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Predicting 3 moves the Dodgers can still make before Opening Day
With Dodgers pitchers and catchers already in Glendale, it might be hard to envision what more they could possibly do before Opening Day in March. It's already been an historic offseason for the team in many respects; not only have they spent more money than any team in history, they've used this seemingly endless well of cash to net some of the biggest superstars in baseball. Even smaller moves have only contributed to making the Dodgers the best there is.
But the Dodgers have been full-speed ahead for the entire offseason, and there's no reason they should stop now. Anything could happen between now and March 20, when the Dodgers kick off their season in Seoul with a two-game set against the Padres, and any of these three moves could still be loading up.
Predicting 3 moves the Dodgers can still make before Opening Day
The Dodgers could bring in another (familiar?) relief pitcher
In trading away Caleb Ferguson to make room for Ryan Brasier, the Dodgers parted ways with a mid-3.00s ERA arm in favor of a sub-1.00 reliever in 2023. It wasn't without risk; Ferguson was solid and occasionally great for the Dodgers during his five-year tenure, while Brasier managed to be stellar over 38 innings with LA but struggled a lot more during 20 appearances for the Red Sox in the same season. However, by re-signing Brasier based on the performance he gave them last year, they bolstered an already-power packed bullpen.
Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly, and Alex Vesia are also bullpen highlights, but arms like Gus Varland and Michael Grove could still be improved upon. The Dodgers have been connected to Kenley Jansen as a possible trade piece. Getting him back after two seasons away from LA could move him back into his usual permanent closer role and allow Phillips, who performed the bulk of closing duties last year, to move into earlier innings and make it even harder for hitters to navigate late-games. Liam Hendricks, Ryne Stanek, and Lou Trivino — all occasionally brilliant — are all also still available in free agency.
The Dodgers could dole out more minor league contracts
The Dodgers have signed almost 40 players to minor-league deals this offseason, including a few head-scratchers in Stephen Gonsalves, Jesse Hahn, and Dinelson Lamet; the former two have invitations to spring training in order to try to make a splash after two seasons out of the major leagues. LA has a reputation for being able to rehabilitate players and turn their careers around in a big way; Phillips, Max Muncy, and most recently Jason Heyward, who made the 26-man last year after starting off on a minor league deal and a non-roster invitation to spring training, are all guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster.
LA has cooled off a lot on their minor-league signings in February, but there's still time to add a few more players available in free agency. The Dodgers' roster is already packed with talent, but there's nothing wrong with keeping a few players in reserve in case of emergency, or to potentially work with them to improve before flipping them in a trade. A host of free agents who played in the majors last year to not-so-fantastic but promising effect could be candidates: Randal Grichuk, Nick Ahmed, and Ji-Man Choi are all still out there.
The Dodgers could snap up a cheap free agent starter with a history of greatness
When the Brewers non-tendered starter Brandon Woodruff at the beginning of the offseason, the move was met with shock around the league. Woodruff struggled with injury throughout 2023 and was only able to make 11 starts between IL stints, but he still performed exceptionally well and had a 2.28 ERA on the year. In October, he underwent shoulder surgery that was forecast to keep him sitting throughout 2024 before the brutal non-tender in November. It's sort of a miracle that Woodruff hasn't been picked up by anyone else yet, but could the Dodgers consider giving him a shot on the two-year (rehab-inclusive) deal he's clearly earned?
The Dodgers rotation is just as stacked as the rest of the roster, but they do still have players who will be coming back from injury in 2024 (Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw) and more whose timelines are still up in the air (Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May). Shohei Ohtani will also presumably be ready to pitch next season, but James Paxton's contract will be up. Signing Woodruff now and seeing him through his recovery to potentially take the spot Paxton (or Kershaw, for that matter, if he doesn't exercise his player option for 2025) would vacate could be great for the Dodgers.
Woodruff's best year isn't far behind him; he earned Cy Young votes in 2021 for his nearly 180 innings pitched, 2.56 ERA, and 211 strikeouts. If he's looking to continue his career, he could potentially come cheaply, as his market has been remarkably quiet since November.
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