Dodgers' 2026 X-factor would cure one of the biggest roster headaches from 2025

Even the most casual baseball fan wouldn't have a hard time picking an X-factor on the Dodgers' roster. It's one that has no shortage of superstars, and in the simplest sense, there are very few wrong answers.

Between Mookie Betts returning to form or Shohei Ohtani returning to the pitching mound for a full season (hopefully), there are some easy guesses. That being said, for the Dodgers, the X-factor could come down to the obvious offseason addition that was staring them in the face.

Yes, the Dodgers are entering the regular season as defending World Series champions for the second consecutive year, but it's not without dealing with bullpen headaches last year. Injuries decimated the initial plan for the bullpen, and it didn't exactly help that, even when healthy, Tanner Scott and Kirby left a lot to be desired.

It's why Edwin Díaz was the clear move that the Dodgers had to make this offseason. Even with the fit being natural, there was some surprise that Los Angeles actually was able to pull off the deal. Of course, it helped that the Mets may have been dragging their feet in negotiations.

Edwin Díaz is the Dodgers' X-Factor, and could erase the bullpen headaches fans had to live with last year.

That is why, on a roster that has Ohtani, Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Kyle Tucker, Díaz is the one who is the X-Factor. As Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller indicated, Díaz's arrival could address the one weakness that the Dodgers actually had ahead of Opening Day.

Not to mention, as Dave Roberts recently confirmed, it allows Roki Sasaki to continue his development as a starting pitcher after a stint in the bullpen last year.

The underlying reason why Díaz could be the X-factor of the 2026 is what it could unlock for the Dodgers at the trade deadline. Instead of needing to use their prospect capital to stabilize the bullpen, Los Angeles should have the freedom to explore a vast array of deals.

Whether that is the pipe-dream scenario where Tarik Skubal becomes available, or they need an offensive upgrade, the Dodgers won't have to earmark their prospect capital for bullpen help during the season, setting the stage for a far more active deadline than the one they had last summer.