The Dodgers are headed into an offseason that could look a lot less dramatic than people expect.
That’s the tension in Los Angeles right now: the franchise has the money, the prospect capital and the reputation for making noise, but the actual list of obvious upgrades may be thinner than usual. Alden Gonzalez of ESPN wrote that, beyond a run at Tarik Skubal and a possible bullpen reset, there may not be many clean ways for the Dodgers to meaningfully raise the ceiling of the roster.
“Outside of a pursuit of Skubal and a restocking of their bullpen - Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips are among their free agents, and the Dodgers will probably be interested in a reunion - there might not be a whole lot,” Gonzalez wrote.
He added that even if Skubal never lands in Los Angeles, the Dodgers already have “enviable pitching depth,” while their entire starting lineup remains under contract. The bigger internal debate, Gonzalez noted, may center on whether the club leans on younger position players already in the system.
“Even without Skubal, the Dodgers possess enviable pitching depth. Their entire starting lineup is under contract. And though their front office will spend a lot of time debating the merits of a younger position-player group, that might ultimately happen internally - with the likes of Josue De Paula, Alex Freeland and, when he recovers from elbow surgery, Dalton Rushing mixing in.
“Could a blockbuster deal for a young, controllable, upper-eschelon position player materialize? Certainly. But those are always difficult.”
There are names out there, of course. On the trade market, some infield help could be available, including Elly De La Cruz and CJ Abrams.
The pitching market also has options, from upper-mid-level arms to an elite bullpen piece like Adrian Morejon. There are also some high-risk position players who could be in play.
But the Dodgers may wind up looking inward instead of swinging big. James Tibbs, Zach Ehrhard and Mike Sirota are among the hitters who could bring slugging, speed or both. On the mound, Jackson Ferris, Adam Serwinowski and Christian Zazueta are candidates to be added to the 40-man roster, giving the bullpen a jolt of youth.
That’s the group that could help give an aging roster some new life. The question is whether those players are ready to hold up in the majors, or whether the Dodgers’ veterans keep sliding and leave the front office wishing it had done more.
And with Shohei Ohtani pushing all his chips to defer his pay, the pressure to keep adding top-end talent isn’t going anywhere. The problem, as Gonzalez laid out, is that in 2027 that kind of move may be easier said than done.
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Dodgers Fans Have A New Prospect Debate With A Fall Stars Twist
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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
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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
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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 🡒]