Can (and Will) Upgrade
Blake Treinen
Blake Treinen's initial unwillingness to undergo surgery last season ruined 2023 for the Dodgers. The right-hander was insistent he could rehab through whatever shoulder issue he was battling -- even though surgery was recommended -- and he succumbed to the procedure anyway, which knocked him out for another full year. He's thrown just five innings since the start of 2022, and the Dodgers did themselves no favors by guaranteeing his $8 million team option for 2023 after he had gotten injured.
Another front office move of trying to get ahead and save a few million on damaged goods. Can we stop with this, please? Treinen has a club option for 2024 that will cost $7 million. If the Dodgers want to roll the dice after the man hasn't pitched in two years and will be entering his age-36 campaign, then they're truly stuck in their ways.
Daniel Hudson
Ditto for Hudson. He has a $6.5 million team option for 2024 after the Dodgers guaranteed his 2023 salary following a torn ACL in 2022. He pitched just 25 games that year, but the front office looked ahead, figured they could get another bargain and then tacked on another team option.
Hudson appeared in three games this year before suffering another knee injury, which knocked him out for the rest of the season. He's gotten paid $12.5 million for 27.1 innings. Third time will not be a charm. The Dodgers need to decline this team option and look elsewhere in free agency/on the trade market, especially since they probably plan to utilize fellow injured arms JP Feyereisen and Alex Reyes next year.
You can't fill the bullpen with this many ticking time bombs.
David Peralta
Was giving $6.5 million to David Peralta a bad deal? Not necessarily, but he hasn't done much to earn himself another year in LA. Sure, he had some hot stretches in 2023 that helped buoy the offense while delivering some clutch hits, but a .259 average, .675 OPS and 81 OPS+ in 133 games just isn't going to make a difference.
LA would be better off exploring free agency, which will feature guys like Teoscar Hernandez, Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham, Tony Kemp, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Kevin Kiermaier, Mark Canha and others. Just about all of those guys were better than Peralta this year, and would give the Dodgers far more reliable everyday options in the event of an injury.
With Chris Taylor still hanging around and Jason Heyward likely to return, the Dodgers have enough platoon players. One more steady starter in left should do the trick to providing stability.