Predicting 3 moves the Dodgers can still make before Opening Day

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.