The Dodgers’ offseason begins with a big list of names hitting free agency, and the club is now staring at a market that includes eight players from its roster. The MLB season wrapped up on Wednesday with the Milwaukee Brewers winning the World Series, and that pushed the calendar into Thursday, Oct. 29, when free agency officially opened.
Miguel Rojas is not part of that group. He has retired and is already beginning work as a coach.
Among the players now available, Kike Hernandez stands out as one of the more familiar faces in the mix. The fan-favorite utility man has taken multiple short-term deals in recent years, and now his future is again uncertain after the Dodgers fell short of a third straight title. Hernandez is 35, and while he struggled throughout the year and in the postseason, his presence in the clubhouse remains a major factor.
The biggest name on the list is Tarik Skubal, the $400 million pitcher. Keeping him will be a challenge for Los Angeles, especially with other major bidders expected to enter the chase, including agent Scott Boras. Even so, he remains a key part of the rotation.
Alex Vesia is another player the Dodgers would like to keep around. He has been a steady contributor during three World Series titles in the last seven years, and after another strong year, there will be interest from around the league in a reliable reliever like him.
Kris Bubic was brought in at the trade deadline and treated as a bullpen rental, but he made the most of the regular season opportunity. His postseason work was less clean, though, as he allowed a run in both appearances. Because of his starter-level upside, a departure now seems likely if he lands a strong offer elsewhere.
Eric Lauer’s run with the Dodgers revived his career. He was nearly moved at the deadline, and injuries kept him from finishing the stretch run. If the market doesn’t come together the way he hopes, a return is still possible, but deadline interest points toward him signing elsewhere.
Evan Phillips has been one of the steadier relievers during the Dodgers’ current dynasty, but his injury history could shape the kind of market he gets. The Dodgers are expected to stay in the mix, waiting to see whether his market develops, though another bullpen-hungry team could step in first.
Blake Treinen’s situation is more complicated. He was shut down for the year because of a right shoulder injury, and whether he needs surgery could affect how attractive he is on the market. At 38, there’s also the possibility that his playing days are nearing the end.
Brusdar Graterol rounds out the group, and his case comes down to health. He is electric when available, but his medical situation will decide whether the Dodgers - or anyone else - has interest in the 28-year-old.
In Other News...
Dave Roberts Had A Blunt Take After The Dodgers' Collapse
The Dodgers season ended in the harshest way possible, with Milwaukee completing a four-game sweep and celebrating the Brewers first World Series title. For Los Angeles, it was less about one bad inning or one missed chance than a full-series reminder of how quickly October can turn when the other club keeps coming, and Dave Roberts did not shy away from acknowledging Milwaukees edge after the final out.
Even in the aftermath, there were still individual storylines worth pausing on. Dustin May reflected on how meaningful it was to get back to the Fall Classic after a serious health scare two years ago, a perspective that gave the defeat a different kind of weight inside the clubhouse. And while the championship fallout dominated the conversation, attention around the roster plans never really stops, with fantasy baseball analysis already circling pitcher Emmet Sheehan as a name to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Are Suddenly Linked To A Pricey Elly De La Cruz Pursuit
The offseason rumor mill has already started spinning around Elly De La Cruz, and one of the more eye-catching possibilities involves the Dodgers. MLB insider Jim Bowden reported that the Reds are willing to at least listen on trade interest for the young shortstop, and he specifically pointed to Los Angeles as a club that could make sense if Cincinnati decides to move him. Boston was also in the mix before, with the Red Sox once making a strong push that the Reds turned away.
For the Dodgers, the appeal is obvious. De La Cruz brings the kind of talent that can reshape a lineup and add another dynamic piece to an already ambitious roster, but the path to getting him is anything but simple. Cincinnati has already tried to lock him in with a major extension offer, and Scott Boras represents the kind of agent who tends to make long-term business trickier than most teams would like, which is exactly why this storyline figures to keep gathering steam. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Nearly Changed Everything Before Their Title Run
Around the 2026 MLB trade deadline, the Brewers made a serious push to land Tarik Skubal from the Tigers, putting together an offer built around prospects Luis Pena, Jett Williams and Josh Adamczewski. Detroit passed on the package, and the talks reportedly stalled because Milwaukee would not part with pitcher Logan Henderson, the piece the Tigers wanted to complete the deal.
In the end, the Brewers kept their young core intact and went on to win their first World Series title anyway. It leaves a familiar what-if around a deadline swing that nearly changed the shape of the race, and a reminder that sometimes the deal that never gets done can still echo all the way into October. [Read more 🡒]