As the Los Angeles Dodgers prepare to officially welcome star outfielder Kyle Tucker, they’ll also need to make room on their 40-man roster - and that means some tough decisions are looming. When you’re a franchise chasing not just wins but legacy, even solid contributors can find themselves on the bubble.
Let’s take a closer look at four Dodgers who could be on the roster bubble heading into the 2026 season - not because they’ve underperformed, but because the bar in L.A. is just that high.
Alex Call: The Numbers Are Solid, But the Fit Is Fading
When the Dodgers traded for Alex Call at the 2025 deadline, it was a move aimed at plugging a short-term hole in the outfield. Call delivered a respectable .247/.333/.384 slash line over 38 games - not eye-popping, but certainly serviceable for a depth outfielder.
The challenge for Call now? The Dodgers’ outfield picture has drastically changed.
With Kyle Tucker set to join the fold and younger options like Ryan Ward and Michael Siani pushing for roles, the outfield depth chart is getting crowded. Siani brings elite defensive chops, Ward has real upside with the bat, and both offer something the Dodgers may value more long-term.
Call, meanwhile, finds himself in that tricky fourth or fifth outfielder spot - a role that’s often the first to get squeezed when roster math comes into play. He’s a player who can contribute, but in L.A., that might not be enough.
Alex Freeland: A Glut in the Infield
Freeland got his first taste of big-league action in late July, stepping in during a stretch when injuries thinned the Dodgers’ infield depth. Over 29 games, he hit .190 with a pair of homers and a .602 OPS. Not exactly a breakout, but the sample size was small, and Freeland flashed enough glove and left-handed bat potential to stay on the radar.
The problem? The infield is stacked - and getting more crowded.
Mookie Betts, Hyeseong Kim, Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas, and Max Muncy are all ahead of him on the depth chart. Add in offseason additions like Andy Ibáñez and Ryan Fitzgerald, and Freeland’s path to playing time gets murky.
Freeland sees himself as a shortstop, and he’s shown the defensive ability to back that up. But on a team with this much infield talent and World Series aspirations, versatility and immediate impact often carry more weight than long-term projection. He’s the Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect, but that doesn’t guarantee a spot when the roster crunch hits.
Ben Casparius: Solid Season, But Bullpen Is Getting Crowded
Casparius quietly carved out a meaningful role in the Dodgers’ bullpen last year, appearing in 46 games and posting a 4.64 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 77.2 innings. For a first full season in the majors, that’s a solid showing - especially for a team that cycled through a lot of arms.
But the Dodgers’ bullpen is reloading in a big way. Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, and Alex Vesia headline a group that also includes Brusdar Graterol, Brock Stewart, and Kyle Hurt. And that’s before you even get to young arms like Gavin Stone, River Ryan, and Roki Sasaki - all of whom could claim high-leverage roles sooner rather than later.
Casparius has proven he can handle big-league innings, but in a bullpen this deep, even reliable contributors can find themselves squeezed out. If everyone stays healthy and performs, he could be the odd man out - not because he can’t pitch, but because the Dodgers might simply have too many arms.
Dalton Rushing: A Top Prospect in a Tough Spot
Dalton Rushing spent much of last season backing up Will Smith behind the plate, and while the opportunities were limited, he still managed to get meaningful reps. He finished the year hitting .204 with four home runs and 24 RBIs - not eye-catching, but enough to show flashes of the offensive potential that made him a top prospect.
The issue for Rushing isn’t talent - it’s timing and opportunity. With Smith entrenched as the starter and the Dodgers in win-now mode, there’s only so much runway for a young catcher to develop at the big-league level. That’s led to his name coming up in trade chatter, particularly around high-impact arms like Tarik Skubal.
If the Dodgers do decide to deal from their prospect depth to bolster the rotation, Rushing’s combination of pedigree and potential makes him a valuable trade chip. And if he’s moved, the team would likely turn to someone like Ben Rortvedt to fill the backup role - a more traditional veteran presence behind the plate.
The Reality of a Super Team
Here’s the bottom line: most of the players on this list would comfortably make the roster on a lot of other MLB teams. But this isn’t just any roster - it’s the Dodgers. A team that’s gone all-in on building a powerhouse, with the talent and depth to chase multiple championships.
That kind of ambition comes with a cost. It means tough decisions, even when it comes to players who’ve done everything asked of them. Whether it’s a young prospect like Rushing, a dependable reliever like Casparius, or a steady outfielder like Call, no one is immune when the stakes are this high.
For the Dodgers, it’s not just about who can play - it’s about who can help them win it all. And in that kind of environment, even good players can find themselves on the edge.