Dodgers: Looking Ahead to the Monster 2018 Free Agent Class

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 13: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a solo home run in the third inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 13, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 13: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a solo home run in the third inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 13, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
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PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 13: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a solo home run in the third inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 13, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

Although it’s early in the Dodgers’ season, the allure of next year’s monster free agent class is just too tantalizing to wait until October.  Here is a breakdown of who will be available this winter and who makes sense for the Dodgers.

Assuming the Dodgers don’t make any in-season acquisitions that take them over the salary cap, they will reset the luxury tax for 2019.  This will take their penalty from 50% down to 20%. Given the Front Office’s lack of off-season upgrades, this clearly seemed to be the marching orders going into 2018.

Resetting the penalty frees up a nice stockpile of cash for the Dodgers to make some big moves to build around a solid core of young talent.  But the biggest question may be whether their ace left-hander, Clayton Kershaw opts out of his contract, and if so, how much money are the Dodgers willing to commit to bring him back.

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