3 Dodgers who survived trade deadline but won’t be on 2023 roster

The 2022 trade deadline was fairly quiet for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They sent Mitch White, Garrett Cleavinger and Jake Lamb packing. They brought in Chris Martin and Joey Gallo. It was far from the blockbuster deadlines of yesteryear.

But it’s important to note that LA kept a few guys many fans believed would’ve been squeezed off the roster in favor of better players or prospects. That said, it’s doubtful their stay lasts beyond the 2022 season, whether it be a contract issue or performance issue.

The Dodgers have a lot of areas to address when November arrives. The depth on the MLB roster, starting rotation and bullpen all need improvement. They need to make important contract decisions on Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger. What will happen with Trea Turner and Clayton Kershaw?

Exactly. A lot of changes will be coming in just two months from now, and whether it’s retaining their own and getting better or tearing a portion of the roster down and restructuring it, it’s hard to believe some underperformers/lesser soon-to-be free agents will be around for 2023.

These 3 Dodgers survived the trade deadline but won’t be in LA come 2023

3. David Price

This isn’t a knock on David Price. The left-hander, after essentially being a complete waste in 2020 and 2021, rebounded nicely this year and carved out a bullpen role for himself. In 38 games, he owns a 2.58 ERA, 3.84 FIP and 1.17 WHIP with 37 strikeouts across 38.1 innings. Not bad!

But Price is in a contract year, and not long before the deadline, rumors suggested the Dodgers were shopping the veteran so he could get an opportunity to start elsewhere since he, once again, wasn’t “built up” to absorb a starter’s workload at the onset of 2022 despite possessing an entire offseason to do so.

The truth is, the bullpen will need an almost total revamp in the offseason and Price likely doesn’t fit into that picture. Most of his outings in 2022 came in lower-leverage spots as the Dodgers simply needed someone to soak up innings. Hey, that’s a valuable role! But probably not in LA where the standard is higher. The Dodgers also don’t expect to have countless bullpen injuries for a second straight year where they’d have to resort to a situation like this.

This is the first moment in time Price has shown any sort of value since coming over in the Mookie Betts trade. Sadly, it wasn’t enough to earn him another contract with the Dodgers, if we were to safely guess, especially now that he’s on the IL.

1. Hanser Alberto

Hanser Alberto is a great time. He’s saved the Dodgers from wasting valuable bullpen innings and has taken the mound countless times this year to preserve wins and get the team through boring losses. Most importantly, though, he’s been a spark of energy on the bench and in the clubhouse. Off the charts “intangibles”, as they say.

Maybe the Dodgers find that worthwhile and keep him. It’s possible. He has a $2 million team option for the 2023 season.

Like we said, though, many more potential departures are on the way. The statuses surrounding Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Joey Gallo all vary in terms of clarity, but it’s likely more than one of those players are gone come November. In the event the Dodgers need to upgrade in free agency while trading and elevate promising prospects like Miguel Vargas, James Outman and Michael Busch, why are they going to waste a roster spot on Alberto?

Additionally, even though not much was expected from Alberto, it’s puzzling how he’s about to have a career-worst season (in which he’s played 54 or more games) while playing alongside the best roster he’s been a part of in his seven-year career. To an extent, he’s left much to be desired.

For as high as the Dodgers’ standards are, they can fill the “Last Guy on the Bench” role with someone just as energetic and even more productive. Hell, it was Albert Pujols last year!

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