4 former Dodgers Andrew Friedman can reunite with this offseason

2. Nathan Eovaldi

How about another starter? The Dodgers might need one depending on how free agency shakes out for Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney. Don’t forget that Walker Buehler is out for 2023 and Dustin May still has a lot of work to do in terms of getting back up to speed.

Nathan Eovaldi, who many believed would be available at this year’s trade deadline, will hit free agency and it’s unlikely the Red Sox retain him. If he wasn’t extended by now, then how can we expect him to return to a franchise that’s continually shifting parts around and not paying people over the last few years?

Eovaldi was drafted by the Dodgers back in 2008. The 11th-round pick made his debut in 2011 but was then traded to the Marlins halfway through 2012. He technically wasn’t part of this era of Dodger baseball. Since then, however, he’s blossomed and was a key player in Boston’s World Series win over LA in 2018.

The right-hander will be entering his age-33 season in 2023, and though he comes with some injury concerns (shortened seasons from 2015-2020 and then 2022), he’s a scary depth option to have in a rotation. He’s been tasked with carrying the load for Boston due to Chris Sale’s bouts with injuries, and he’s largely been successful (4.05 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.27 WHIP and 468 strikeouts in 461.2 innings).

If the Dodgers can bring him back at the right price, he can help deepen the pitching staff and provide another experienced, veteran voice in the clubhouse when many others could be on the way out.