Well, the Dodgers do not play a game until next Saturday (a real game, I might add). So, there are only so many things to talk about. Yesterday, many started talking about what the Dodgers might look like next year. Before we discuss that, I would just like to congratulate the team on winning 100 games… again… for the fourth year in a row (not including the COVID year). Now, I have to admit, I did not see them winning 100 games – I had them at 95, but I knew the farm was stocked and felt that would come into play.
There is a lot to talk about going into the playoffs, but I thought that right about now, he would look forward to 2024 and what might happen then. I am going to discuss a few players and give you my opinion as to what is in store.
NOLAN AERNADO – First of all, I do not see the Dodgers making a trade for a player such as Nolan Aernado. He is old… past his prime, coming off his worst year, and owed a lot of money, and why in the hell would anyone with a modicum of sanity trade prospects for that? Think about it. It’s not happening.
MATT CHAPMAN – You would have to lose a draft pick to get another guy who is getting older, injury-prone, and 31 years old. No! Just no! Hell no!
SHOHEI OHTANI – NO! It’s that simple.
MIGUEL ROJAS – Miggy was a great find for the Dodgers this season. He is a “GlueGuy” in the clubhouse… But he will be 35 next year, and you can expect him to slow down. He had less than 400 AB’s for the Dodgers this season, and it will likely decline as he ages. I like Miguel Rojas a lot, but at 35, he is not an everyday player anymore at SS. He wasn’t this year, either. The Dodgers have to figure out who their next SS is, and Miggy is not the long-term solution.
GAVIN LUX – Andrew Friedman had planned for Gavin Lux to be the Dodgers SS in 2023, but we all know what happened. I, for one, do not think Lux is a SS… but I have been wrong before. Others say to trade Lux, but how in the hell do you trade a guy with no position when he is coming off knee reconstruction? YOU DON’T! Miguel Rojas is not going to play forever. At 35 years old, his days are numbered. Maybe he can make it through 2024, but who takes over then? The Dodgers have to find out if Gavin Lux can play SS, and if not, they have to move him to CF. Yes, he did not look good there after 3 or 4 games a couple of years ago. He has never played OF. Give him a couple of months, and he will look entirely different. CF is a possibility. He has the speed, but I think AF will again try him at SS in a semi-platoon with Rojas. He could also play 2B, but I love his speed in CF. We have already seen them try him there for a minute. I have no reason to believe they won’t do it again.
WILL SMITH – The Dodgers have two more years of control with Will. He will be a free agent in 2026, and since he is not a Boras client, it would seem logical that the Dodgers can lock him up with a six-year deal and have an understanding that he can move positions if he wants. It’s obvious that catching is grinding him down. Let him make the choice, but I think he is a logical candidate to be locked up long-term.
I also see Jason Heyward coming back on a two-year deal.
The Dodgers have several young players who are nearly ready or ready: Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch, Jonny DeLuca, Andy Pages (maybe after missing last season), and others. Just because Vargas and Busch did not set the world on fire in 2023 does not mean anything in and of itself. Here’s what I think could happen:
C – Smith/Barnes
1B – Freeman
2B – Betts
SS – Rojas/Lux
3B – Vargas
LF – Busch
CF – Outman
RF – Heyward/DeLuca
DH – Max & whoever rests
Utility – Kike
If Lux can’t play SS, what about this:
C – Smith/Barnes
1B – Freeman
2B – Busch
SS – Betts
3B – Vargas
LF – Outman
CF – Lux
RF – Heyward/DeLuca
DH – Max & whoever rests
Utility – Kike, Rojas
It would be a bold move to ask Mookie to play SS, but I think he can do it! I just think that youth has to be served and that the youngsters have to play. If some can’t cut it, then there is the “trade deadline.” So, now I am just going to twiddle my thumbs all week!
Maybe we will discuss the pitching later in the week.
I like the idea of Betts at SS. He played there a couple of times this season and looked like he had been there his whole life. I do not think Pages even sniffs time in the majors next year. It is going to be a very interesting winter.
