The Dodgers have already shown they’re willing to shop at the top of the market, and another bullpen splash could be next.
Los Angeles is expected to chase Tarik Skubal this winter, but the relief market may also have its eye on the Dodgers again after last year’s Edwin Díaz move. ESPN reported the club landed Díaz on a three-year, $69 million deal, noting that “The Los Angeles Dodgers got the best closer on the free agent market Tuesday, reaching a three-year, $69 million deal with former New York Mets reliever Edwin Diaz, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jorge Castillo on Tuesday. The deal by the Dodgers, who were targeting bullpen help this winter, set an average annual value record for a relief pitcher,” ESPN wrote.
Now, MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald has floated another high-end bullpen fit: San Diego Padres left-hander Adrián Morejón.
“Morejon finished out the 2026 season with 86 innings - third-most among all relievers in baseball. Houston’s AJ Blubaugh - who frequently worked as a bulk arm behind an opener - and Milwaukee's Aaron Ashby are the only two pitchers in the sport who logged more innings out of the bullpen.
He’s accustomed to pitching multiple innings in high-leverage spots. Twenty-five of Morejon’s 76 appearances this year saw him record four or more outs.
He topped out at two innings, which he covered on eight occasions. Morejon tallied 28 holds and three saves, and he ranked seventh among qualified relievers in win probability added,” McDonald wrote.
Morejón’s status is still up in the air. The Padres extended him a qualifying offer, and MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell said that “The Padres have extended a qualifying offer to left-hander Adrian Morejon ahead of Monday’s deadline to do so.
The move was something of a formality, with Morejon, 27, set to hit free agency in his prime as perhaps the top reliever available. He will have until Nov. 17 to accept or decline the offer, worth $23.15 million for one year,” MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell wrote.
If Los Angeles can lure Morejón out of San Diego, he’d give the Dodgers another power arm to pair with Díaz. The idea is simple: two relievers who can work back-to-back innings and blow hitters away with velocity. That kind of late-game combination would give the Dodgers a serious edge.
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The unusual split only adds to the intrigue, because Tatis is now up against a deep field of contenders at both spots and could put himself in Padres record territory if he comes away with one or both awards. For a player whose value has always sparked debate, the nomination underscores how much his versatility has mattered to San Diego this season. The only question left is whether the voters will reward him in one role, both, or leave the Padres waiting to see how the final tally shakes out. [Read more 🡒]