2023 Los Angeles Dodgers Offseason Guide
A disappointing outcome to a historic season is the perfect way to describe the Dodgers of last year. As a result, the team will look drastically different next season. It will be complicated to fathom, especially for all the former LA players who have elected free agency.
Free Agents
There are now nine Dodgers not under contract. They include a lot of fan favorites and players who many would be sad to see go. Trea Turner, Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, and Craig Kimbrel are headlining this group. Three of these guys were All-Stars.
On the flip side, there are many available free agents Los Angeles perhaps would be interested in. Leading the charge is shortstop Carlos Correa. This All-Star is only 28 years old and already played in many big games in his career.
Obviously, Trea Turner is available but he expressed interest in returning to the east coast to play for a team like Philadelphia.
Perhaps the biggest elephant in the room for this offseason is the conversation about outfielder Aaron Judge. The Dodgers had an interest in him as well, but acquiring him would force players to change positions. One idea was having Mookie Betts get acclimated at 2B or SS.
Those who must return in Dodger blue are Tyler Anderson and Chris Martin in terms of free agents. Tyler Anderson was impeccable in 2022, going 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA and a 163 ERA+. Chris Martin was a key piece to the bullpen with his 1.46 ERA and astounding 0.562 WHIP.
Notable Homegrown Talent
The Dodgers dabbled in 2022 with some of their top prospects but didn’t go all out. Names like Ryan Pepiot, Miguel Vargas, Josh Outman, and Andre Jackson had some playing time but not enough to make an impact.
Expect next season to see substantial playing time for Miguel Vargas. Although he had stints in the outfield, I could see him patrolling third base, especially with an aging Justin Turner. His minor-league stats have shot him up as a top prospect, and I fully expect him to be the Dodger’s 3B of the future.
One name that didn’t make an appearance in the rotation, but definitely will next season is Bobby Miller. The young pitcher appeared in the futures game and showed off his electric stuff. With Walker Buehler out for perhaps most of next year, expect Miller to make a dent in that rotation.
Players With Something To Prove
Many key players for the Dodgers didn’t play up to par despite winning 111 games. Names in this category include Max Muncy, Chris Taylor, and Cody Bellinger.
These three were all All-Stars at some point and even an MVP. In 2022, nobody in this group batted above .221 and struggled mightily throughout the bulk of the season. Having these guys return in a big way will be key for the Dodgers’ offense and success throughout the season.
Result
In the end, the Dodgers will be an elite team once again on paper. Andrew Friedman will ensure it. The outcome is anyone’s guess. No one expected a 111-win team to lose in the first round of the Postseason, but that’s baseball.
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