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.

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.