He loves SS.
He looks like he belongs there.
It sure opens up 2B for others.
What’s not to like?
Keep Miggy as insurance.
Replace but Keekay with Taylor and it looks good.
Who has the better year with the bat? Outman, Vargas or Busch in 2024. Early predictions.
Where the heck is Bradley? he’s pry got some good stuff for next year! is Friedman just sitting back laughing at all the Ohtani rumors? don’t see dodgers paying the reported 500 million still with him not pitching until 2025! Mets and dodgers supposedly front runners for him. I believe Farman will make the biggest offer, but will he go there? I don’t think he will. San Francisco played the Dodgers tough this season, and really that’s saying a ton. that roster is very average. couple of nice arms and supposedly a future shortstop who could be very good. but Ohtani won’t bite. by the way, if Wilmer Flores is a available in the off season, i would love for him to join the dodgers. versatile and always hits our pitchers. maybe replace Taylor if he can be moved.
I am here dodger fan what I think for 2024. Dodgers need to get Blake Snell as a starter free agent and Matt Chapman in free agency and one other veteran started to go with the young bucks Miller Shehan Pepiot and Stone. They need to bring back Kiki Rojas Muncy. Lux will be back and Heyward. Deluca makes the squad and Busch. Would like to find a veteran catcher other then Barnes especially with Kershaw probable leaving. That’s my take on 2024 team.
Good Morning Mark – well you have certainly fed us a lot of fodder to digest over our morning coffee this year. How you come up with all these titles and stories amazes me. I have learned more about our Dodgers reading your site than all the sports pages combined. My favourite for the year was “Let the Kids Play”. Management obviously reads your site too.
Old Bear it has been great fun reading all your history and comments. Being a Canadian, my favourite story was the one written about “Russel Martin’, followed closely by “The Knothole Gang”.
It has been a great year, everything here on in is “Icing on the Cake”, hopefully a three layer cake!!!
Thanks everyone for all the comments both negative and positive.
Doc deserves Manager of the Year, not only for his handling of the team, but to answer all those same ” I want to add an adjective” media questions game after game politely.
Thanks Gerald. Did you know that Farhan Zaidi considers himself a Canadian? I thought that was interesting considering he spent most of his early life in the Philippines. But he was born in Sudbury in Ontario.
More interesting trivia – thanks GP
Looks like Kershaw Game 1 Miller Game 2….
I don’t comment too often but I must say I really like both your proposed line-ups. This would use our own young players, no crazy money for old free agents (maybe some money left over for a pitcher, but we have a lot of young options there also). Either line-up gets our next generation of young anchor players started as Mookie and Freddy start to fade. I think you really have a good idea.
Miggy Rojas plays a young 33 yr old SS and I think he will be good for at least one more year. Maybe Mookie, Kike or Lux could get spot duty at short but I’m not platooning there. Spring Training will give Lux an opportunity to move him to the outfield.
About every athletic right handed outfielder in MLB started as a shortstop at some point in their life. It’s not that difficult of a transition.
But if Lux moves out there, it isn’t going to be center, either. I’m not moving Outman to accommodate Lux. Exactly what has Lux done to warrant dislodging perfectly fine position players to accommodate his ass?
* We need to see if Lucas Williams, Yonny Hernandez and Austin Gauther have any future at short in MLB. We’ll need a guy someday, but not next season.
* I see a noticeable absence of CT3 in Mark’s future plans. I’m good with Kike taking his innings but somebody has to take that contract, or we eat some money.
I enjoy Phil’s commentary and he has a ton of baseball knowledge.
I respectfully disagree with his opinion on Lux.
Lux is actually younger than Outman and has been a much better player than Outman until this year when Gavin was hurt. You ask what Lux has ever done. He was the minor league player of the year at age 21, the top prospect in the MLB, and hit 392 in AAA with an OPS of 1.197! For comparison, at age 21 Outman was hitting 253 at Sac State university.
