The Dodgers are heading into free agency with the kind of shopping list only a contender can have. Tarik Skubal sits near the top of it, but Los Angeles may not stop with pitching. Second base is very much in play, and one name that keeps surfacing is Mauricio Dubón.
MLB insider Jim Bowden said the Dodgers could have a real edge if they go after Skubal, noting, “The sense I get from people that he has talked to, is that he would love to be a Los Angeles Dodger. He loved his time in LA. I think it's a perfect marriage in LA,”
Even with that kind of buzz around the rotation, the Dodgers still have other holes to patch. Bowden pointed to second base, left field and a possible right-handed platoon bat for third base as areas Los Angeles could address.
He also noted the bullpen could look different, with southpaw Alex Vesia and right-handers Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol all free agents. “The Dodgers have always been elite at replacing relievers, and I’m sure this offseason will be no different.”
That’s where Dubón enters the picture. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller made the case for the three-time Gold Glove winner and former Atlanta Braves infielder as a fit for Los Angeles, especially if the Dodgers want more stability at second.
“If it's the latter, maybe he can become LA's primary second baseman? That spot in the lineup has been a revolving door over the past two years.
If it's the former, he'd be a welcome addition to just about any roster-especially if Jim Bowden's projection of two years, $16M is an accurate representation of Dubón's cost in free agency. But the Dodgers, in particular, have shown an affinity for guys who can play anywhere and everywhere,” Miller wrote.
The fit lines up for more than one reason. Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernández are no longer under contract, which leaves Los Angeles with room to add another versatile piece. Dubón would give the Dodgers cover at multiple spots and the kind of roster flexibility contenders covet.
Last season, Dubón played on a $6.1 million contract with the Braves. He could land a bit more in free agency, but his value comes from the same place it always has: he can handle almost anywhere on the field and do it at a level that helps a lineup on a regular basis.
He’s also coming off the best season of his career. Miller pointed to Dubón as one of the league’s most clutch two-out hitters in 2026, and that production, along with his veteran presence, is part of what makes him such an appealing option for Los Angeles.
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The Dodgers are already looking ahead to how they patch up the infield after a pair of familiar faces moved on, and the early free-agent market has given them a couple of practical options. According to The Athletic, Los Angeles has shown interest in Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Mauricio Dubon as it weighs how to replace the departures of Miguel Rojas, who retired, and Kike Hernandez, who is now a free agent.
Both players bring the kind of flexibility the Dodgers tend to value, with the club evaluating not just defense but whether either can add enough offense to make the fit worthwhile. It is the sort of decision that can quietly shape a roster for months, especially for a team that likes to keep its bench and infield mix adaptable, and the next move will say plenty about how aggressively the Dodgers want to address that opening. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers May Be Letting A Rival Steal A Major Rotation Prize
Tarik Skubal has quickly become one of the most closely watched names on the market, with the Dodgers among the clubs circling as they weigh how far to go for a frontline arm. Los Angeles has been tied to a short-term, high-value approach, which fits the way the club often balances urgency with long-term flexibility, but it is not the only contender in the mix. The Mets, Padres and Blue Jays are also involved, turning this into the kind of bidding situation that can move fast once one team decides to push harder.
The Blue Jays, in particular, appear capable of changing the conversation if they decide to lean into a longer-term proposal, the sort of structure they reportedly explored with Kyle Tucker. That leaves the Dodgers in an interesting spot, interested but maybe not yet as aggressive as some of the other suitors. With talks still ongoing, the question is whether Los Angeles is waiting for the market to come to it or whether a rival is about to set the pace on one of the winters biggest rotation prizes. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Face One Contract Problem In Tarik Skubal Pursuit
Tarik Skubals arrival last season gave the Dodgers exactly what they hoped for when they swung the trade, and he backed it up with strong work in both the regular season and the postseason. So it is no surprise that Los Angeles is expected to stay in the mix if the left-hander reaches free agency, especially for a club that has never shied away from chasing elite talent when it believes the fit is right.
The complication is the kind that can shape an entire winter: money. The Dodgers have to weigh the expected cost of a long-term Skubal deal against broader financial concerns, including the possibility of a future MLB salary cap, and that could make them more cautious than usual about how far they go. Even with their track record of landing top free agents, this is the sort of contract decision that can force a team to choose between staying aggressive and protecting its long-term flexibility. [Read more 🡒]