These 2 Dodgers players are slated for make-or-break seasons in 2026

February is a miserable month in most parts of the country, but there's always at least one reason to look forward to it: baseball returns. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 13, and games begin on Feb. 21.

The Dodgers are going into spring training having left no stone unturned. They got their new closer, they got their star outfielder. For the most part, their 26-man Opening Day roster is pretty easy to predict — and the same might be said for their next two, three, four Opening Day rosters.

However, there are a couple of players whose futures aren't assured. 2026 will be a do-or-die (or rather, do-or-be-traded) for two former top prospects.

These 2 Dodgers players are slated for make-or-break seasons in 2026

Dalton Rushing

The Dodgers have remained bullish on keeping Rushing, even after a disappointing 53 games in his debut season, nowhere to put him full-time, and the former No. 1 prospect pedigree that would make him a very effective trade chip. Now that LA's roster is basically locked and there are few stars they could acquire even if they wanted to, Rushing seems safe — at least until the trade deadline.

GM Brandon Gomes has said that the Dodgers are thinking seriously about ways to get Rushing more at-bats; maybe that's time at first base when Freddie Freeman needs a rest or gets injured, maybe it's left field behind Teoscar Hernández. Freeman is expected to get some built-in off-days this season, which could give Rushing a little bit more consistency.

Rushing hit .204 with a .582 OPS in 142 at-bats last season and looked like a below-to-average defensive catcher. It's on the Dodgers to figure out how to give him more playing time, but he also needs to figure out how to make an impression on the team and force the issue.

Alex Freeland

Freeland got the call just ahead of last year's trade deadline, when Hyeseong Kim went onto the injured list with a shoulder issue. He split his time between second and third, after Max Muncy followed Kim onto the IL in the middle of August, before being sent back down in early September. During his 29-game stint in the majors, Freeland hit .190 with a .601 OPS.

Just like Rushing, there seems to be little air for Freeland on this loaded Dodgers roster, but unlike Rushing, the Dodgers haven't made any promises to him. He's widely expected to battle with Kim in spring training for the interim starting role at second base while Tommy Edman works through his murky timeline to return from offseason ankle surgery.

If Freeland can make enough on an impression, maybe the Dodgers let him take over at third base in 2027, after Max Muncy leaves (though Muncy has said that he wants to keep playing after his contract expires). If not, they seem far less attached to Freeland than Rushing, and he could be an attractive piece in a potential Joe Ryan or Tarik Skubal trade with the Twins or Tigers at the deadline.