A former Dodgers infielder has already found his next stop after walking away from playing at 28. He’s now on the Colorado Rockies’ coaching staff, and the connection that helped open that door traces back to Josh Brynes, the former Dodgers executive who is now the Rockies’ general manager. After the two crossed paths, that relationship helped plant the seed for the post-playing job that was waiting for him.
The biggest Dodgers conversation, though, is still centered on what could happen if Tarik Skubal reaches free agency. There are backup plans on the table if the two-time Cy Young Award winner leaves, and the idea of another elite arm stepping into the rotation has been framed as a possible path back to the Fall Classic. Even so, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that the Dodgers may have reason to feel optimistic about keeping him.
"My sense is Skubal would love to return to the Dodgers," Gonzalez wrote. "He truly seemed to relish his 2½ months in Los Angeles.
He loved the culture, particularly being among so many established, veteran players who were singularly focused on winning. He became besties with Blake Snell, was awed by the organization’s resources and, overall, seemed to fit in seamlessly."
The cost to keep Skubal is expected to be massive, and two insiders projected the final number could land close to half-a-billion dollars. Even with that kind of price tag hanging over the situation, the Dodgers have not exactly shown signs of backing off when it comes to spending on top-end talent.
There’s also a separate blockbuster trade idea floating around that would bring one of baseball’s brightest stars into the Dodger Stadium infield. The appeal is clear: it would make the Dodgers younger, which is viewed as a plus this offseason, and it would add offense after a postseason that exposed just how thin the lineup could be, especially with runners in scoring position.
Elsewhere on the roster front, Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia has been projected to land a 2-year, $25 million deal in free agency. And in a broader baseball note that could matter to the market the Dodgers are operating in, MLB has proposed pushing back the implementation of a salary cap until the 2028 season while moving ahead with the other parts of its labor proposal for 2027.
The Dodgers have also been tied to the familiar pattern of swinging big on superstar rentals and then watching them leave in free agency. Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner are all part of that list, and the question now is whether Skubal would become the next name on it.
For now, the offseason wish list still points toward several areas of need. Jim Bowden said bullpen depth and getting younger should be near the top of the Dodgers’ priorities, while also pointing to possible upgrades at second base and left field, plus a right-handed platoon bat at third base.
And on a lighter note, the Dodgers also marked Roki Sasaki’s 25th birthday. Sasaki went through a full range of emotions in his first MLB season, moving from can’t-miss prospect to major disappointment to postseason hero, before finishing as a World Series champion.
In Other News...
Dodgers Fans Have A New Prospect Debate With A Fall Stars Twist
Major League Baseballs Fall Stars Game roster announcement gave Dodgers fans a fresh reason to keep an eye on the Arizona Fall League, with third baseman Chase Harlan and pitcher Luke Fox landing on the National League team. The showcase will be played Sunday at Salt River Fields and aired on MLB Network, giving the organization another chance to see two of its prospects on a bigger stage.
Now the debate shifts to who should join them, with fans voting on one more National League spot from a pool that includes Dodgers prospects Eduardo Quintero and Charles Davalan, along with Padres infielder Justin DeCriscio. For a player development system that has already put two names on the roster, the final choice adds a little extra intrigue for Dodgers followers who have been tracking the fall circuit closely. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Could Be Near A Tough Kik Hernndez Decision
Kik Hernndez has been one of the more familiar October pieces in the Dodgers recent run, a utility presence who has shown up in postseason after postseason since 2015 and given the club flexibility all over the diamond. Even with that track record, the offseason always has a way of forcing uncomfortable choices, and Hernndezs status is now part of that familiar roster churn as Los Angeles weighs how to reshape its bench and defensive depth.
One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Mauricio Dubon, the versatile defender most recently with the Atlanta Braves. Dubon would likely come at a higher salary, which only adds to the calculus for a Dodgers front office trying to balance value with familiarity, and while a move away from Hernndez looks increasingly possible, it is not yet official. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Could Lose A Bullpen Weapon To A Familiar Rival
The Dodgers have already made one major bullpen splash by landing Edwin Daz, and they are not likely to stop there as they keep looking for ways to deepen a roster built to chase another title. With Tarik Skubal expected to be a major winter target, Los Angeles is also being linked to a more immediate relief-market possibility in Padres left-hander Adrin Morejn, a pitcher who has quietly become one of the more interesting names in the division.
Morejn has been extended a qualifying offer by San Diego and has until November 17 to decide whether to take it or test free agency, which leaves the door open for a familiar rival to make a run at him. For the Dodgers, the appeal is obvious: pairing Morejn with Daz would give them another high-end bullpen look, while also turning a Padres weapon into part of the same late-inning mix that has long frustrated opponents in the National League West. [Read more 🡒]