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…
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.
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Discussion (39)
Disagree, not disagreeable
As I’ve just again got connected with the internet I can read comments here at ladt and thought I’d say my hoe-dee- doe’s friends. My isolation has caught me with only youtube through roku so it could be worse. I’m playing only music from the late and very great Dan Hicks all day today. How can you miss me when I won’t go away? Cheers friends and let the spring begain.
A complete heist
We got you, Q
But first try to trade them…. There are a few guys on the Dodgers’ roster who could help small-market teams but likely have little future with the Dodgers. Knack, Ryan Ward and Bobby Miller come to mind. Each could sweeten an offer for a front-line player, or get flipped for a teenage prospect.
In Conforto he trusted…. In Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates he trusted…. Of course we trust in AF–we have no choice–and he has an excellent track record. But the mighty Dodgers were thisclose to LOSING the World Series to a team that had finished last in the AL East the season before. Shouldn’t the Dodgers aim for the best record and home-field advantage in ’26? (Yes, I’m a spoiled, greedy Dodgers fan.) This offseason, Dodgers have improved their roster by adding Diaz. Nice! The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have now added four significant players, which should put some distance between them and division rivals like the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles. The Dodgers’ division rivals haven’t done much; the NL West seems weaker. A lot can and will happen in the weeks and months to come, but right now it really does seem like the Dodgers and Jays could be heading for rematch.
No love for World Series hero Will Klein? No mention of Casparius? Seriously, the bullpen is VERY deep, with River Ryan and Gavin Stone as options too. A few of these guys could fit into a deal for Duran.
Red Sox have made an aggressive offer to Bregman. DeJong signed a minor league deal with the Yankees. Yanks expressing an interest in Miami RHSP Edward Cabrera. As soon as one of the big chip’s signs, free agent market should speed up.
I just wanted to check something for laughs, so I went back and checked to see the last time LA traded with a division rival and received an MLB player in return. One of the reasons is because Bum suggested LA trade for Bogaerts and Merrill from the Padres or try to get Doyle from Colorado. Last time the Dodgers and Rockies made any kind of trade was when LA sent Justin Bruhl to the Rockies for cash in 23. Before that, the last trade with the Rocks brought them Juan Nicasio for a minor leaguer in 2014. In 2013, the Rockies and Dodgers swapped Ramon Hernandez to LA and Aaron Harang went to the Rocks. In 2022, LA got River Ryan from the Padres for Matt Beaty. Prior to that, the last deal came in Dec of 2014 when Kemp, and Federowicz were traded for Grandal, Elfin and Wieland. LA did sell Juan Zabala to SD in 22 not long after the Ryan trade. Since then, nada. Although they made trades for minor league players in 22 and 18, LA and the D-Backs have not made a transaction involving a major leaguer since 2014. LA purchased Mike Bolsinger from Arizona in December of that year. Before that, LA got Jon Garland for Tony Abreu in 2009. Believe it or not, the last trade the Dodgers made with the Giants was in 2007 when SF sent Mark Sweeney to LA for a PTBNL< who turned out to be Travis Denker, a minor leaguer. The last time the teams traded major leaguers was in 1985. LA sent Candy Maldonado to the Giants for Alex Trevino. That was their first trade since 1968 when Tom Haller came to LA for Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver. Do not hold your breath waiting for these teams to make trades with each other.
Watched an old Friar’s roast from the early 70’s the other night. They were roasting Milton Berle, who was a huge Dodger fan both in Brooklyn and LA. Low and behold one of the roasters on the dais was Don Drysdale. Big D held his own and got in some pretty good zingers on Berle. Big D towered over all of those guys.
I mentioned Ben! Klein? I’m not 100% sold, even though I would like to be!
Did he bean Berle?
Thanks for the update. He was one o my favorite players. Loved his fire!
Duran hit .211 against Righties with a 600 OPS. 800 OPS against lefties but definitely a platoon guy despite his defense. We’ve gots us a few farm boys that good that doesn’t cost us,a handful of prospects.
No, he was wearing a tux, so he did not have any baseballs on him, and pretty sure he appeared after his retirement in 69.