The Dodgers’ offseason is already taking shape around one big theme: change.
Los Angeles is being tied to two notable Japanese players while also surfacing in trade chatter around one of its most recognizable bats, Teoscar Hernández. That mix says plenty about where the front office may be headed as it tries to keep the roster in championship shape.
One of the names drawing real attention is Teruaki Sato. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported that the Dodgers are among several teams interested in the 27-year-old, along with the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.
Sato entered MLB’s posting system on November 1 after a huge 2026 season with the Hanshin Tigers, one that ended with him winning Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League Triple Crown. He hit .306 with 39 home runs and 106 RBI.
Sato is mostly a third baseman, though he also has outfield experience, which gives clubs some room to work with. Even so, his fit with the Dodgers is not exactly clean on paper.
Los Angeles already has veterans in a number of spots, and there are questions about how his offense will translate against big league pitching. Still, as the source noted, if Ke’Bryan Hayes qualifies as a major league third baseman, anything’s possible.
There’s also a timing wrinkle here. With MLB’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire on December 1, a possible lockout could speed up the process and leave the Dodgers with less time than usual to make their case.
Another Japanese target on Los Angeles’ radar is 18-year-old right-hander Shoki Oda. According to MLB reporter Francys Romero, the Dodgers are among the clubs expected to meet with him, joining a crowded field that also includes the Yankees and Phillies.
Oda has become a hot international name because he chose to chase a future in the United States instead of starting his professional career in Japan. His fastball has reached nearly 98 mph, and his overall arsenal has made him one of the more intriguing pitching prospects available.
There are a couple of details that could help the Dodgers, at least in theory. Oda reportedly considers Yoshinobu Yamamoto his favorite player, and the Dodgers are the only MLB team he follows on Instagram.
But that doesn’t lock anything in. He has reportedly already met with the Rangers, Mets and Phillies, with more meetings expected.
He could become eligible to sign when the international signing period opens January 15, if labor uncertainty doesn’t get in the way.
The Dodgers’ biggest current roster question may be whether Hernández is still part of the picture.
ESPN’s Buster Olney recently pointed to Hernández as Los Angeles’ clearest position-player trade candidate, citing his defense and the challenge of finding at-bats for him with Shohei Ohtani occupying designated hitter. Hernández hit .267/.334/.425 with 16 home runs in 125 games in 2026, a drop from his earlier production.
Former general manager Jim Bowden has also said the Toronto Blue Jays could have interest in bringing Hernández back. A move to Toronto would make sense from a need standpoint, and the Blue Jays’ fan base would certainly know what it was getting.
For the Dodgers, though, this is about more than nostalgia. Hernández has been part of recent championship success, but younger outfielders are pressing for chances and he is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract. If Los Angeles is serious about getting younger without lowering the bar, a Hernández deal could end up being one of the most important decisions of the winter.
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