5 Dodgers players who definitely won't be back for World Series repeat bid in 2025

The Dodgers' 2024 season is officially over, and now it's time to start looking ahead to how they're going to refuel and start again next year. As always, it's much better to be looking at the future from this perspective rather than trying to pick up the pieces.

Spoiler alert? Payroll constraints will hardly be a consideration as LA plots its next makeover in an attempt to repeat as champions. While eagle-eyed rival fans will continually point out that money doesn't buy as much starting pitching depth as it used to (so funny), the fact remains that the Dodgers weathered the losses of Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, Dustin May, and Clayton Kershaw, as well as Yoshinobu Yamamoto for many months. Sure, Glasnow's been a longtime injury risk, and the type of risky expenditure that teams like the Dodgers can survive, while many others can't ... but that's the point. The New York Mets have also thrived in 2024 with a good deal of dead money on their books, being paid out to faraway names like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. They're also still here, because they possess a unique ability to get out from under things that would've sunk other franchises.

The Yankees finished second. The Mets went far. Payroll still matters, and the Dodgers will be able to keep themselves atop the mountain next season based on their financial might.

But, still, some things will have to change. Is it the pitching department, encouraging methods that have resulted in unnecessary strain? Is it a mentality shift in targeted spending? Does the front office have to look inward, or will the train chug on towards Roki Sasaki and Juan Soto? In some capacity, change will be coming to the Dodgers, but expect them to attack the offseason with similar fervor to previous years, while attempting to import proven commodities where applicable. After all, they're no longer saving cash for Shohei Ohtani. They're building around him. They are not resting on their laurels. These Dodgers, who will likely be departing, will unfortunately bear the brunt of that assessment.

5 Dodgers players who definitely won't be back for the 2025 season

Daniel Hudson

As the Dodgers celebrated their World Series win on the field at Yankee Stadium, Hudson told reporters that he was going out with a bang and would be retiring with his second ring (he was also on the 2019 Nationals, and got the final out against the Astros in Game 7) instead of going back into free agency.

His career has featured a lot of ups and downs, with some jumping around the league and multiple minor league deals behind him. It was a minor league deal that brought him back to the Dodgers in 2024, but he was added to the major league roster ahead of Opening Day and had a solid final regular season as he became a staple of LA's bullpen.

Although his last major league appearance ever is probably one he'll want to forget — he gave up a grand slam to Anthony Volpe in Game 4 — one more championship before retirement is the perfect feather in the cap of a 15-year MLB veteran.

According to Hudson, his pitching arm was on the verge of giving out when Dave Roberts decided to stick with Blake Treinen late in Game 5. "If Doc brought me in," he noted, "I was going to blow out again."