The Los Angeles Dodgers have already turned the baseball world on its head this offseason, handing out eye-popping deals to land Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz. But just as fans were catching their breath, reports surfaced linking the Dodgers to another potential blockbuster: a trade for Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.
Now, let’s be clear-this wasn’t just idle chatter. The Dodgers, fresh off sweeping the Brewers in the NLCS, were reportedly eyeing Peralta as a possible addition to a rotation that’s already stacked with elite arms.
That news sent Brewers fans-and honestly, fans of any non-Dodgers team-into a frenzy. Because if there’s one thing the rest of the league doesn’t want to hear, it’s that the Dodgers might not be done yet.
And here’s the kicker: as much as the idea of L.A. adding another All-Star pitcher sounds like overkill, they actually have the resources to make it happen. The Dodgers boast one of the best farm systems in baseball-deep, talented, and versatile.
If they want someone, they usually have the pieces to get it done. That’s what makes this rumor so unsettling for the rest of the National League.
But just as the buzz was building, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman poured a little cold water on the fire. During Kyle Tucker’s introductory press conference, Friedman was asked directly whether the Dodgers were still in the market for starting pitching.
“We are not,” he said.
Simple, direct, and-on the surface-reassuring for Brewers fans. But in the world of MLB front offices, what’s said publicly doesn’t always line up with what’s happening behind the scenes.
Let’s unpack this.
On one hand, Friedman’s statement makes sense. The Dodgers’ rotation is already a who's who of elite arms: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani (who won’t pitch in 2026 but remains a long-term weapon), and Roki Sasaki.
Throw in young talents like Emmet Sheehan, and you’re looking at a rotation that’s not just deep-it’s borderline unfair. Adding Freddy Peralta to that group feels like gilding the lily.
But here’s the thing: when has that ever stopped the Dodgers?
This is a team that’s built its recent dominance not just on star power, but on depth, flexibility, and the ability to absorb injuries without skipping a beat. If one of their top arms goes down-and in a 162-game season, that’s always a possibility-they want to be ready. Peralta would give them another frontline option, and that’s the kind of insurance policy championship teams chase.
There’s also the reality that Friedman doesn’t have to tell the truth in this situation. Publicly admitting interest in a player like Peralta could drive up the price or complicate negotiations. Staying quiet-or even denying interest-keeps leverage on their side.
So what’s the real read here? It’s likely that Friedman’s telling a version of the truth: the Dodgers aren’t actively shopping for another starter unless the perfect deal comes along.
And that’s a big “unless.” Because if Milwaukee decides to make Peralta available and the Dodgers see a path to getting him at a price they like, they have the firepower to make it happen.
We’ve already seen it this offseason. The Dodgers played coy early on, signaling that it would be a quiet winter.
Then they went out and made Díaz the highest-paid reliever in history (by average annual value) and stunned the baseball world by landing Tucker on a $60 million-per-year deal. Both players were widely expected to land with the Mets-until the Dodgers swooped in and changed the narrative.
So when reports emerged that the Mets might be the current frontrunners for Peralta-and that Milwaukee may have even received a formal offer-it was hard not to wonder if the Dodgers might pull off another late twist. A surprise move, a last-minute offer, a blockbuster that no one sees coming until it hits the wire.
At the end of the day, Peralta probably isn’t heading to L.A.-at least not right now. But if we’ve learned anything this offseason, it’s that with the Dodgers, you never say never. And just because Friedman says they’re done doesn’t mean they actually are.
Stay tuned.