4 star free agents Dodgers can sign when lockout ends

Though Los Angeles Dodgers fans are likely disappointed with the way the MLB’s free agent frenzy finished for them last week, they’ll certainly come out on the other side with a prime opportunity to do significant damage to the market.

It might be a while, sure. It might be months on end. But when the time comes and the bell rings, there could be four or five top free agents desperate for attention in LA’s lap.

Unlike some other theoretical behemoths (cough, the New York Yankees), the Dodgers haven’t done nothing. They signed Andrew Heaney before we were sure free agency had even opened. They imported reliever Daniel Hudson to lock down the middle innings. They rewarded Chris Taylor for his loyalty with something between a flyer and a mega-deal.

Despite the (admittedly huge) losses of Corey Seager and Max Scherzer, Andrew Friedman at least attempted some roster fortification. Now comes the tough part: replacing superstars.

Luckily, no big-market team is better equipped to play in that end of the pool whenever the time comes than Los Angeles. There’s a reason that, just before the lockout, we began to hear about big names the Dodgers had either checked in on or could pursue. Players want to play here, and there’ll be a larger pile of money waiting in Hollywood than in Steve Cohen’s purse. That’s already been burned through.

When the lockout (finally) ends, keep an eye on these four free agents and their attraction to Dodger Blue.

These 4 free agent stars could sign with Dodgers after MLB lockout.

4. Freddie Freeman

The Freddie Freeman connection still seems tenuous, but if the Dodgers are primarily being used for leverage against the Atlanta Braves, then … they’re certainly being used a lot.

Just before the deadline hit and all discussions ceased, the Freeman-to-LA pipeline was the one most prominently spread by bored insiders like Jon Heyman, desperate to create some form of drama.

There’s certainly a fit in Hollywood for the 32-year-old California native. Every MLB team except a select few would be crazy not to bend the knee and out-bid the Braves’ apparent five-year offer for Freeman, an annual MVP candidate with a smooth lefty swing that seems likely to age fairly well. Max Muncy’s injury issues throw a wrench in LA’s plan, leaving not just a “universal DH” spot (likely) available, but perhaps first base for the foreseeable future, too. Considering the lineup is officially down one (1) Corey Seager and could lose Trea Turner next offseason, too, the Dodgers aren’t exactly in a position to say “no” to Freddie Freeman.

If things were clogged, they’d figure it out. And … would you look at that … they’re not. That Funky Muncy will be back soon enough, but while his UCL heals, taking fielding off the table instead of shifting him to second base makes the most sense.

It’s still likeliest the Braves eventually cave during their two or three months away from the diamond. But, on the oft chance they don’t, MLB’s insiders agree the Dodgers will be waiting.

3. Kris Bryant

Another one to file away in the “Without Max Muncy…” column.

Even though Kris Bryant never became an iconic Giant (impossible when you don’t advance past the NLDS), it still always feels good to steal a top free agent away from the other 100-win team in your division. Though Chris Taylor’s return lessens the need for both outfield and infield help, Bryant’s versatility makes him uniquely valuable. He can play left field in AJ Pollock’s stead whenever the presumptive starter hits the IL. He can fill in at third base, giving Justin Turner either a half-day’s breather at DH or a full day on the bench. Though it’s less than ideal, KB can also fill the first base slot vacated (presumably) by Muncy for the beginning of the season.

Bottom line, a player like Bryant will start 140+ games when healthy, and he’ll do so all over the diamond. It’s less of a natural fit in LA than the other names on this list, but talent is talent, and there’s a good chance Bryant will be among those scrambling when the curtain rises again on a slumbering offseason.

Steve Cohen might want him. He might be the final jewel in the Mets’ bizarre offseason, which has left their rotation with … potentially a pair of aces, and potentially a pair of injury risks. If Uncle Stevie doesn’t feel like playing around anymore, though, the Dodgers should enter the conversation for the most versatile superstar left on the market — and he’s coming off a bounce-back, 3.3-WAR, 124 OPS+ season to boot.

2. Carlos Rodon

In a best-case scenario, the 2022 Dodgers will roll into the season with a rotation that feels half-patched.

And this is for a team that entered 2021 with what people were calling a “world historic” rotation. Their $40 million AAV No. 3 starter will not be returning; he’s no longer a guy. Their real co-ace? He didn’t quite net $40 million, but he too has gone to the Mets. Clayton Kershaw is sitting and waiting by the phone for Andrew Friedman’s call … we think. Dustin May could be back by August … we hope. Tony Gonsolin might be half-baked, and David Price seems to be on the back end of his career. Josiah Gray got us two months of the newest Met. Things are bleaker than they’ve ever been behind Buehler and Urías.

Enter … well, someone. The Dodgers hope they can turn around Andrew Heaney, but if he’s your No. 3 starter by season’s end, either he took a swig of Robbie Ray Juice, or the team’s in big trouble. It would make all the sense in the world for LA to target the highest-upside play left in the rotation market, in that case, and try to overwhelm Carlos Rodon on a short-term, high-AAV deal.

Considering Rodon could’ve benefitted from the type of second-half rest Max Scherzer recently complained about, perhaps he and the Dodgers coaching staff are a perfect match.

Rodon started the 2021 season blazing, throwing harder than ever before and buckling knees consistently while the rest of the baseball world waited for the other shoe to drop. Unfortunately, it did, and by August and September, the sudden superstar was on a serious pitch count in hopes he’d be ready for an October run. None of his troubles prevented his final numbers from being overwhelmingly impressive. 5.0 WAR? 185 Ks in 132.2 innings pitched? An 0.957 WHIP? The White Sox took a chance on their former top prospect because they believed in him, and got an historic bargain.

The Dodgers? They won’t be so lucky, and he’s far from a sure thing to throw over 160+ innings. If Heaney’s worth a try, though, so is Rodon.