The Dodgers could stand pat this offseason and still would be the odds-on favorites to win the World Series in 2025. I am not saying that should stand pat or even that they might stand pat. But, if they do, they will still be a damn good team. Let’s asume that the Dodgers stand pat and don’t sign or re-sign any player (other than arbitration-eligible players and utility free agents). What would that team look like? Ok… I’ll give it a shot. Here’s what I see, working with what they have:
Roster:
C: Barnes, Smith
1B: Freeman
2B: Lux, Betts
SS: Rojas, Freeland
3B: Muncy, Hernandez
LF: Rushing
CF: Edman, Outman
RF: Pages
DH: Ohtani
Betts would start at 2B against LHP and move to SS or RF against RHP. It’s not perfect, but it would work. Look at the lineup:
Against RHP:
- Ohtani DH
- Betts SS
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Muncy 3B
- Edman CF
- Rushing LF
- Pages RF
- Lux 2B
Against LHP:
- Ohtani DH
- Betts 2B
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Edman CF
- Muncy 3B
- Taylor LF
- Pages RF
- Rojas SS
The Bench includes Kike and Barnsie and Outman could make the final spot.
The Starting Pitchers:
- Yamamoto
- Glasnow
- Ohtani
- Gonsolin
- Miller
- Knack
That is potentially a very good rotation. Excluding Knack, every other starter (except Miller) has been an Ace at one time. In the bullpen, if no pitchers are signed, it might look like this:
- Casparius
- May
- Wrobleski
- Banda
- Kopech
- Phillips
- Henriquez/Brasier
- Vesia
Remember, Ohtani is a two-way player, so it enables the Dodger to carry an extra pitcher. I did not include Michael Grove, Brent Honeywell, Clayton Kershaw, Bazooka Graterol or Emmet Sheehan who could be available the second half of the season.
The Dodgers do not have to do anything, which puts them in the Drivers’ Seat. Today is my 71st birthday. Damn, I was just 45 a couple of years ago… Time flies. I have a lot more good years in me…but I also realize that there are no guarantees. We had a nice dinner last night at TONYS where my wife and 16-year-old grandaughter (Wylie) posed for a pic.
I am blessed and to think the Dodgers are World Champs. Life is good at 71! Peace Out!
Arizona Fall League – Legends of the Fall
From The Athletic:
“Dodgers: Zyhir Hope, OF
–Melissa Lockard
Hope, 19, was one of the youngest players in the league. He hit only .228 with a .301 on-base percentage but showed off his power potential with nine extra-base hits (including five home runs) in 92 at-bats. Hope did strike out a lot (25), but he held his own given his age and inexperience.
Other notable performer: Eriq Swan, RHP
Although Swan’s ERA was 5.19 in 8 2/3 innings, he was considered one of the breakout stars on the pitching side this fall. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-hander struck out 14 and walked only one. He flirted with triple digits on his fastball and featured a slider, sweeper and changeup.”
Discussion (15)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Soto is most likely going to the Yankees or Mets for something like 12years and 5-600 million. Wonder if Friedman will offer Soto a 5 year contract for 60-70 million per year. He did something like that for Harper. He turned it down as he wanted to avoid another free agency.
Happy birthday to you….and soon to me! Hitting 70 in December.
I’ve seen a few blogs listing Astros, Brave, Blue Sox and Red Sox as also interested in Adames. I am guessing 1 or 2 of those teams are interested in driving up his price to the Dodgers – though if the Dodgers truly decide to sign him I doubt the salary will be the reason they don’t.
Though I agree they don’t have to do anything I will be shocked if they really don’t. Guessing Teo and Walker at least (I pray, I pray!)
Interesting discussion yesterday on MLB radio regarding how important marketing dollars would be to Roki Sasaki given his salary cap. The take was that with Ohtani and Yamamoto already soaking up the marketing dollars in LA, Sasaki would be more likely to sign with another team. I’m curious to get opinions on this take from all of you Dodgertalk gurus.