In the 2022 MLB season, Lux was hitting 297 with a 373 OBP, and 812 OPS in August when he was injured last year. He came back early and played hurt the rest of the year. He is a faster runner than Mookie or Outman and he is extremely athletic, at least prior to the knee injury.
Maybe Lux does not come back from the injury as the same player, who knows?
But I would definitely not give up on Gavin, nor would I discount his accomplishments to date. I would put him at SS in spring training and see what he can do. Rojas will be the better defender, but Lux has much more offensive upside. If Lux can’t handle SS, he can play 2nd base and move Mookie back to RF where he is a gold glove fielder. Or maybe Lux could be moved to the OF to utilize his athleticism. In any case, I hope and expect Lux to contribute next year.
In the meantime, let’s enjoy the playoffs and hopefully a run to a WS title!
Good points RC. We do have a difference of opinion on Lux but you make a strong case for him.
Some folks here have had a hard time warming up to Rojas. I’ve had a hard time warming up to Lux. I can’t deny his impressive minor league resume. But for me, he’s yet to translate all that promise into success in the Show. I don’t see him as an everyday 2nd baseman defensively. I’ve seen that and I’m not impressed. I haven’t seen enough of him at short due to his unfortunately injury, when it was his job to lose. The jury is still out for me, on him at SS.
Can he play 3rd base? Maybe that’s an idea if he hits. Otherwise, I think his future is in the outfield.
I’m obviously maybe too big of a Rojas fan. As an ex-SS, I love to watch him play there and I’n not prepared to move him – just because Lux is back or because he’s 35. I’m good with the competition in Spring Training but the time might be better served working in left or right field.
If Lux can move around after the injury I would like to trade him for some left-handed pitching but that’s a whole different kettle of fish.
But thanks for your great comments and it should be fun.
In the meantime, my thoughts are now going back to the present where I have more of a clue.
Phil,
Luke Williams is gone.
Yonny Hernandez was removed from the 40-Man Roster.
I love Austin Gauthier… as a Utilityman. MLB says this about him:
“Gauthier possesses average speed and is an opportunistic baserunner. He can get the job done all over the infield and on both outfield corners, though his average arm is a bit stretched at shortstop. He fits best at second base and profiles as an offensive-minded utilityman. “
I like CT3, but did not know what to do with him…
Thanks Mark. I obviously didn’t spend time researching the AA and AAA shortstops, as some are gone, as you point out. My point was similar to my point at the start of Spring Training about our pitching – Who are legit prospects and who are place holders in MiLB.
To me, like you, CT3 is one too many utility guys and an expensive one at that. Thanks for the update.
Great regular season by the Dodgers!
Amazing to overcome so many injuries and not only win the division but win 100 games again! Huge credit to the players, Friedman, Roberts and the whole organization.
The playoffs are a brand new season, and the Dodgers offense and pitching depth will have to carry the team. I would only count on 5 innings from the starting pitchers and hand the game over to the bullpen early. They experimented with letting Miller, Lynn and even Kershaw pitch into the 6th and 7th innings, but not in the playoffs unless a big lead.
The Dodgers can beat any team as long as the offense is productive and they hit with runners in scoring position. Hope they can continue the magical year into the postseason!
I’d be very surprised is easily dismissed even with his injury. Too much noise for it not to be a signal of something.
Lux in CF? Why? Isn’t SS a more important position on this team?
Bluto,
OK, here is my thinking: I do not believe in Gavin Lux as a SS. Too many throwing problems… but that is my opinion. Andrew Friedman is no dummy, and he evidently thinks that Lux can play SS. At least, he was poised to put him there last season (but he had Rojas as insurance… didn’t he?).
I am all for trying Lux at SS, but if he can’t cut it, then make him a CF’er! I think Lux’s arm is stronger than Outman’s (accuracy?) and in LF, James could just focus on his hitting. Lux is also faster. Can he become a good CF? No clue, but I think so.
