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.

Sign Amed Rosario or Kiké Hernández to an Extension?

What a trade deadline for the Dodgers! Everyone initially thought it was a letdown, and it's instead revitalized the team even more than fans could've imagined. As if this writing, the Dodgers are 14-1 since the deadline and have gotten 10 doubles, four home runs and 22 RBI from two of their acquisitions in Kiké Hernández and Amed Rosario.

Both are flexible defenders. Both are valuable bottom-of-the-order bats. One should definitely be kept for versatility purposes. Hernandez might be the better option because he's more of a depth/roving player, whereas Rosario's first big payday is coming up and he might be looking to get that starting shortstop money.

But if the opportunity is there to sign both, the Dodgers absolutely need to keep one of them, especially with Chris Taylor still largely being unable to offer his 2018-2021 levels of production. Hernández and Rosario are perfect complementary players and would absolutely get enough desired playing time because Roberts always finds a way to maximize the talent among his position player group.

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.