I don’t understand. Isn’t DH considered a position player. They have 26 on the roster. Ohtani is either a pitcher or position player. Since he can do both….they get to carry an extra arm or an extra position player. Help. What am I missing?
Book em
My best guess is that the Dodgers resign Teo and Blake Treinen. They need a starting pitcher. They don’t really like long-term contracts for pitchers (obviously Yamamoto is an exception), but there are a few top of rotation starters available (Burnes, Snell, Sasaki, Fried) and I think they grab one of them. Then the other issues – do they go after Adames? Do they sign Buehler to a one year pillow?
Happy Birthday Mark!
We know Andrew will not stand Pat because he constantly seeks to improve the team.
My hope is that he resigns Teo, Walker and Kike. We will see about the free agents.
I don’t like the idea of Mookie covering shortstop and right field. He needs to be at 2b consistently for him to have his best season.
Happy birthday. The two lineups could win it would all depend on the pitching. As you mentioned we have more pitching coming as the season progresses like Kershaw etc. seventy one, looks like you’ve done well for yourself. Your wife and granddaughter look happy celebrating your trip around the sun.
Happy Birthday!
Your so close Mark. You have 14 hitters so eliminate Lux. He’s gone.
Ohtani
Betts
Freeman
Muncy
Rushing
Smith
Edman
Pages
Freeland
Rojas,Kike,Outman,Barnes
You got 2 switch hitters, mix and match the rest . Platoon Pages and Outman , Max and Kike, Miggy against a tough lefty, Leave Mookie alone at 2nd.
Anything they add between now and the deadline is gravy. I really like the early season mix. Looks like a solid foundation to me.
Book em
I dont care what Buehler gives us from March-September.
Come October hes in valuable.
HBD Mark!! Your colts for a W as did my Rams!
Happy Birthday.
Add Frasso to the mix.
happy birthday Mark!! what better way to spend your birthday than talking with your dodger buddies? …. Teo needs to be in that lineup!! Can’t imagine Dic posting a lineup without him in it! They should sign him now before the mets sign soto. The yankees would probably go hard after Teo if that happens. Don’t believe James is on opening day roster, just my humble opinion. Rushing makes the opening day roster. outfield backup and catcher. if he hits and barnes struggles mightily, could see a significant amount of time behind the plate. Adames, Adames,Adames!! Do it! …. Don’t believe there’s any chance Flaherty returns. He made a list vof “ most likely to disappoint “ free agents. Walker also made that list. Although i believe Walker will come back stronger and more determined to be the guy he used to be! Once again , HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
AFL Update (above)
HBD, Mark!
I think it’s true that the Dodger roster as it is today is probably good enough to make the playoffs…. though we have no idea yet how Rushing and Freeland might perform in the majors. (You mistakenly have Kike on the bench. He’s a free agent now, so maybe Freeland takes that spot–unless Gauthier beats him out.)
Could this theoretical team win the division? Doubtful, I think. The Padres are damn good.
I would tweak the lineup a bit by using Outman in a platoon with either Pages or Taylor, depending on which is struggling the most.
We learned in ’24 that Pages crushed lefties, but struggled against righties. In ’23, Outman crushed righties (including 22 HRs) but was a banjo hitter against lefties. Outman’s splits in ’23 weren’t nearly as wide as Pages’s splits in ’24.
Yes, there’s no guarantee that Outman can get his mojo back–but there’s also no guarantee that Pages won’t suffer the sophomore jinx. Overall, Outman’s ’23, with a .790 OPS, was significantly better than Pages’s ’24, with a .712 OPS. Also, Outman played higher-quality defense.
If the Dodgers don’t see Outman on their opening-day roster, I hope they trade him. He’s earned a gig in the majors.
Happy Birthday Mark!
Wishing you many more years of joy and health.