Signing Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and trading for Tyler Glasnow is arguably the best winter in not only Dodgers franchise history, but in the history of baseball. Andrew Friedman has not only managed to acquire one of the greatest players of all time on a record-breaking contract in Shohei Ohtani, but on a team-friendly deal as well. Less than 48 hours later, Friedman flipped Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Glasnow and right-handed outfielder Manuel Margot. Glasnow, who is undoubtedly a premier talent and front-line starting pitcher, inked an extension with Los Angeles for five years and in excess of one hundred and twenty million dollars. A fortnight after Glasnow's introductory zoom press conference, the team announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signing the Japanese Ace to a 12 year, $325 Million Dollar contract. For many clubs, this would be a great decade in terms of their offseason success. However, due to the massive deferrals in Ohtani's deal and the amount of money backloaded in Yamamoto's contract, the team only owes their two big-market signings a total of $7 Million Dollars this season, a minimal financial commitment compared to the amount of production they expect from Ohtani and Yamamoto. The dollar flexibility the Dodgers have been gifted this year, coupled with their perennial financial wherewithal, gives Los Angeles a boatload of options to continue to bolster their roster for the upcoming season.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (far left) and Shohei Ohtani (far right)
The Dodgers have already addressed their most pressing need this winter, acquiring two front-line aces to headline their rotation. But as we know in baseball, you can never have too much pitching. Injuries are inevitable, and the rotation for the Dodgers certainly has a number of question marks. Yamamoto hasn't thrown a pitch in Major League Baseball. Glasnow hasn't exceeded 120 Innings in a year during his career. Walker Buehler is returning from Tommy John surgery and is expected to be worked back slowly. Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan are both 24 years old who shouldn't be expected to shoulder the bulk of innings. And of course, Clayton Kershaw will be out until at least the summer and is also currently unsigned. It would be devastating if Kershaw's final start as a Dodger was his disastrous appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the NLDS during which he surrendered six runs while recording only one out. Many fans believe he will return to Los Angeles for one last hurrah, but his hometown Texas Rangers remain an intriguing possibility for the Dodger legend. The Dodgers' payroll currently sits at $268 Million Dollars, still comfortably below the dreaded "Steve Cohen" tax at $297 Million, where Los Angeles would be taxed 110% on every dollar they dole out after the fourth luxury tax threshold. If Andrew Friedman, Brandon Gomes, and the rest of the front office elect to use the remaining money on a starter, there are a few key options.
Clayton Kershaw
Shōta Imanaga
Shōta Imanaga is yet another Japanese star who was posted this off-season. Although he is expected to command more than one hundred million dollars an a multi-year deal, the Dodgers could be a good fit for a couple of reasons. As it stands right now, the Dodgers' rotation is comprised of five right handers. (Glasnow, Yamamoto, Buehler, Miller, Sheehan) The Dodgers should be interested in both a competent left-handed starting pitcher as well as a high-leverage lefty reliever, especially considering Philadelphia and Atlanta are their two main competitors for the National League pennant. The Phillies and the Braves boast three of the most electric left-handed sluggers in baseball, with Philadelphia featuring Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper while Atlanta sports Matt Olson. Imanaga would certainly help, as he posted a 2.80 ERA along with 174 strikeouts for the Yokohama Bay Stars in 2023. However, Imanaga does have a problem on his resume, as he allowed 17 home runs last year. I won't go as far to say he's the Japanese Lance Lynn, (By the way, Lance Lynn just gave up another home run) but the home run ball is certainly something the Dodgers should be wary of when it comes to signing Imanaga. The cultural benefits of Ohtani and Yamamoto could also convince Imanaga to sign with Los Angeles, and having two Japanese teammates alongside him could be very appealing for Imanaga. The Dodgers at this moment are not the favorite, but Imanaga's posting window from Japan concludes next week, which means a decision should be happening fairly quickly.
Shōta Imanaga
Corbin Burnes/Dylan Cease
Cease or Burnes would be the dream scenario for the Dodgers. Burnes, who has been a perennial Cy Young candidate with Milwaukee for the last few years, is on an expiring deal and is expected to receive a large contract in free agency in 2025. However, it is unclear how motivated the Brewers are to move Burnes, as they may still try to compete in the NL Central despite recently seeing their longtime manager Craig Counsell depart for the division rival Chicago Cubs. If the Dodgers were to try to acquire Burnes, they would likely have to part with at least one of their top two prospects in Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas.
