Dodgers: Revisiting 3 rumors from the offseason that never came true

Rumors, rumors, rumors. What are they good for, other than to play with fans emotions? Let’s take a look back at three Los Angeles Dodgers rumors from the offseason that never came true.

This past offseason was filled with plenty of rumors to keep Dodgers fans on the edge of their seats in wondering whether the team would eventually add a superstar to an already talented roster. Of course, Mookie Betts eventually was acquired from Boston. But it was a wild and crazy ride to get there.

Coming off a disappointing loss to the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series, the Dodgers front office entered the offseason with a roster that had just won 106 games, but somehow felt a sense of urgency to improve upon it in their quest for the franchise’s first world championship in 32 years.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, who led the National League with a 2.32 ERA, and finished second in Cy Young voting, was set to become a free agent. So was starter Rich Hill, along with veterans Russell Martin and David Freese.

Before anything could be decided on the roster front, the Dodgers needed to make a decision on manager Dave Roberts and general manager Andrew Friedman. The calming field general, Roberts, was coming off a controversial playoff performance in which he mismanaged his bullpen in a deciding Game 5. Many Dodgers fans were calling for his replacement. Meanwhile, Friedman, was also unsigned for the 2020 season.

By the middle of October, it was clear that both Roberts and Friedman would be back. Setting the stage for an offseason of fireworks.

It’s interesting to look back at some of the rumors that dominated the headlines over the offseason with the knowledge of what happened. The Dodgers were linked to a lot of players during the winter. Instead of going through all of them, I will focus on three significant rumors.

Rumor: Dodgers heavily pursue Gerrit Cole

With the Dodgers clearly big-game hunting over the offseason, it came as no surprise when it was first reported they held an in-person meeting with star right-hander, Gerrit Cole, early in December. Competing with the Yankees and Angels, the Dodgers had firmly placed themselves at the negotiation table for the Astros 20-game winner.

While Los Angeles could brag about the front of their rotation that already included Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, adding an elite playoff performer, like Cole, could put them over the top. The Dodgers can win 100 games every season, but their success is ultimately judged in the postseason. Cole has a 2.60 ERA over 10 postseason starts in his career.

After losing Hyun-Jin Ryu to the Blue Jays, the pressure to add another frontline starter only increased. A pursuit that would end empty-handed with the three-time All-Star signed a record nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees. The Dodgers reportedly offered eight years for $300 million, including deferrals, something the Yankees didn’t include.

Nobody other than Cole knows whether the Dodgers truly had a shot to sign him over the winter. Dodgers president, Stan Kasten, believes he was always set on going to the Yankees, regardless of the Dodgers offer.

“In retrospect, I think we were just the stalking horse to get a number he finally could get from a team he wanted to go to,” Kasten told the Los Angeles Times.

The Dodgers would end up filling out their rotation through the bargain bin by signing Alex Wood to an incentive-based, one-year deal. Their consolation prize for missing on all of the big dollar free agents becoming Mookie Betts, who brought starter David Price along with him in the trade.

Rumor: Mutual interest between Dodgers, Madison Bumgarner

After missing out on top pitching target Gerrit Cole, as well as third baseman Anthony Rendon, the Dodgers set their sights on rival starter Madison Bumgarner. The southpaw has pitched his entire career with the San Francisco Giants, helping them win three World Series, while pitching to a minuscule 2.11 ERA over 16 playoff games.

If the theme of the offseason was to find creative ways to improve on a roster that already wins 90+ games every season, adding a starting pitcher who knows how to win in the postseason is great place to look. However questionable it might behow much playoff magic is left in Bumgarner’s 30-year-old arm.

According to a report in December, the Dodgers met with Bumgarner’s representatives during the MLB Winter Meetings. Rumors connecting the two parties didn’t pick up much steam after that.

The former World Series MVP ended up signing a five-year, $85 million dollar deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s unclear whether the Dodgers were serious contenders for Bumgarner’s services, or used as pawns to help him gain a fifth year in his negotiations with Arizona, a place where some speculated he was willing to pass up money to end up.