Dodgers Search For Miguel Rojas Replacement Is Starting To Take Shape

The Dodgers are setting their sights on two elite defensive free agents in a bid to bolster their infield after Miguel Rojas' retirement.

The Dodgers are digging through the middle-infield market this offseason, and two familiar utility names have surfaced as possible answers after Miguel Rojas retired.

Los Angeles could always circle back to Kiké Hernandez, another free agent utility man, but the bigger theme here is clear: the Dodgers want to get younger and find someone they can count on over the grind of a full regular season. That search has pushed them toward players who can handle second base, with the idea that Tommy Edman could slide into more of a super utility role.

According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, two free agents have drawn at least some interest from the Dodgers: Mauricio Dubon and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

“Two more names on different ends of the scale have registered at least some level of interest from the Dodgers, a league source said: Mauricio Dubon and Isiah Kiner-Falefa,” Ardaya wrote.

Dubon, 32, is coming off the best season of his career with the Atlanta Braves. He posted career highs in home runs (12), RBIs (73), stolen bases (10) and hits (158), while batting .276/.321/.399 with a .719 OPS. He also bounced around the diamond, logging time in left field, center field, third base, shortstop and second base.

The glove is a huge part of his appeal. Dubon ranked in the 91st percentile with an Outs Above Average of 6, and he’s already collected three Gold Gloves in his career. Ardaya also noted that Dubon “might have played well enough in his lone season with the Atlanta Braves that his market winds up exceeding the Dodgers’ desired range.”

If the price stays manageable, he’d give Los Angeles exactly what it’s looking for: versatility, strong defense and enough offense to keep the lineup moving.

Kiner-Falefa brings a different profile. The 31-year-old has been linked to the Dodgers for a while, but the fit has never quite come together.

He appeared in 66 games for the Boston Red Sox in 2026 and hit .242 with two home runs, 16 RBIs and a .633 OPS. He saw time at third base, shortstop and second base, all spots where the Dodgers want more depth.

He’s also known for the glove. Kiner-Falefa is a former Gold Glove winner, and Ardaya wrote that he “is not expected to command as much as Dubon, but could, in theory, provide some stability with Rojas’ departure.”

That’s the split between the two names: Dubon looks like the more complete, more expensive option after his breakout year, while Kiner-Falefa profiles more as a steady bench piece who could help cover the infield without costing nearly as much.

In Other News...

Dodgers Linked To A Power Bat That Could Test Their Spending

Teruaki Sato is officially on the market, and the 27-year-old Japanese infielders posting has already drawn a familiar list of heavy hitters. The Dodgers are among the clubs said to have interest, alongside the Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Padres, which is a pretty good sign the bidding could get competitive fast for a player with real power and a reputation that has traveled well across the Pacific.

The timing matters as much as the talent. Sato has until Dec. 1 to reach a deal before a league lockout shuts down negotiations, and he is expected to command a high-value contract. For the Dodgers, who are never shy about chasing impact talent, this is the kind of market that can quickly turn into a test of how far they want to push their spending for a bat that could change the shape of their offseason. [Read more 🡒]

Dodgers Are Chasing A Japanese Phenom Before His Path Gets Messy

The Dodgers have been doing their homework overseas again, holding a meeting in Japan with pitching prospect Shoki Oda as they continue to evaluate international talent. Oda, who was taken first overall by the Yomiuri Giants in the NPB draft, is already drawing attention well beyond Japan because of the unusual path he may choose next.

Oda is reportedly weighing whether to bypass NPB entirely and sign directly with an MLB club, and he is said to be meeting with multiple teams. If he does not land with a major league organization, he has indicated he could head to college in the United States, which leaves his next step very much in play and gives clubs like the Dodgers a real chance to get involved before the route gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]

Dodgers Need One Big Improvement From Josue De Paula Fast

Josue De Paulas first taste of the majors in September 2026 gave the Dodgers exactly what they hoped for on the offensive side, a glimpse of why he has climbed to the top of the organizations prospect list. The bat looks ready to matter in Los Angeles sooner rather than later, and the club is already thinking beyond the debut stage as it weighs how De Paula could fit into the outfield picture in the near future.

The bigger question is whether his glove can catch up quickly enough to make him a complete option in left field, where the Dodgers may eventually need a successor for Teoscar Hernndez. De Paula is spending the offseason working with former big league outfielders Alex Ochoa and Jackie Bradley Jr. to sharpen that part of his game, a sign the organization knows the path from promising hitter to everyday regular still runs through the defensive side of the job. [Read more 🡒]