The Dodgers’ stunning postseason exit may have done more than end a season in Los Angeles. It could also create an opening for teams like the Rangers, who should be watching closely this offseason for a chance to capitalize.
There are no pipe dreams here. Tarik Skubal would be the dream, sure, but that’s not the point. The five Dodgers players that stand out are all realistic targets for Texas, whether through trade or free agency, and each would address a specific need on the roster.
One of the most intriguing names is catcher Dalton Rushing. ESPN’s Jeff Passan already floated him as a dream trade target for the Rangers at the deadline, and that idea only feels more plausible now.
Rushing was pushed off the postseason roster again, this time behind top prospect Josue De Paula, after previously being left off in favor of Ben Rortvedt. The problem is simple: Will Smith is under contract through 2033, and that leaves Rushing without a clear path to regular catching work in Los Angeles.
In 2026, the 25-year-old hit .246/.328/.460, a line that would be a clear upgrade for Texas behind the plate. He’d also fit the organization’s push to get younger and more dynamic.
The cost would still be real, though it likely wouldn’t be as steep as before. Danny Jansen could also be included, which might help the Dodgers as a backup option for Smith and give Texas a chance to trim salary.
Rushing is a left-handed hitter, so Logan O’Hoppe could pair with him as the right-handed complement against tough lefties.
Another bat that makes sense is Alex Call. The Rangers need more from Evan Carter offensively, especially against right-handed pitching, where his .657 OPS wasn’t enough.
His work against lefties was even worse. Call, a right-handed hitter who can handle all three outfield spots, would be a cheaper platoon answer.
He was mentioned in trade chatter around the deadline and is again viewed as a likely move candidate for Los Angeles. In 2026, the 32-year-old hit .290/.408/.419 against lefties and owns a .762 OPS against southpaws for his career.
The bullpen is another area where Los Angeles could help Texas, and Evan Phillips belongs on the shortlist. Phillips spent the early part of his career bouncing around the league from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Atlanta Braves to the Baltimore Orioles before the Dodgers turned him into a dependable high-leverage arm.
A torn UCL in May of 2025 and Tommy John surgery interrupted that rise, but he returned on July 7 of this year. His first stretch back was rough - five earned runs in his first eight appearances, most of them fueled by four home runs, and a 6.14 ERA over 7 1/3 innings.
Then he settled in. From August 1 through the end of the regular season, he posted a 2.41 ERA over 18 2/3 innings.
He finished the year with a 31.1% strikeout rate and a 5.7% walk rate, the kind of swing-and-miss profile Texas needs in front of Jacob Latz in the late innings.
Alex Freeland is another possible buy-low move. Once a top prospect, he has not yet found his footing in Los Angeles over the last two seasons.
The Dodgers have leaned on Kiké Hernandez and Miguel Rojas, and they also brought in Hyeseong Kim from the KBO, which has squeezed Freeland’s path. He’s still only 25, can play around the infield, and has spent most of his time at second base.
He’s a switch hitter with some speed and a patient approach, though Los Angeles has mostly used him against righties. This year he hit .253/.351/.354 against right-handed pitching over 234 plate appearances, while managing only .121/.171/.152 in 35 plate appearances against lefties.
For Texas, the fit could depend on how second base is handled in 2027 and how the bench is built. Justin Foscue could handle second against lefties, leaving Freeland as a platoon partner with upside, or he could fill the kind of utility role Nicky Lopez had in 2026.
The last name on the list is Alex Vesia, and he may be the cleanest answer for Texas’ biggest bullpen issue. The Rangers’ relief corps was shaky in 2026, and the left-handed side looks even thinner now.
Tyler Alexander is a free agent after a useful but volatile season, while Robert Garcia is back but not especially trustworthy in high-leverage spots despite his 2.41 ERA, which comes with a 15.5% strikeout rate and a 12.7% walk rate. Vesia has been one of the steadier late-inning lefties in the game for several years, and 2026 was no exception.
He appeared in 72 games, threw 58 innings, and put up a 2.64 ERA with a 31.2% strikeout rate. He does issue walks - a 13.5% rate this year and 11.5% for his career - but he still gets outs, and that would make him a much steadier option than Robby Ahlstrom or Adam Macko.
He should have a healthy market in free agency, but without closer-level baggage, the price shouldn’t get completely out of control. The Rangers would need to spend, but for a pitcher like Vesia, it would be worth it.
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