Dodgers: Five way too early 2021 free agent targets

Who could the Los Angeles Dodgers target in free agency for the 2021 season?

With the 2020 Major League Baseball season at peril, it’s not too early to start thinking about how the Dodgers will look in 2021, the next season in which they could potentially play a full, 162-game schedule.

The Dodgers have seven players from their 40-man roster set to become free agents, themselves, next winter—most notably, a recent acquisition who might not even get the chance to suit up for his new team this season, Mookie Betts.

Besides Betts, the Dodgers risk losing third baseman Justin Turner, outfielder Joc Pederson, utility man Enrique Hernandez, and set-up man Pedro Baez. The two pitchers they signed on one-year, prove it deals, Alex Wood and Blake Treinen, are also set to be free agents, along with Jimmy Nelson if the Dodgers don’t exercise his club option.

A lot of potential moving parts to manage entering next offseason, which could be a unique market as teams grapple with a new landscape based on wherever the novel coronavirus leaves us. President Andrew Friedman will have a lot of decisions to make in how he wants to keep the Dodgers roster on the brink of a world championship.

Before getting into the free agent targets, it’s important to mention that we aren’t going to focus on Mookie Betts in this article. Obviously, he is the top free agent target next winter. Whether he signs with the Dodgers or not will shape the entire offseason. Our goal is to explore the top names on the market that might make sense if the Dodgers are unable to secure key free agents from their own roster.

Who would replace Justin Turner? Who would replace Mookie Betts? If anything, this exercise might prove most why bringing players back to Chavez Ravine is of utmost importance. Without further ado, let’s get into five way-too-early 2021 free agent targets.