Dodgers: What the Winter Meetings revealed about LA’s off-season plan

The Winter Meetings have now ended and although the Dodgers were not very active at the meetings a lot was learned from the event.

The Dodgers sent Andrew Friedman to the Winter Meetings looking to kick off a big off-season.  To the surprise of many, all three of Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole, and Anthony Rendon have signed by the end of the meetings.  Unlike last winter when the top free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper took their time signing as Harper did not sign until late February.

At the current pace of free-agent signings, the free-agent pool should be pretty dry by the time January rolls around.  Josh Donaldson and Hyun-Jin Ryu are among the top free agents left on the market and they should be able to sign before the calendar turns to January.  The Dodgers could consider both Donaldson and Ryu as they have been linked to both.  Here are some other things the Winter Meetings revealed about the Dodger’s off-season plan.

The Dodgers’ primary off-season target was Gerrit Cole

The Dodgers held meetings with each of the big three free agents but they were only serious about one of them, Gerrit Cole.  The Dodgers did not even make an offer to Anthony Rendon as they believed he did not want to play in Los Angeles and nobody knows if the Dodgers ever made an offer to Stephen Strasburg.

The one thing we do know is that the Dodgers made an eight-year offer to Gerrit Cole worth around $300 million dollars but that was not enough as the Yankees went “all in” with a nine-year offer.  It was a valiant effort for the Dodgers but the Yankees pulled out all the stops and were able to come out ahead of the Dodgers.  Cole would’ve been a massive signing for the Dodgers but they were not able to close a deal.

The Dodgers are still targeting a few free agents

The lone free agent the Dodgers signed at the Winter Meetings was former All-Star closer, Blake Treinen but they may not be done yet.  Los Angeles still has interest in another reliever Dellin Betances who like Treinen is coming off an injury-plagued season.  If Betances returns to form along with Treinen, the Dodgers’ bullpen would go from an Achilles heel to the strength of the team.

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With Hyun-Jin Ryu still a free agent the Dodgers could look to bring in a free agent starting pitcher.  The Dodgers continue to have some level of interest in bringing Ryu back and they were even linked to arch-nemesis Madison Bumgarner during the Winter Meetings.  The club has not been linked to any other free agent starters yet but it could depend on whether they are able to land a starter in a trade, such as the possible Lindor deal.

As the Dodgers continue to seek upgrades to their lineup, the Dodgers still have interest in third baseman Josh Donaldson.  The club did not make an offer to Anthony Rendon but they are one of the teams still in the running for Josh Donaldson along with the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and possibly the Texas Rangers.  Donaldson is the only third baseman left on the free agent market that would be a big upgrade to the lineup.

The Winter Meetings revealed a lot about what the rest of the winter could have in store for the Dodgers.  The team is shying away from long-term contracts and they are pursuing anyone that could help the team get over their World Series hurdle, as long a it’s a short-term deal.  If there is going to be a franchise-altering move made this off-season it will likely come through a big trade.