Ranking Dodgers’ free agents as offseason officially arrives

Ready for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offseason? It’s here. And it’s going to move fast. There will be a ton of demand for some of LA’s best players that will hit the open market, and Andrew Friedman and Co. will have to work tirelessly to retain some as well as bolster other areas of a roster that ultimately fell short despite a 111-win regular season.

When you’re set to lose a number of key, core players while also in need of outside help, it makes for a bit of a chaotic situation.

Then again, Friedman has typically navigated every difficult scenario he’s been faced with since becoming the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations. Fans trust he’ll prioritize the right free agents accordingly.

As for retaining some of their own, this might be one of the most undefined and uncertain Dodgers offseasons in recent memory.

Here’s our best attempt to rank the Dodgers’ top free agents that hold an impact either financially or positively on the field.

Ranking the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top free agents as offseason begins

14. Trevor Bauer

Apologies, but Trevor Bauer must be mentioned due to clerical work. He’s currently suspended, but his appeal should be settled not too long after the World Series. He holds a $35.3 million player option with a $15 million buyout.

It’s unclear what’ll happen, but there’s a world in which the Dodgers are negatively affected if Bauer’s suspension is overturned.

13. Danny Duffy

Again, must be mentioned for paperwork purposes. Duffy was acquired at last year’s trade deadline but didn’t throw a pitch due to an injury. He was re-signed in the offseason, and didn’t throw a single pitch in 2022 due to injury. He has a $7 million team option attached to him for the 2023 season. So far, the Dodgers have paid him about $8 million to do absolutely nothing.

With so many other needs, it’s hard to believe Andrew Friedman and Co. will bring the left-hander back, especially at that price after all the money that’s been wasted.

12. Jimmy Nelson

Jimmy Nelson underwent Tommy John surgery in August of last year, but that didn’t stop the Dodgers from re-signing him to a one-year contract for 2022 with a team option for 2023. That team option is just $1.1 million (after LA paid him $700K in 2022).

Expect LA to pick that up because of the low cost and the high upside of Nelson, who was an asset in 2021 before going down.

11. Kevin Pillar

Kevin Pillar was signed as outfield depth into 2022 and was needed pretty early on, but after just four games he needed shoulder surgery. He missed pretty much the entire season and will now be a free agent. With a clearer outfield picture due to the emergence of James Outman as well as others available in free agency the Dodgers would probably prefer, he’s not coming back.

But he did play four games in 2022, which is why he’s ahead of the first three.

6. Andrew Heaney

When the Dodgers signed Andrew Heaney just days after the World Series concluded last year and gave him $8.5 million following a career-worst season and full-on meltdown in New York, fans thought the front office was insane. But Heaney was a pleasant surprise.

The left-hander finished with a 3.10 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.09 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 72.2 innings (16 total games, 14 of those starts). But he was injured multiple times this past season. Towards the end, his well-known homer-prone tendencies took the spotlight.

With plenty of rotation needs, he could return as the fifth guy or a spot starter. He might be amenable to it since the Dodgers clearly put him on a path to be “fixed.” But the Dodgers might prefer a better upgrade with Walker Buehler out and two other important starters hitting free agency.

5. Tommy Kahnle

Originally, the Dodgers signing Kahnle for a $5.5 million deal after the 2020 season seemed like a disaster … until September. Though the right-hander has only thrown 14.2 innings since the middle of 2020, his devastating changeup returned and could be seen as an asset for the bullpen moving forward.

Kahnle won’t be expensive due to his struggles with injuries, but the Dodgers will have to weigh the risk of bringing him on board and not getting enough out of him — regardless of how valuable he might be at full strength.

4. Justin Turner

The Dodgers still haven’t decided if they’ll pick up Justin Turner’s $16 million team option for 2023. The fact that it’s taking so long might suggest the front office has other thoughts about how they’ll address third base/the DH spot. The Dodgers icon had a legendary second-half surge after an awful first half, but then disappeared in the NLDS. It happens. Baseball isn’t easy. But it’s unclear if the Dodgers will want to pay $16 million for Turner’s age-38 season when they have a younger option in Miguel Vargas ready to go.

3. Tyler Anderson

Tyler Anderson was arguably the most valuable Dodgers starter in 2022. And he began the year in the bullpen! And got paid less than Heaney!

The left-hander went 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 1.00 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 30 games (28 starts), totaling 178.2 innings. He then tossed five scoreless innings in the NLDS, but the Dodgers blew the game with some questionable decisions from manager Dave Roberts.

Anderson will likely get the qualifying offer, but don’t be surprised if a multi-year deal is worked out between the two sides given how he turned his career around in a big way with just one year in LA.

2. Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw said he’s leaning on playing in 2023 … but he didn’t specify where. Last offseason he revealed it came down to the Dodgers and his hometown Texas Rangers. With far more roster questions for the Dodgers this time around, are fans sure he’ll stay if this will be his final MLB season?

You never know, retirement could be on the table, too, as the offseason progresses. Kershaw is a first-ballot Hall of Famer but he hasn’t pitched a full season since 2015. His body has been gradually breaking down (just 44 starts the last two years). He knows he can return at his request, so his preference will tell the story here.

1. Trea Turner

Trea Turner is one of the best free agents set to hit the market. He’s expected to get a long-term deal. He could very well return to the Dodgers after another All-Star season. He’s one of the best all-around shortstops in the league.

But he’ll likely get a $200 million+ contract. The Dodgers already have Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman signed to sizable long-term deals. Will they add a third? Does Turner want to be closer to home on the east coast? Will another team wildly out-bid the Dodgers in their quest to get a superstar shortstop?

The Dodgers reportedly will consider Carlos Correa if Turner leaves. It wouldn’t be farfetched if they got in on Dansby Swanson, too. The other option? Sign Aaron Judge, move Mookie Betts to second base, and Gavin Lux to shortstop.

Whether he returns or not, the Dodgers need to replace his five-tool production. Either way, they’ll be paying top dollar to do so.

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