nearer, particularly as soon as Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips have been hit with accidents.
The Dodgers and Treinen have talked because the begin of the offseason, and there’s mutual curiosity, but it surely stays to be seen if they will make one thing work. There received’t be a scarcity of curiosity for the right-hander.
“I’ll by no means communicate poorly in regards to the Dodgers,” Treinen has mentioned. “I clearly would welcome, with open arms, any kind of deal to deliver me again there.”
Kershaw underwent surgical procedures on his proper toe and left knee firstly of the winter and can want a while to get wholesome earlier than pitching in Main League video games in 2025. No matter how lengthy it takes, nonetheless, he and the Dodgers will come to an settlement on a one-year deal.
The surefire Corridor of Famer made it clear that he’s a “Dodger for all times” and could be again in L.A. for an 18th season.
