Dodgers free agents: Predicting which FAs stay and which leave LA

The Los Angeles Dodgers ultimately fell short of becoming the first back-to-back World Series Champions since 2000 in 2021. While the team had the talent, it ran into a red-hot Braves team that was able to outlast LA.

Now the Dodgers are going to the drawing board for an offseason that could shape the future of the team. More so than any other year, the Dodgers have a lot of questions that must be answered about free agency, particularly who the team brings back.

A big external signing doesn’t seem likely for LA, as they are more likely to focus on bringing certain players back and then attacking the 2022 MLB trade deadline.

Not every Los Angeles Dodgers free agent is going to return to LA, though.

While the Dodgers have the highest payroll in baseball and a seemingly unlimited budget, the team won’t be able to bring back every single free agent this offseason. Some will get bigger deals from other teams, while others might pursue a bigger role with other teams, such as Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez last winter.

There are nine important free agents that you should know about as a Dodger fan: Clayton Kershaw,  Max Scherzer, Chris Taylor, Kenley Jansen, Albert Pujols, Corey Knebel, Jimmy Nelson and Joe Kelly (club option). The other, lesser names won’t really impact the future of the team.

Dodger fans better buckle in and be ready for an eventful offseason. Let’s predict the fate of all nine important free agents, starting with the trio of non-closer relievers.