DodgerFest Signals the Start of a New Chapter - and the Dodgers Know the Work Starts Now
LOS ANGELES - There’s always a moment at DodgerFest when the offseason haze starts to lift and reality sets in: baseball is back. For Dave Roberts, that moment came fast.
Surrounded by players, fans, and the unmistakable buzz of a new season, the Dodgers’ manager sounded like someone who could feel the calendar flipping in real time. The page has turned - and Roberts knows what comes next.
“You spend the offseason trying to detach, catch your breath a little bit,” he said, taking in the energy around him. “Now seeing players here, seeing their energy, obviously seeing the energy of the fans, it’s certainly time. The calendar’s turned and spring is in the air.”
That fresh-start feeling is real, but Roberts was quick to remind everyone: the talk has to match the work. This team isn’t just here to show up - it’s here to chase something big.
The Top of the Order: Ohtani Leading Off?
When the conversation shifted to lineup construction, Roberts didn’t give away his full hand, but he offered a glimpse into his thinking - and Shohei Ohtani at the top of the order is very much on the table.
“I’ve thought about it,” he said. “I do feel great about having Sho lead off.
I do feel great about having Will in the five.” After that?
Roberts is keeping it fluid. “I’m going to kind of read and react.”
That flexibility is classic Roberts - always thinking about matchups, handedness, and how to keep the lineup unpredictable. “You certainly see Mookie in the three,” he added, suggesting a top of the order that could be as potent as any in baseball, but one that still needs to take shape in camp.
Eyes on the Prize: The “Three-Peat” Mentality
The idea of a three-peat surfaced - and Roberts didn’t shy away from it. But he also didn’t let it turn into a premature celebration. If anything, he used it as a motivational compass.
“I don’t mind the three in the air as a carrot and a kind of a north star of focus,” he said. “But I do think that we’re very mindful that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to get to that point.”
It’s a challenge, no doubt. But it’s one Roberts believes this group is built to embrace.
“It’s something of a challenge that I feel that our guys are not going to run from,” he said. And with so many familiar faces returning, that continuity could be a serious asset.
Hungry Additions Bring More Than Talent
Roberts lit up when talking about the new additions to the roster - not just because of what they bring on the field, but because of what they bring to the clubhouse.
“It’s twofold,” he said. “You’re getting the talent, but the other part is you’re getting a couple guys that haven’t won a championship.”
That hunger matters. Roberts pointed to past examples of players who brought that edge, referencing how the team benefitted from similar moves in recent years.
“Having guys that haven’t had that feeling, that taste, infused with the guys that we already have here - I think that’s great,” he said.
And when it comes to fit, Roberts makes it personal. He’s not afraid to pick up the phone and do the homework.
“Absolutely,” he said. “We all kind of do our due diligence and then have conversation on figuring out if the player makes sense.”
He was especially enthusiastic about Edwin Díaz, praising not just his talent but his makeup. “You guys are going to love him,” Roberts said.
“He’s easygoing. He’s very accountable, hard worker.
All he wants to do is win. He left money on the table to come to the Dodgers.
Same guy every day.”
Kyle Tucker, meanwhile, brings a quieter energy. “He’s kind of simple, not an outgoing talker, just likes to work,” Roberts said. “Accountable, shows up, wants to play.”
Ohtani’s Pitching Plan: No WBC, Full Focus on Dodgers
One of the biggest questions surrounding Ohtani this spring was answered unequivocally: he won’t be pitching in the World Baseball Classic.
“He’s not going to pitch in the WBC,” Roberts confirmed. “It just seemed like the right decision.”
And importantly, it was Ohtani’s call. “It was absolutely his call,” Roberts emphasized.
That stands in contrast to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who will pitch in the WBC - a decision the Dodgers are fully behind. “Yoshi feels that he wants to take it on and feels good, and we support it,” Roberts said.
As for how Ohtani will be handled on the mound during the season, Roberts made it clear: this won’t be a novelty act. He’s not planning to micromanage every outing.
“I honestly don’t think that I’m going to manage him any differently as far as each outing,” he said. There will be rest built in - “It’s not a five-day, six-day rotation,” he acknowledged - but don’t expect overly cautious limits. “Outside of that, it’s not going to be the two-inning, three-inning governor.”
Life Without Kershaw: A New Era Begins
There was a moment of reflection, too - a nod to the end of an era. For the first time in nearly two decades, spring training won’t feature Clayton Kershaw’s familiar presence.
“When we get to spring training and Camelback and not seeing his locker where it’s been for 17 years, 18 years is going to be different,” Roberts said. He talked about the little things - the early sprints, the quiet leadership, the unmistakable feeling of a “Kershaw Day.”
But as much as that absence will be felt, Roberts is ready to turn the page. “I’m excited for Clayton,” he said. “And I’m excited to kind of move forward with the guys we got now.”
Game Seven? Still Unwatched - and That’s Just Fine
And in a lighter moment, Roberts was asked if he’s gone back and watched Game Seven. His answer? Not exactly.
“No, I haven’t,” he said, laughing. “For fear that there might be a different outcome. I kind of like where it is right now.”
It was a candid, almost superstitious answer - but it also spoke to a manager who’s focused on what’s next, not what’s behind.
Bottom line: The Dodgers aren’t easing into 2026. They’re stepping into it with purpose, a loaded roster, and a manager who knows exactly what’s at stake. The energy is real, the expectations are sky-high, and Dave Roberts is already laying the groundwork for what could be another special season in Los Angeles.