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LOS ANGELES — Whereas most groups usually wait till at the very least December to make impactful strikes, the Dodgers have wasted no time this winter.
If the Dodgers don’t do the rest the remainder of the winter, they’ve already executed sufficient to enhance a roster that received the World Sequence final season. After all, the Dodgers aren’t executed simply but. The truth is, issues will undoubtedly proceed to warmth up subsequent week throughout the Winter Conferences in Dallas.
Earlier than all that takes place, let’s check out a pair issues the Dodgers nonetheless must get executed this winter.
Membership needsThe largest want for the Dodgers coming into the offseason was beginning pitching. Clearly, touchdown Snell and inserting him on the prime of the rotation will likely be a major enhance. Nevertheless, with the Dodgers probably going to a six-man rotation to assist Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, the group may gain advantage from touchdown another confirmed possibility.
Because the Dodgers discover out nearly yearly, you possibly can by no means have an excessive amount of beginning pitching. Tony Gonsolin and Dustin Might, assuming he’s nonetheless a starter, will likely be again from damage this season and will assist. Each gamers, nonetheless, are coming off vital accidents and have battled by inconsistencies up to now.
The identify that has been linked to the Dodgers for years is Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who will likely be posted by his group in Japan this winter. Sasaki could have an extended listing of suitors, however the Dodgers will likely be proper on the prime. You may make an argument that the Dodgers have already got the perfect rotation in baseball — at the very least on paper — and that will solely get higher in the event that they’re capable of land the Japanese right-hander.
One other space the Dodgers will look to deal with the remainder of the winter is the bullpen. Blake Treinen is the most important loss from final 12 months’s group, however there’s mutual curiosity for a reunion. When wholesome, there aren’t many relievers extra dominant than Treinen.
Potential commerce candidatesThe Dodgers don’t have any clear commerce candidates this winter. Quite a lot of these selections will finally come right down to what the group is ready to do the remainder of the winter. Chris Taylor, who’s coming into the final 12 months of his present deal, could possibly be an possibility if a group is keen to eat most, if not all, of his wage. Gonsolin, Might or Bobby Miller could possibly be commerce items, although it’s exhausting to think about the Dodgers eliminating beginning pitching choices. With Mookie Betts coming again to the infield subsequent season, there was pure hypothesis surrounding Gavin Lux. The Dodgers, nonetheless, imagine they’re a greater group with Lux of their lineup.
Prospect to knowThe Dodgers seemingly have a few gamers who take enormous leaps each season, and maybe no person boosted his inventory extra in 2024 than No. 3 prospect Alex Freeland. The 23-year-old shortstop began the season in Excessive-A Nice Lakes and completed the 12 months in Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, posting a mixed .829 OPS. Freeland’s capability to hit from each side of the plate and his protection make him a candidate to get known as up as early because the 2025 season.
Rule 5 DraftLike most seasons, count on the Dodgers to possibly lose a participant or two within the Main League portion of the Rule 5 Draft. It speaks to the standard of their Minor League system. Alternatively, don’t count on the Dodgers to be very energetic stealing a bit away from one other membership.
Burning questionWill Teoscar Hernández be again?
The Dodgers’ prime precedence this offseason was so as to add a prime beginning pitcher to their rotation. They achieved that early on this winter after signing Snell. However now, the main target shifts to the offense. The Dodgers nonetheless want so as to add one influence bat to the lineup. Will that be Hernández? The veteran outfielder was an integral member of the lineup that carried the Dodgers to a World Sequence title in ‘24. Each side have had continued talks all through the winter, however the time in Dallas might assist expedite a decision.
