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4 big moves at Winter Meetings Dodgers fans should be anticipating

By Jason Reed |
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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The 2022 Winter Meetings will kick off on Sunday from beautiful San Diego, likely leading to a myriad of moves that will reshape the landscape of Major League Baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers are no strangers to making headlines at the Winter Meetings, and this year is no different.

With so much young talent ready to be on the roster and some big-name contributors hitting free agency, the Dodgers seem primed to have a much different-looking roster in 2023 than they had in 2022.

That being said, the Dodgers are still one of the most valuable franchises in the sport and have $113 million in luxury tax space to spend. This could be a wild offseason for the Dodgers, and the Winter Meetings are the pinnacle of the offseason.

4 moves Dodgers fans should be anticipating during the Winter Meetings:

(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

4. The Dodgers add a reclamation project, or two, or three

If there is one thing that Andrew Friedman loves, it is finding diamonds in the rough. Seriously, it seems like Friedman gets far more pleasure in believing in these reclamation projects and seeing them turn it around in Dodger Blue than he does in signing tried-and-true studs. It is a tradition that happens every offseason.

Last offseason, the team brought in the likes of Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney as the main reclamation projects, and both panned out considering what the Dodgers paid. This offseason, Friedman has already gone to work in this regard, as Shelby Miller signed with LA.

There is already reported interest in Alex Reyes, who is the perfect Friedman reclamation project, but he probably won’t be alone. I would expect the Dodgers to bring in several of these low-risk, high-reward flyers to potentially make an impact on the 2023 team.

And knowing the Dodgers’ track record, we should absolutely have faith in most of these reclamation projects turning into legitimate contributors. That is just how things work under Friedman.

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

3. Dodgers sign a right-handed bat to replace Justin Turner

The Dodgers declined Justin Turner’s club option for the 2023 season earlier this offseason. While that does not rule out Turner returning to Los Angeles, you would think that the Dodgers would have something bigger planned than bringing back the regressing veteran.

Jose Abreu would have been a perfect Turner replacement, but he decided to sign with the Houston Astros. There are still other alternatives for the Dodgers to consider, and at the end of the day, all they should be looking for is a right-handed bat that can hit in the middle of the order.

There is so much versatility and flexibility in the players that Los Angeles already has that they can go out and target really any position. They could sign someone like J.D. Martinez to primarily DH, making Max Muncy the full-time third baseman. They could also sign an outfielder like Mitch Haniger to be a more reliable option than, say, Trayce Thompson.

Regardless, this team would really benefit from adding a middle-of-the-order right-handed bat. Both the players on the roster and the prospects that are ready to start are heavily left-handed. The talented right-handed bats that they do have are reverse-splits guys, meaning they are worse against southpaws.

Finding someone who can not only be consistent but also be a legitimate threat against left-handed pitching would be fantastic for the dynamic of this lineup. If push comes to shove, the Dodgers could also just bring Turner back for cheaper.

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

2. A resolution about Trea Turner and Cody Bellinger

Trea Turner is the biggest free agent to hit the books for the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, and as it stands right now, it does not seem like Turner is going to return. Of course, anything can happen, but the Philadelphia Phillies have been heavily linked to Turner to the point where it would be surprising if he doesn’t sign there.

Speculation of Turner preferring the East Coast has been going on since he became a Dodger during the 2021 season. While the Dodgers have the money to spend, Turner very well could take a similar offer to go back to the East Coast, ending his Dodgers tenure at one and a half seasons.

That would be a shame, considering the Dodgers let Corey Seager walk seemingly with the intention of bringing back Turner long-term. Ending up with neither of the star shortstops after having both of them in 2021 would be quite a disappointment for fans.

Cody Bellinger’s future will likely be determined during the Winter Meetings as well. The Dodgers non-tendered Bellinger, and now it seems like he won’t rejoin the team out of principle. Bellinger is definitely looking for a one-year, prove-it deal, and that might not come with the Dodgers.

Whether the Dodgers bring back both players, bring back one of the two, or don’t bring back either, fans should get their answer on the future of both players during the Winter Meetings.

(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

1. The Dodgers sign a front-line starting pitcher

The Justin Verlander rumors have been running rampant, with the Dodgers legitimately looking like the favorites to lure the 2022 American League Cy Young winner away from the Houston Astros. With Walker Buehler likely missing the entire 2023 season and Trevor Bauer predictably blowing up in LA’s face, there is room for a front-line starter on this staff.

While Verlander has been defying Father Time, it would be a risk to sign him to a multi-year contract considering he is going to be 40 years old before the 2023 season begins. If it is a high AAV one-year deal, that would be one thing, but a multi-year contract might not be the best thing to do.

Verlander is not the only front-line starting pitcher on the market, as Carlos Rodón is also an extremely enticing potential target. Rodón’s slider is one of the best pitches in the sport, and if there is any team that could maximize him and make him even better, it is the Dodgers.

Rodón is younger, but does not have the same long-term track record as Verlander. However, with far fewer miles on his body, the Dodgers could be more comfortable with giving Rodón a multi-year deal.

Regardless, it seems like the big move that the Dodgers will make this offseason will address the team’s starting rotation.

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