The Dodgers’ season is done, and with it comes an offseason full of roster decisions. Los Angeles was swept 4-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers after a 6-4 loss on Thursday, October 15th, and now nine players are officially headed toward free agency.
That group includes a mix of familiar bullpen arms, a few potential departures, and one major name the Dodgers could chase hard. With the team’s three-peat hopes gone, the focus shifts to what comes next for 2027.
Kike Hernandez is among the position players entering free agency. The versatile veteran has signed multiple short-term deals in recent years, and his future is once again up in the air after Los Angeles came up short.
Hernandez is 35, had a tough season overall and also struggled in the postseason, but his leadership and energy still stand out. His glove remains a strength, too.
Miguel Rojas is also out of contract, though his next step appears to already be mapped out. After a series of indecisive moments, Rojas has announced he will retire and move into an organizational role with the Dodgers.
On the pitching side, Tarik Skubal is the biggest name on the list and the most expensive. The $400 million pitcher is a two-time CY Young Award winner and remains in his prime, still performing at an elite level. The Dodgers are expected to be in the mix, but they’ll have competition.
Alex Vesia is another free agent the Dodgers may try to keep. The dependable left-hander knew this might be his last postseason in Dodger blue, and the team could bring him back after a strong year. Whether that happens will come down to the market.
Kris Bubic was brought in at the trade deadline as a bullpen rental, and he delivered plenty of regular-season success. The postseason was less kind, though, with a run allowed in each of his two outings. Because of his starter-level upside, a move elsewhere on a solid deal seems likely.
Eric Lauer also rebuilt value with the Dodgers. He pitched well in both starting and piggyback roles, tightened his arsenal, and did a decent job limiting runs even while giving up hard contact. There was already deadline interest in him, and after injuries kept him out for the stretch run, he could land elsewhere if a strong market develops.
Evan Phillips has been one of the steadier relievers in the Dodgers’ current run, but injuries remain part of the equation. That could soften his market enough to keep him in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers will stay in the picture if he doesn’t draw enough interest elsewhere.
Blake Treinen’s situation is more uncertain because of the right shoulder injury that ended his season. He may need surgery, and that could shape how available he is for the Dodgers. At 38, it is also fair to question whether Los Angeles would rather look in a different direction.
Brusdar Graterol rounds out the list, though his status is especially murky. He has not pitched in over two years, and his big-league future is in doubt unless he gets healthy. When available, he can be electric, but his medical situation will ultimately decide whether the Dodgers - or any other club - want to commit to the 28-year-old.
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Max Muncy's Dodgers Admission Will Hit Fans Hard
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Max Muncys comments offered a sobering view of what it took to keep chasing that standard. He acknowledged the strain of multiple long seasons, a reminder that even a star-laden club can wear down over time. The Dodgers sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series made the disappointment impossible to ignore, and Muncys admission only sharpened the sense that the toll of the run is becoming part of the story in Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Collapse Just Got More Embarrassing After Brewers Manager's Jab
The Dodgers NLCS defeat already carried enough sting without the added humiliation of being swept by a Brewers club that never seemed to flinch under the moment. Milwaukee got the better of Los Angeles in the biggest spots, while the Dodgers were left to wonder about the same familiar issues that kept surfacing all series, from missed chances with runners in scoring position to a bullpen that couldnt stem the tide once the games tilted.
Pat Murphys postseries praise only sharpened the edge of it, the kind of victory-lap remark that lands harder when it comes after a mismatch instead of a slugfest. For a Dodgers team that entered October as the favorite and spent the season making major roster moves, the result leaves a winter of hard evaluation ahead and an especially uncomfortable reminder that talent on paper still has to show up when the bracket tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Kike Hernandez Just Put More Focus On A Tough Dodgers Decision
Kike Hernandez is back on the open market after the Dodgers season ended, and the veteran utility man made it clear he would like another run in Los Angeles. He said he wants to keep playing, but he also acknowledged there is uncertainty ahead, which is hardly a surprise at this stage of the offseason.
For the Dodgers, Hernandezs situation adds another layer to a decision they are already weighing as they look to get younger. His recent recovery from surgery will factor into the conversation, but so will everything else he brings to a clubhouse and roster that has long valued his experience, versatility and familiarity with the organization. [Read more 🡒]