LOS ANGELES — Run it back.
In the afterglow of a championship, the temptation is always there to keep the band together and do it again next season. But it’s neither likely nor wise to move forward without any changes – because things do change.
“They change, and it’s the nature of the business,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Friday’s World Series victory parade. “But I will say, Andrew talks about Los Angeles being a destination place for players, and I just don’t see how anyone wouldn’t want to play for the Dodgers.
“But again, the landscape of the roster is certainly going to change. That’s the nature of baseball.”
Last winter’s changes were seismic. The Dodgers committed more than $1.2 billion to two-way star Shohei Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
It’s unlikely the Dodgers will splurge to the same level for a second year – right? But they do have issues to address. Will Teoscar Hernandez be back? Or is another megawatt star like Juan Soto more to their liking? Who will be the shortstop next year – Willy Adames? How will they shore up the starting pitching this time – Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Blake Snell are all available?
Whatever is to come this winter, here’s a look at the Dodgers’ starting point:
UNDER CONTRACT (with 2025 salary)
• DH/P Shohei Ohtani ($2 million) – What a historic debut season as a Dodger – 50/50, a third league MVP award. What’s it going to look like when he returns to pitching in 2025?
• OF Mookie Betts ($22 million) – Betts has made it clear he wouldn’t mind making second base his home (maybe not shortstop so much). But the Dodgers might be better off leaving him right where he is.
• RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($10 million) – Yamamoto had issues with pitch-tipping during his rookie season, but most concerning was the shoulder injury that sidelined him for three months.
• 1B Freddie Freeman ($15 million) – Challenges on the field and off left Freeman with his lowest average and OPS since 2015. But, oh, that grand slam …
• C Will Smith ($23 million) – The Dodgers gave Smith a 10-year contract in March then watched him regress badly offensively. That needs to turn back around in 2025.
• RHP Tyler Glasnow ($30 million) – The Dodgers took a big gamble that Glasnow’s health issues were behind him. They were not.
• 3B Max Muncy ($12 million) – It’s hard to evaluate Muncy’s 2024. He played less than half a season due to a mysterious rib injury, but the lineup still works better with him in it.
• UT Chris Taylor ($13 million) – Taylor and his contract have outlasted their usefulness to the Dodgers, particularly with Tommy Edman now in the fold.
• RHP Ryan Brasier ($4.5 million) – Brasier didn’t pitch much last season due to injury. When he did, though, he was fairly reliable.
• UT Tommy Edman ($9.5 million) – The Dodgers finally got their man when they traded for Edman. He figures to be a key piece at second base, shortstop or center field next year.
• C Austin Barnes ($3.5 million) – Only Clayton Kershaw has been with the Dodgers longer than Barnes’ 11-season tenure as the backup catcher.
• SS Miguel Rojas ($5 million) – Good in the clubhouse, good on defense – but too injury-prone to be trusted with a full-time job.
FREE AGENTS (with 2024 salary)
• RHP Walker Buehler ($8.5 million) – Buehler created a market for himself with his postseason performance, but will he prefer to return to Los Angeles anyway?
• OF Teoscar Hernandez ($23.5 million) – He bet on himself when he signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers. Now he can cash in – or is he sincere in professing his preference for staying longer?
• UT Kiké Hernandez ($4 million) – Like Taylor, his role has been given over to Edman. Can the Dodgers carry him for another unproductive regular season just hoping for more October magic?
• RHP Jack Flaherty ($14 million) – Flaherty was a serviceable addition to a staff desperate for starting pitching, but he didn’t do enough to make himself a priority this offseason.
• RHP Joe Kelly ($8 million) – Aw, Mariachi Joe – the Dodgers just can’t quit you. At age 36 with his best days – and healthiest – behind him, they should try.
• LHP Clayton Kershaw ($5 million) – Kershaw has two surgeries scheduled this week and his 37th birthday coming in March. The franchise icon will be back in 2025 – but how soon and for how long?
• RHP Blake Treinen ($1 million) – Treinen missed a season recovering from shoulder surgery. By the end of 2024, though, Dave Roberts leaned on him as his best high-leverage reliever. Bring him back.
• Minor-league free agents – RHP J.P Feyereisen, LHP Nick Ramirez
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE
• 2B Gavin Lux – Five years after debuting, he still hasn’t totally established himself. Moving parts could affect his status.
• RHP Michael Kopech – Kopech looked great when he first joined the Dodgers but inconsistency followed. The Dodgers will work with that.
• RHP Evan Phillips – The Dodgers have never treated Phillips with the respect of a closer. With free agency still years away, they don’t have to.
• LHP Alex Vesia – Vesia was the under-the-radar MVP of the Dodgers’ bullpen last season – a 1.76 ERA over a team-leading 67 regular-season appearances and seven scoreless postseason appearances.
• RHP Brusdar Graterol – Graterol is a frustrating combination of a dynamic reliever in a fragile body. The Dodgers have to spin the wheel and see what they get.
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• RHP Tony Gonsolin – Welcome back, Cat Man. Take a spot in the starting rotation.
• LHP Anthony Banda – Picked off the scrap heap from the Cleveland Guardians in May, Banda was a durable, willing piece of the bullpen.
• RHP Connor Brogdon – Brogdon spent the season in the minors after an early injury. He is almost certain to be non-tendered.
• RHP Dustin May – A torn esophagus? Of all the injuries the Dodgers endured in 2024, May’s was the most bizarre, delaying his return from elbow surgery.
UNDER CLUB CONTROL (0-3 years service time)
• RHP Michael Grove, RHP Brent Honeywell Jr., RHP Bobby Miller, RHP Emmet Sheehan, OF James Outman, OF Andy Pages, RHP Gavin Stone, LHP Kyle Logue, RHP Kyle Hurt, RHP Landon Knack, RHP River Ryan, LHP Justin Wrobleski, C Hunter Feduccia, RHP Ben Casparius, RHP Edgardo Henriquez, RHP Nick Frasso, C Diego Cartaya.