Happy 2026!

Two straight. Can they make it three? That is the question that every single Dodger fan hopes ends with a hell yes. I sincerely hope they do, but I take a cautious approach to saying stuff like that out loud since I know it is not that easy to repeat, let alone make it back to the playoffs and the Series.

On paper, LA has a very strong starting pitching staff with plenty of options for the starting six. You can pretty much count on LA using a six-man rotation with Sasaki, Ohtani and Yamamoto in the rotation. Snell and Glasnow, unless he is traded, are the other two locks in the rotation.

The competition for the sixth spot is wide open with guys like Sheehan, Stone, Ryan, Knack, Wrobleski and even Bobby Miller as possible candidates. Personally, I think Miller is better suited for short relief. He has a tendency to implode when bad things happen.

The bullpen added an experienced closer in Edwin Diaz. From everything I have read so far this off-season, the Dodgers fully expect Tanner Scott to rebound and be more like the 24 version than what he was last year. I am pretty sure he feels the same way.

Blake Treinen is back, and I hope he looks more like the 24 version. Roberts leaned on him a lot and he just was not the same pitcher. Age has to be part of it, but what I noticed was a definite lack of control in the strike zone. He pitched in 32 games but tossed just 26.2 innings.

There is a lot of experience in the pen, and several young arms. Casparius, Dreyer, Henriquez, Klein, and Hurt will all get looks in spring. There are also the vets, Stewart, Vesia, Banda, and Graterol. Plenty of arms to choose from. The roster also included Paul Gervase and Ronan Kopp.

I think one of the biggest challenges for Vesia will be his mindset after losing a child the way he did. Dodger fans hearts go out to his family. Those kinds of personal challenges are hard on anyone, especially when losing a child.

Offensively, LA is loaded at most positions as Mark showed in his preview of the positions on the field. Just how guys like Ward, Freeland, Siani, Kim and Rushing will perform is a big question mark. Kim impressed at first until the league adjusted to his style and found the holes.

Rushing had some good at bats, and some not so good, but did not play enough to show what he can really do. He is Smith’s back-up now and probably will get 2 starts a week. How he adjusts to being the back-up will be critical to his development. For now, it seems the Dodgers are more than content to keep Smith at catcher and not move him to another position.

At least one more year of Max at third most of the time. If Muncy stays healthy, he is a definite power threat offensively. He does not have great range at third, and early last season he made several errors that probably could have been avoided. He is not at third for his glove. He is on the roster for his ability to get on base and slug.

Freddie has two more years on his contract. I expect him to hit in the .280-295 range with at least 20 plus dingers and a bunch of doubles. He should be at least a 90 RBI guy. He has slipped a little defensively, and that can probably be attributed to age and the fact that I believe his ankle still bothers him some. Ward could back him up adequately.

Second base could be a revolving door with Kim, Freeland, Rojas, and Edman all seeing time there. I would prefer a full-time guy. Edman, a former Gold Glove at the position, fills that bill best. That is why I hope LA picks up a solid centerfielder so Pages can move to right and Edman does not have to play the outfield.

It is about six weeks until spring training starts with pitchers and catchers reporting. It should be an interesting spring with many players getting long looks. Just who will be on the 26-man when they break camp? Remember, the WBC also happens this spring, so some players will be away from the team for a time.