At this year’s Winter Meetings, while the baseball world buzzed with speculation - were the Dodgers about to swing a trade for Tarik Skubal or maybe poach another high-leverage arm from someone’s bullpen? - Andrew Friedman sat down on MLB Network and offered something far more revealing than a rumor: clarity.
Forget the payroll for a second. Forget the state-of-the-art player development machine humming in Arizona.
Forget even the Shohei Ohtani gravitational pull that now defines the Dodgers’ orbit. Friedman, the Dodgers’ President of Baseball Operations, pulled back the curtain on what really makes this organization tick - and it’s not just talent.
It’s character.
“The talent is easier to identify… the type of person, the work ethic, how much they care - that’s really important to us.”
That was the quote. Simple, direct, and quietly seismic. Because while the rest of the league is chasing tools and upside, the Dodgers are chasing something deeper: people who fit the culture.
It’s easy for fans to see the headline names - Betts, Freeman, Ohtani - and assume L.A. is just scooping up the best players money can buy. But what Friedman made clear is that the Dodgers don’t just collect stars.
They recruit Dodgers. And there’s a difference.
This philosophy is why players want to come to L.A. It’s why so many arrive and get better.
And it’s why the clubhouse doesn’t implode under the weight of expectation - it thrives. There’s a reason the Dodgers have become a model of sustained success in a sport built to create chaos.
It’s because they know exactly who they’re bringing into the room.
When Friedman watches his stars - Betts, Freeman, Ohtani - go through their daily routines, he sees more than just elite talent. He sees professionalism, consistency, and a relentless commitment to preparation.
And that becomes the baseline. That’s what every prospective Dodger is measured against.
So when the Dodgers evaluate a trade target or a free agent, it’s not just about WAR or pitch shape or exit velocity. It’s about whether that player fits the ecosystem.
Whether they’ll raise the standard or disrupt it. Whether they’re a Dodger - not just in uniform, but in mindset.
That’s why the team is so selective with long-term deals. It’s why they extend the right guys early, and why they rarely overreact in free agency.
It’s why reclamation projects - the guys other teams give up on - often find new life in Dodger Blue. The front office isn’t just betting on talent.
They’re betting on character. And they’ve built a system that filters for both.
The result? A franchise that doesn’t just win - it sustains.
While other teams spend years trying to piece together chemistry and culture, the Dodgers have made it a foundational element. It’s not luck.
It’s design.
Friedman’s comments weren’t flashy, but they said everything. The Dodgers’ edge isn’t just in their resources - it’s in their standards.
They don’t just want the best players. They want the best Dodgers.
So as the front office continues its offseason hunt - whether it’s Skubal, a middle-of-the-order bat, or another bullpen weapon - fans now know exactly what’s guiding the process. It’s not just about who can help them win games.
It’s about who can thrive in the Dodgers’ world. Because here, culture isn’t a buzzword.
It’s the blueprint.