Nothing about the Dodgers feels more settled than the fact that time is coming for their roster, whether they want it to or not.
Seven of their nine regulars are already on the wrong side of 30, and Andy Pages is the only everyday player under 27. Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy are both deep into the late stage of their careers, while Mookie Betts will be 35 during the 2027 season. That aging core makes the next wave of young talent especially important, and outfielder Josue De Paula sits at the front of that line.
The Dodgers are hoping to get De Paula on the field more in the outfield rather than using him in the kind of fill-in designated hitter role he had this past season. Sonja Chen of MLB.com noted that if De Paula develops into a real everyday left fielder, it could set off a larger shift for a roster that may be heading into a transitional offseason.
At minimum, his rise would cut into Teoscar Hernández’s playing time. At the high end, it could push the Dodgers to look for a trade partner for the veteran outfielder.
Away from the field, Dodgers owner Mark Walter is drawing attention for a very different reason. Valentina Martinez of the California Post reported that Major League Baseball is now monitoring Walter amid a federal probe. Walter was briefly the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers before selling the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record $12.5 billion.
“As always when we have an investigation, external law enforcement, whatever, we monitor that and that’s where we are right now,” Manfred told reporters.
And in a separate story with a very different kind of jackpot, Larry Holder of The Athletic wrote about pro wrestler Arik Cannon, who got his hands on a one-of-one Shohei Ohtani “Game for the Ages” card. Cannon is hoping to sell it so he can pay off his father’s debts.
“In August 2023, we lost my mom to cancer, and it’s been really, really rough on my dad,” Cannon said. “So the first thing I’m going to do is I’m going pay off all his debt.
And then I don’t know what my other options are at, but it’ll be more than enough to take care of him. Whatever’s left over for me, I’m probably just going to put it away and make sure that I don’t become one of those cliché Powerball winners that had money and now it’s gone.”
In Other News...
Dodgers Suddenly Have An Elly De La Cruz Trade Debate
Elly De La Cruzs looming contract situation has already turned him into one of the more intriguing names to watch this offseason, even before the market fully opens. The Reds shortstop and two-time All-Star recently declined a record extension and is now entering his first offseason of arbitration eligibility, which is enough to keep rival executives, fans and analysts thinking about where his next big step might eventually come.
During the postseason, Joey Votto pushed the conversation even further by floating a hypothetical deal that would send De La Cruz to the Dodgers for top prospect Josue De Paula. It remains a long shot, but the mere mention of De Paula underscores why the idea has traction as a debate topic, since the young outfielder has built a strong reputation with his offense and upside. For the Dodgers, it is the kind of star-for-prospect discussion that always invites attention, even when the odds say it is more thought experiment than real blueprint. [Read more 🡒]
Mookie Betts' Reaction Says Everything About What Dodgers Are Losing
Miguel Rojas has long been more than a utility infielder for the Dodgers. Over the past several seasons, he became one of the clubs most respected voices in the clubhouse, a steadying presence who helped younger players and stars alike sharpen their approach, including Mookie Betts on the defensive side. That kind of influence rarely shows up in a box score, but it has been a real part of why the Dodgers valued him so highly, and why he earned three Roy Campanella Awards for his leadership and inspiration.
Now Rojas is set to retire from playing after the 2026 season, closing the book on a 13-year career that left a strong imprint in Los Angeles. The good news for the Dodgers is that he is not leaving the organization entirely, since he will move into a front office role centered on player development. Even so, the transition marks the end of an era for a team that has leaned on his voice, his example and the kind of day-to-day guidance that can be hard to replace. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Got A Telling Skubal Update From Andrew Friedman
Tarik Skubals arrival gave the Dodgers exactly the kind of late-season boost they had hoped for, and his work in October only added to the belief inside the organization that he could be part of the long-term picture. As he heads into free agency, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was complimentary of the way Skubal handled the transition and made it clear the club appreciates what he brought during his time in Los Angeles.
Friedman also said the Dodgers will keep talking with agent Scott Boras, but the next move belongs to Skubal and his family. For a team that just watched him show well in the postseason, the offseason now becomes about whether the Dodgers can turn a strong short-term fit into something much more permanent. [Read more 🡒]