4 offseason decisions the Dodgers already need to be thinking about

What a ride 2023 has been for this Los Angeles Dodgers team. Once upon a time, it appeared as if they wouldn't have enough to make a World Series run, and now they're the hottest team in baseball. They're getting healthy at the right time and continue to get fortuitous performances from all over the roster to help pick up anybody who's struggling.

But just like 2020-2022, the Dodgers will be dealing with turnover in the offseason ... and a lot of it. They have eight everyday contributors hitting unrestricted free agency and five other key players with team options.

The front office now has had nearly five months to assess what makes the most sense for 2024 in terms of bringing certain guys back or making tough decisions. And with Shohei Ohtani the likely top target, LA will have to move fast when the 2023 campaign ends.

It won't matter if they win the World Series or not, either. After their victory in 2020, the Dodgers wasted no time parting with Joc Pederson, Kiké Hernández and Jake McGee, all of whom performed admirably for the team that year.

Getting ahead of some situations that seem like no-brainers is probably a good place to start for Andrew Friedman and Co. What makes the most sense with the way 2023 has played out?

4 offseason decisions the Dodgers already need to be thinking about

Bring back Jason Heyward?

Would any Dodgers fan argue with this? Heyward's witnessed a renaissance after reuniting with Freddie Freeman and re-working his swing. He's been a great veteran presence, too, which is exactly what you need from a fourth outfielder.

Come 2024, it'll be Mookie Betts and James Outman as everyday outfielders, and the team will probably have to address left field with a more steady option instead of going with a Heyward, Chris Taylor, David Peralta and whomever else platoon. Or maybe they do that again! Who knows.

Either way, Heyward has earned another year as a depth player with his .247 average, .798 OPS and 114 OPS+. He's struck out just 50 times! Definitely someone to keep at a bargain price if he's comfortable and helping the younger players, too.

Pick up Lance Lynn's $18 Million Option?

Yup, more deadline dividends! Lance Lynn's latest outing featured seven scoreless innings against the Brewers in a 1-0 win to extend the Dodgers' win streak to 11. Since arriving in LA, Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA, 3.94 FIP and 0.88 WHIP in four starts. That's after he was statistically the worst starter in MLB with the White Sox, logging a 6.47 ERA, 5.20 FIP and 1.46 WHIP in 21 starts (he led the AL in home runs allowed).

Now that's he's revitalized playing for a contender and the Dodgers are staring down the barrel of more starting rotation problems come the offseason, might they just save themselves another transaction and just pick up Lynn's $18 million team option? That's essentially the qualifying offer and a fine annual salary for an above-average pitcher.

Let's say the Dodgers bring in Ohtani and keep one of Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urías, both of whom will be free agents. Bobby Miller is staying in the rotation, so that's three top starters. But who's after that? Dustin May simply can't come back as a starter after all that's interrupted the early part of his career. Michael Grove isn't a viable option. Tony Gonsolin is falling out of favor, and fast. Can they risk rolling the dice with two underwhelming options behind those three, which would likely feature another prospect added into the mix?

Keeping Lynn buys the Dodgers time and keeps their rotation in tremendous shape on paper, leaving flexibility to introduce younger arms or a flyer for the No. 5 spot. The veteran can help bridge the gap to 2025 when ... Corbin Burnes and Max Fried hit free agency.

Part With Two of Austin Barnes, Tony Gonsolin, Miguel Rojas and Yency Almonte?

The Dodgers have performed admirably in spite of a number of players failing to pull their own weight. Miguel Vargas got demoted. Trayce Thompson got traded. Victor González and Alex Vesia have been optioned. Noah Syndergaard was shown the door. But a number of struggling names have remained.

Three that come to mind are Austin Barnes (the hero on Thursday!), Miguel Rojas and Tony Gonsolin. And if the Dodgers want to improve year over year, two of those three absolutely need to go, without question.

Barnes' defense has slipped and he's hitting .136 with a .392 OPS and 8 (EIGHT) OPS+. The Dodgers can very easily improve the backup catcher position by snapping their fingers. Rojas, whle his defense has been good, is a black hole on offense, too. He's hitting .220 with a .571 OPS and 55 OPS+. Gonsolin, for as good as he's been in previous years, has failed to take the next step and has quickly turned into a liability in the rotation even though his 4.24 ERA, 4.78 FIP and 1.14 WHIP don't exactly suggest that. He's largely injury prone and can't be trusted in high-leverage outings. He shouldn't be a roster casualty like the other two, but the Dodgers should at least work to find a trade partner and move forward with somebody else who can offer a bit of a better long-term roadmap, because Gonsolin will be entering his age-30 season without having made more than 25 starts in a single campaign.

Barnes is making $3.5 million in 2024. Rojas is making $6.75. Gonsolin will earn $3.4 million. Freeing up anywhere between $7-$10 million will go a long way for the Dodgers in an offseason they already prepared to be financially flexible for.

A couple extra bucks can get them somebody who can out-produce that trio, without a doubt.