Outfielder Juan Soto became a free agent this offseason. Will the Dodgers, who just faced him in the World Series, make a play for him?
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The most obvious holes on next year’s roster, as things currently stand, are in the outfield and starting rotation.
Even if the Dodgers keep Betts in right field (a position he only switched back to late this year after initially moving to the infield), the club is without a left fielder with Teoscar Hernández entering free agency. They can play Edman in center, but only if they have another option at shortstop. They also have Pages, Taylor and James Outman on the roster, but none of those three could cement everyday roles this year.
It’s part of the reason why, even after spending more than $1 billion last winter, the Dodgers might get involved in another high-priced free-agency sweepstakes for superstar Juan Soto this offseason — especially if they don’t re-sign Hernández.
As for the rotation, the Dodgers will likely need at least one, if not multiple, new starting pitchers.
Between the limited workloads Ohtani, May, Gonsolin and Kershaw are expected to be under coming off their injuries, and the six-day routine Yamamoto stuck to this year after coming over from Japan, it’s possible the Dodgers use a six-man rotation for parts of next season.
And unless they plan to rely entirely upon unproven prospects, they’ll need to bolster their depth.
The top of the free-agent starting pitching market is rich with talent, including former Cy Young award winners Blake Snell (whom the Dodgers made an unsuccessful late play for last offseason) and Corbin Burnes (whom the Dodgers once had trade interest in), as well as Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried.
The Dodgers are also high on Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki, a budding 23-year-old talent who might be posted to MLB clubs this winter.
Another name the Dodgers will be monitoring this offseason: shortstop Willy Adames, who has connections with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman going back to their days in Tampa Bay.
If the Dodgers elect to make Edman a full-time center fielder, someone like Adames could fit as another potential big-name addition to fill the shortstop opening, especially after hitting a career-high 32 home runs last year.