Dodgers have the opportunity to bring back World Series hero after Giants DFA

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the indisputable World Series MVP, but last year's Fall Classic reminded fans that a hero can be born any minute and come from the unlikeliest places.

Will Klein and Justin Dean, guys that no one had ever heard of before the postseason — maybe right up until their moments in the spotlight — came to the Dodgers as the return in a small-time trade and a minor-league signing, respectively, and then they were instrumental in helping the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series.

Klein very well might have bought himself a ticket onto 2026's Opening Day roster for his four scoreless innings in Game 3 — this year's version of last year's Anthony Banda — but Dean was removed from the 40-man roster during November roster cleaning and claimed off of waivers by the Giants. Dodgers fans bid him a fond farewell (and hoped that he would might get more playing time, even for a division rival).

However, exactly two months after the Giants snapped him up, they let him go. On Tuesday, he was designated for assignment to make room for starter Tyler Mahle.

Bring him home, Dodgers.

Giants DFA Dodgers World Series hero Justin Dean after Tyler Mahle signing

If Dean comes back, there's basically no way he would earn an Opening Day spot unless tragedy befalls the rest of the Dodgers' bench, but he's already proven to be a valuable Quad-A option. The Dodgers only ever used him in late innings, as a substitute outfielder or pinch runner, but the guy clearly possesses a 1,000 baseball IQ and, outside of calling out the lodged ball, made some solid plays in center field when he got playing time.

The Dodgers let go of Dean and then traded Esteury Ruiz, the two speedy, glove-first options they kept in their back pocket. They recovered some of that depth by claiming Michael Siani, who does exactly the same thing, off of waivers from the Braves in mid-December, but it wouldn't hurt to have another option who fans already love.

The Dodgers might want to wait to see if he goes unclaimed and enters free agency so they can sign him to a minor league deal instead of having to add him to the 40-man roster (which still has a suspicious opening after the Ruiz trade). If he does go unclaimed, it's a no-brainer. Get him back in Dodger blue.