Dodgers: Ranking the Dodgers’ List of Off-Season Needs

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after allowing a seventh inning home run to J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after allowing a seventh inning home run to J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out the runner during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. Catcher

The Dodgers’ biggest off-season need on their checklist is catcher.  While Austin Barnes could start for the Dodgers in 2019, they still need a backup catcher with proven big league experience.  Keibert Ruiz is still a season away and Will Smith should begin the season in Triple-A as he struggled in the second half of last season.  Should Austin Barnes struggle out of the gate, the Dodgers need that second option behind the plate.

There has been some speculation that Nick Hundley could be a backup option for the Dodgers, and the Dodgers have shown some interest in Martin Maldonado who at worst would provide some quality defense behind the plate and help control the opposing team’s run game.  The free agent market is weak outside of Wilson Ramos and Yasmani Grandal so the Dodgers’ best option for a one year stopgap might be hoping Austin Barnes rebounds in 2019.