4 former Dodgers that could return to LA this winter

Justin Turner

We'd have Turner ranked higher here, but the way the Dodgers treated him this offseason could've very well ruined the relationship. Turner's been vocal about how the team left him without a paddle in free agency despite him reiterating that he wanted to return. Andrew Friedman and Co. ignored it, Turner signed with the Red Sox, and the Dodgers lost a key leader.

They might've replaced his production with JD Martinez, but losing a franchise icon like Turner and merely replacing his offense does have consequences. Not everybody is a means to an end. The human element reigns supreme more times than not.

If the Dodgers reconcile with Turner -- kind of like how they did with Kiké Hernández at the trade deadline -- then perhaps Turner comes back and does a little bit of everything (DH, 3B, 1B) while helping lead a group of young Dodgers that need molding. That might be a longshot, however, because it seems Turner was really put off by what had happened.

Kenta Maeda

Similar to Ryu, Maeda wasn't an unforgettable Dodger, but he also wasn't irrelevant by any means. He pitched in 137 games across four seasons in LA and registered a 3.87 ERA and 1.15 WHIP before being dealt to the Twins in the aftermath of the Mookie Betts trade.

Maeda was a solid performance in the postseason out of the bullpen, too. But at this point in his career (entering his age-36 season), he'd be a pitching depth option for the Dodgers to ping pong between the rotation and bullpen. After a long layoff from Tommy John surgery, Maeda returned in 2023 to pitch in 21 games (20 starts) and finished with a 4.23 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Totally solid.

And totally something the Dodgers pitching staff needs. They have a decent amount of these kinds of options in prospect/rookie/inexperienced form, but there comes a point where that isn't tenable. Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan and Ryan Pepiot likely can't be the first line of defense. Maybe one or two of them can be in that pack, but not all four.

Maeda returning to LA would help preserve the bullpen with multi-inning relief appearances and help assist a tired starting rotation as the grueling 162-game season progresses. The Dodgers have fallen victim to pitching injuries like crazy for three years. It's time to get worthwhile insurance.

Joc Pederson

The return of Joctober! The Dodgers need outfield depth. Another lefty bat won't hurt. A clutch bat is. essential. Taking away from the San Francisco Giants should be a major priority, too.

Pederson was an All-Star in 2022 and injuries held him back in 2023, but he still finished with a respectable .764 OPS and 111 OPS+ in 121 games. His value's been affected by the injuries and worsening defense. But again, the bench/outfield rotation should feature real contributors, not David Peralta. Not a combination of Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas, both of whom have limited experience playing out there. Not Trayce Thompson. You get it.

A championship roster is filled with contributors, not random filler because there are bench spots available. Pederson might be closer to an everyday player than a bench option, too, but when's the last time the Dodgers struggled to find playing time for somebody? Even when he wasn't a bonafide starter in LA, he played in 151, 137, 148 and 149 games in four of his seasons (that weren't affected by injury).

The Dodgers don't need premier defenders at every position. What they need is somebody to offer something more than just a body. Peralta, Thompson, Hanser Alberto, Joey Gallo, Austin Barnes, etc. are and were just bodies (outside of short spurts of production). Pederson might not cover a ton of ground, but he produces runs and comes through when you need someone to most.

Is he open to coming back? We don't know. But this is an easy first move to get out of the way.