The Dodgers aren’t treating their NLCS exit at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers like the end of anything. Andrew Friedman is expected to keep pushing, keep retooling and keep loading up the roster. The danger is that a big offseason can get expensive fast if Los Angeles chases the wrong names.
That’s the real trap here. The Dodgers are going to spend, but spending big and spending smart are two very different things. Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz are the kinds of splashy targets that can pull a front office in the wrong direction, and there are three moves in particular that could leave Los Angeles with buyer’s remorse.
The cleanest path for the Dodgers would be to bring back Tarik Skubal. The left-hander was exactly what they wanted after acquiring him, putting up a 2.61 ERA for Los Angeles down the stretch and then following that with a 2.45 mark in the playoffs. The problem is that the market is expected to be fierce, and there’s a real chance he gets away.
If that happens, the fallback option looks a lot less appealing. Michael King of the San Diego Padres is the other big starting pitcher available, and his postseason probably helped him cash in. He delivered a two-inning save in Game 3 of the NLDS after starting Game 2, which only added to the sense that he’s a high-end arm.
But the numbers behind King tell a more complicated story. He has only been a full-time starter for two seasons, 2024 and 2026, and 2026 brought some warning signs.
He finished with a 3.21 ERA, but his 4.13 FIP, 4.33 xFIP and 4.40 xERA were less flattering. His strikeout rate also dropped, going from 27.7% in 2024 to 24.7% in 2025 and then 21% in 2026.
Paying more than $100 million for a pitcher with durability questions and visible decline signs would be a bad fit for a rotation that already includes Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
The same caution should apply to the bullpen. The Dodgers have spent heavily there already, handing Tanner Scott $72 million and Edwin Diaz $69 million, even though Diaz was described as an injured and inconsistent mess. They also have carried high salaries for Blake Treinen and others in recent years, yet every September still seems to turn into a hunt for dependable leverage innings.
That reality makes another big closer chase tempting, but it would be a mistake. The lone reliever on the market who fits that profile is David Bednar of the New York Yankees, a two-time All-Star who just posted 35 saves and a 2.47 ERA.
Still, there’s plenty of volatility in his track record. He had a 5.77 ERA in 2024, was briefly sent to Triple-A last year, and even in 2026 he opened slowly with a 4.50 ERA through May 31.
Relievers can swing wildly, and that makes long-term money a risky bet.
The most dangerous path might be in the outfield. Teoscar Hernandez has been the subject of trade speculation for a while, and it’s easy to see why.
He has been solid enough, but he hasn’t matched the impact of his first season in Los Angeles, which helped fuel the contract he received. His playoff line, .200/.219/.300, only adds to the sense that the Dodgers could look for an upgrade.
Randy Arozarena would be one obvious name to watch. The 31-year-old has put together six straight 20-20 seasons, and in 2026 he hit 26 homers and stole 26 bases while batting .281/.381/.484. The issues are hard to ignore, though: he’s a weak defender in left, and that 2026 production sits in sharp contrast to his .219/.332/.388 line in 2024 and .238/.334/.426 in 2025.
That’s where Josue De Paula comes in. The 21-year-old rookie drew a five-pitch walk in a potential elimination game in the NLDS, and the message there was clear: his plate discipline and confidence are already showing. The Dodgers need to find a way to get him a plate appearance every game.
That’s why Hernandez makes sense as the placeholder. He’s in the final year of his contract, which makes him the natural stopgap while De Paula gets his footing. Spending $80 million to $100 million on Arozarena would only block the path and could leave the Dodgers with a player who is already worse than the guy they’re trying to replace.
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 🡒]