The Dodgers are heading toward another roster shakeup, and it could come faster than plenty of fans expect. With the winter meetings looming and Andrew Friedman fresh off an unceremonious sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, the pressure to retool is already building.
Looking toward Opening Day 2027, there are a few names on the roster who look far more likely to be wearing someone else’s uniform by then than staying in Los Angeles.
One of the clearest possibilities is a player who never even made the postseason roster in either round. The 32-year-old outfielder remains under team control through 2030, but that hasn’t stopped him from looking like a possible trade piece for another club.
He brings value in the clubhouse and at the plate, where he’s known as a battler, but the upside is limited at this stage of his career. The backup outfield job could also be filled by one of the younger options already working their way up through the minor leagues.
Another name to watch is Alex Vesia. He has been a steady presence in the Dodgers’ bullpen for a long time and has grown into one of the most trusted high-leverage arms on the staff.
Now 30 and headed for free agency, he’s in line to draw strong interest and could command lucrative offers on the open market. Left-handed relievers with his track record don’t come cheap, and contenders will be drawn to his experience and postseason success.
Los Angeles also has a reason to get younger across the board, and the club doesn’t lack left-handed bullpen options. That said, it is not a sure thing Vesia leaves; he has meant a lot to the organization, and the feeling clearly runs both ways.
Still, fans should be ready for the chance that the fiery Southern California native is pitching somewhere else in 2027.
Teoscar Hernandez is the third player who could easily be gone by then. At his best, he looks like an indispensable middle-of-the-order power bat, and he’s popular in the clubhouse and with the fan base.
But there are real drawbacks here, too. His defense in the outfield has been a major problem, and there have been frustrations tied to what some see as a lack of effort on the bases at times.
He’s also closing in on his 35th birthday. Even with that baggage, there’s still value for the Dodgers to extract in a deal, especially if they want to get younger in the outfield and create room for Josue De Paul to take on an everyday role.
In Other News...
Dodgers Executive's Next Step Just Took An Unexpected Turn
Rocco Baldellis next move in baseball just got a little less certain. After spending seven seasons managing the Twins and settling into a role as a special assistant in the Dodgers front office, Baldelli had emerged as a notable candidate for the Mariners managerial opening, giving him another chance to jump back into a dugout after this quiet stretch in Los Angeles.
Instead, Seattles search will continue without him after Baldelli withdrew from consideration for family reasons. The Mariners have already spoken with Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler, so the process is still moving, but Baldellis exit removes one of the more experienced names from the board and leaves open the question of what comes next for a Dodgers executive who had briefly surfaced as part of a high-profile opening on the North Side of the Pacific Northwest. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers See One Big Hurdle In Josue De Paulas Rise
Josue De Paula has become one of the most interesting young names in the Dodgers system, the kind of prospect who fits neatly into the organizations long view and also could matter sooner than later. Brandon Gomes and Andrew Friedman have pointed to his offensive upside and the way he has already made strides defensively, which is part of why there is real belief he can grow into an immediate contributor as the club starts eyeing a youth movement around the 2027 season.
Even with that optimism, the Dodgers are still watching one part of his game closely: his work in the outfield. De Paulas bat draws the attention first, and Juan Soto even singled out his eye at the plate while comparing him to himself, but the next step is making sure the defensive side catches up enough to keep him on the path the team wants. For a player with this much promise, the difference between being intriguing and becoming indispensable may come down to how far that outfield progress goes. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Bringing Fans Back To Dodger Stadium For A Holiday Tradition
Dodger Stadium is leaning into the holidays again, with the club set to host a special movie night on Saturday, Nov. 28. The featured film is Home Alone, and the screening will play on the outfield scoreboard, giving fans a chance to spend an evening at the ballpark in a setting that is a little different from the usual baseball routine.
The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PT, with gates opening two hours earlier for photo opportunities, bullpen pitching, stadium tours and some exclusive food items. General admission tickets start at $35 for field-level seats and $40 for outfield grass seating, and the club is also including free parking, which should make the whole outing feel even more like a laid-back holiday tradition than a typical stadium event. [Read more 🡒]