Busch and Vargas, who are twenty-six and twenty four, respectively, do not have much of a place on the current roster. Their primary position, second base, is occupied by Mookie Betts, who Dave Roberts announced would be the Dodgers' everyday second baseman during the Winter Meetings. Along with Busch and/or Vargas, the Dodgers would have to send pitching prospects to Milwaukee to replace Burnes, such as Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, or Kyle Hurt. Los Angeles always finds ways to restock their farm, but losing Stone, Knack or Hurt would certainly harm the Dodgers' farm system for the near future. Busch, Vargas, and a pitcher or two would be a large price to pay for a rental, but the Dodgers are all in, and trading for Burnes may be a move they consider pulling the trigger on if they view him as a guy who moves the needle. As for Cease, the haul Chris Getz and the Chicago White Sox would get could be even higher. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported around Christmas that the White Sox could land up to FOUR of a team's top ten prospects. Cease, who has only had one ace-caliber season in 2022, commands so much talent because he has two years of team control and a far cheaper salary than Burnes. In a potential trade package, the Dodgers would likely lose Busch, Vargas, Stone, and one of their top catchers in Diego Cartaya or Dalton Rushing. However, the Dodgers could unlock a new level of potential in Cease, and create a super-rotation for not just the upcoming season but the following year as well.
Corbin Burnes
Josh Hader
The Dodgers, who have lacked an elite closer since the prime of Kenley Jansen, could benefit from signing Hader. A former San Diego Padre, Hader was sensational last season, logging thirty-three saves while sporting a minimal 1.28 ERA. FOX's Tom Verducci announced back in December that the Dodgers were interested in Hader, who could provide the Dodgers with some much needed southpaw stability in the back of their bullpen. Los Angeles currently only has two experienced left-handed relievers on their roster in Caleb Ferguson and Alex Vesia, both of whom struggled at points last season. Hader would not only be able to lock down the 9th inning, but could be utilized in the 8th inning if Dave Roberts opted instead to use Evan Phillips as the team's closer. However, despite Hader's obvious pros, he definitely comes with some cons as well. It was reported earlier that Hader is looking for a contract that would eclipse the 5 year, $102 Million dollar deal Edwin Diaz received last winter from the New York Mets (the largest contract for a reliever in baseball history). If true, the possibility of doling out yet another large contract could scare the Dodgers off of Hader's radar. Additionally, Hader comes with an attitude issue as well. Last season with the Padres, Hader simply refused to pitch when it became clear the team wasn't going to make the playoffs. After being questioned by media why he didn't appear for a four-out save late in September, Hader casually replied, "Are we in the playoff race?" It appears seems the Dodgers should be absolutely certain in Hader's ability to be a good teammate if they are to sign him, especially since Los Angeles has previously experienced players such as Trevor Bauer or Julio Urias who have negatively impacted team chemistry with their actions off the field.
Josh Hader
Teoscar Hernandez
If the Dodgers are completely confident in their pitching, they could also opt to improve their offense. With Betts moving to second base this season, the Dodgers currently have an outfield of Chris Taylor, James Outman, and likely a right-field platoon of Manny Margot and Jason Heyward. Taylor is more of a utility player, Outman is someone who could go through the prudent "sophomore slump," Margot has been a below average hitter for his career, and it is unlikely that Heyward will continue his spectacular 2023 campaign as he is only getting older. Hernandez, who hit 258. with 26 homers and 93 RBI's for the Seattle Mariners last year and produced similar results with the Toronto Blue Jays for seasons prior, could fit well in Hollywood. Hernandez could not only slot into any of the three outfield slots, but would also lengthen a lineup that already features Betts, Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Max Muncy. However, there are many clubs very interested in Hernandez, and many of whom could offer the outfielder a more prominent role during the regular season than Los Angeles could.
Teoscar Hernandez
It will be fascinating to see what Andrew Friedman and company do for the rest of the off-season. Regardless, they've already accomplished their goal. The Los Angeles Dodgers have already done everything they've needed to do this offseason. They are already favorites or co-favorites to win the 2024 World Series. But as Dodgers president Stan Kasten stated at the Yoshinobu Yamamoto press conference last week, "We never stop. We will keep working."
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