2 Dodgers offseason decisions that already look genius, 1 that looks awful

When it comes to roster building, the Los Angeles Dodgers compete on a different playing field than anyone else in the sport. With unlimited funds, money is no issue. Instead, the only finite resource at play is the number of roster spots available.

The limitations of the 26-man and 40-man rosters have led to several good players andtop prospects being let go over the years, as the team tries to maximize its ability to field the very best possible collection of players in its quest to build a dynasty.

So, while a bad signing or bloated contract can cripple another team, likeAnthony Rendon has done to the cross-town Angels, the Dodgers can easily move on, even eating money if they have to.

The danger for a franchise like this is that nebulous space between a player having the potential to be great while also suffering from some barrier that prevents him from consistently reaching his potential.

With that said, even though many of the Dodgers' moves fall into slam-dunk territory, there are some that are still strokes of genius. Simply put, just because you can acquire any player in the world doesn't mean you'll always make the right choices. Just ask the 1980s New York Yankees.

With that said, after a flurry of offseason moves and key decisions, a few clear winners and losers stand out based on the early returns of the young 2025 season.

Reuniting with Teoscar Hernández was the right decision for the Dodgers

During the offseason, the Dodgers needed a big bat to add to right field. The options in front of the team over the offseason were plentiful. Obviously, the Dodgers did their due diligence meeting with Juan Soto, even if a union between the two sides seemed like a long shot.

Outside of a generational talent like Soto, there were several other choices the Dodgers could have made, all with varying pros and cons. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Teoscar Hernández was sitting there biding his time, hoping his top choice in free agency, a reunion with the Dodgers, would come to fruition.

While he waited, Los Angeles could have considered other options to bring the thunder from right field. Anthony Santander would have been a younger choice. Jurickson Profar would've been the more versatile route, and we all know how much the Dodgers love their versatility.

However, after Soto, their option was clear from the start, and signing Teoscar Hernández to a three-year, $66 million deal to keep him in LA was the right call all along. Hernández is a professional hitter with pop. While his walk rate isn't always spectacular, in addition to hitting dingers, he does a decent job hitting for average as well, earning a 120 wRC+ for his career.

On the other hand, a player like Santander only has one tool, which is the homer. While his 44 long balls from 2024 would've been tempting to add to the lineup, he's a player who neither walks nor makes much contact outside of the home runs.

As for Profar, the former infielder-turned-outfielder was coming off a career year in 2024, which saw him post a 139 wRC+, far and away the best mark of his career. That career, by the way, has been marked by inconsistency, as evidenced by the fact that the year prior, in 2023, he had put up a 78 wRC which, shockingly, isn't even the low point for his career.

On the young season, Hernández is doing exactly what the Dodgers brought him in to do, posting a .281/.309/.563 line through 17 games. Meanwhile, Santander hasn't been able to hit his way out of a paper bag, slashing .190/.282/.270 through 16 games. Profar? Well, he got popped for PEDs and is currently serving an 80-game suspension.

New isn't always better, and the Dodgers could've easily been distracted by the plethora of other shiny options around that could've filled their right field hole. Instead, they made the smart call and brought back a reliable and friendly face who has so far rewarded them by giving them exactly what they need.