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4 big-name free agents the Dodgers must avoid at all costs

By Jason Reed

Oct 21, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers operations president Andrew Friedman speaks with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) before game five of the 2021 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers operations president Andrew Friedman speaks with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) before game five of the 2021 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off of a much earlier exit in the 2022 MLB playoffs than expected and, as a result, fans might see the team take a bold approach this offseason. Los Angeles certainly has the means to do so with $111 million in projected luxury tax space.

Andrew Friedman and the front office first have to prioritize which free agents to bring back and which the team should let walk. LA has already made some of those decisions, deciding to decline the club options for Hanser Alberto, Jimmy Nelson and Danny Duffy.

The Dodgers are going to be in the mix for just about every big name on the free-agent market this winter, but it’s important the team spends shrewdly. There are certain free agents that simply shouldn’t be brought into Chavez Ravine for 2023 and beyond.

Bringing in Trevor Bauer for $35 million per year is the limitation of egregious mistakes fans can handle. Spending high on a player with performance, character or injury issues cannot happen.

Here are 4 free agents the Dodgers should avoid this offseason

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

4. Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom’s market is going to be very interesting to watch this offseason as he’s one of the biggest names in the sport but has lost some of the shine that was on his name last summer when he was putting together one of the best seasons in MLB history.

deGrom opted out of his contract with the Mets and is definitely going to have a list of suitors that are willing to pay him the big bucks. Regardless of how long that list is, the Dodgers should not be involved whatsoever.

deGrom is elite when he’s at his best, but the injury concerns are not worth the insane asking price for the hard-throwing right-hander. The 34-year-old (who is only two months younger than Clayton Kershaw despite everyone thinking Kershaw is ancient at this point) has thrown just a combined 156.1 innings over the last two seasons.

It wasn’t like he was his dominant self in 2022, either. deGrom posted a 3.08 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 2022. Still really great numbers, but his HR/9 rose to 1.3 and he made only 11 starts.

Instead of deGrom, the Dodgers are much better off pursuing someone like Carlos Rodon.

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