Dodgers Way
FanSided

Dodgers: Why Andrew Friedman is facing his biggest off-season yet

By Michael Wittman

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Andrew Friedman, looks on from the field before game one of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Andrew Friedman, looks on from the field before game one of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
dodgers
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals hits a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The Dodgers have “cap space”

The way Andrew Friedman has run the Dodgers is similar to a team operating with a salary cap.  The Dodgers have continued to slash payroll every off-season and try to stay under the luxury tax line.  This winter the Dodgers will be operating with approximately $40 million dollars in space under the tax line and fans will be furious if the team does not make a big move.

Anthony Rendon and Gerrit Cole will be the two top free agents and Stephen Strasburg may join them if he opts out and the Nationals fail to keep him.  Last off-season, Friedman signed A.J. Pollock and Joe Kelly but for luxury tax purposes, their combined salary was right around $20 million.  Rendon and Cole will make nearly double that number per year when they sign their new contracts.

Andrew Friedman has money to spend this winter and he must decide whether to spend it all on one big free agent or spread the money out and sign multiple lower-tier players.  The decision will decide whether the Dodgers’ World Series drought ends next season.

Home/LA Dodgers News