Maybe Lux goes to CF, but Outman is built like a linebacker. Odds are, Lux will keep his speed as he ages.
Ah. I should have figured that.
I totally agree, I guess, if Lux can’t play SS the team should play him somewhere he can.
Kike Hernandez if a free agent next year. Chris Taylor is under contract through 2026. No way that Kike is replacing Taylor.
Miguel Rojas is under contract through the end of next season, so he will be back next year unless he’s traded.
Lance Lynn has a team option for next year at $18MM. Joe Kelly has a team option next year at $9.5MM.
Other unrestricted free agents next year include:
Clayton Kershaw
Ryan Brasier
Jake Marisnick
Jason Heyward
Colton Wong
Jimmy Nelson
Shelby Miller
David Peralta
Ahmed Rosario
JD Martinez
Julio Urias
No way Lux moves to CF. Outman has a better arm and was actually considered the top defensive player on the squad this year by Outs Above Average at 9. We don’t know what kind of lateral movement that Lux will have after his ACL reconstruction but if he recovered well, I expect he will get the chance to start at SS next year. Rojas will go back to being a utility guy/defensive specialist next year.
As to the multiple free agents, it’s hard to know who will be back. Muncy is unwatchable at 3B. He multiple muffs Saturday cost Kershaw the game. He’s a DH. I expect that JD will get a better offer and Max will DH next year, meaning that Busch and Vargas will get a chance to earn the job next year. Neither of them showed well this year, but both will get another shot. Do Busch or Vargas also start the season at 2B? A big risk. Or does Mookie play 2B?
Peralta looks about done, but I can see Heyward coming back. Kike and Rosario are gone.
The Dodgers won’t pay $9.5MM for Kelly as a middle reliever or $18MM for Lynn either. Both are gone.
Someone will probably pay Brasier a lot of money next year and he’s the latest Chris Martin.
The team will look a lot different next year.
Taylor is under contract through 25 not 26. 26 is a team option year with no vesting numbers. There is a 4-million-dollar buyout. Based on his numbers the first two years of this deal, I do not think they will exercise the option. Kike becomes a free agent after the World Series.
CT3’s contract makes him tradable.
He is well-liked by his teammates, but Kike is Beloved!
I would not assume that Kelly and Lynn are gone. The choice is not to pay the option or forget it. I think, one or both, will accept less.
The Dodgers will decline their options.
Including the buyout in 2026, we still owe CT 30 mil. I don’t think that makes him very tradeable unless we kick in about $10MM.
I don’t think anyone is going to pay Lynn $18MM or Kelly $9MM next year so I agree that they may be back for less than the option amounts. Signing Kelly is always a problem because he usually misses a decent part of the year due to injury. On the other hand, when he’s healthy he’s a real asset.
I think none of us have a clue who would be starting where next year other than Mookie, Freddie and Smith will be there. Who would have known the starters we have now compared to 22 and every year prior for that matter. Seems so silly to me cause we all know there be changes like always we never saw coming.
I admit that I do not know, but I present possibilities that some have never thought about.
It is a time-honored ritual. Especially in this day and age. Fans begin to look at who might be around the following season. Fans of non-playoff teams do it more than the playoff teams do. Silly or no, it is something that just happens. There is a lot of speculation on whether Kershaw will come back to try and get 3000 K’s. Who will be the starting SS. Does Lux get the position by default? After all, it has been stated more than once that no player will lose his job because of an injury. It started here when everyone knew that Ohtani was going to be a free agent. Now judging by the comments, I have read, the majority of posters here, think LA should not sign Ohtani. It will go on until sometime this off-season, all of those questions are answered. There will be more speculation next spring when they start practice, and we see who is playing where. Also remember that next year, they open in Korea against the Padres. They play two games, then fly back to the US to play 3 against the Angels before opening the season at Dodger Stadium against the Cardinals. In another quirk of next season’s schedule, the series in Korea is considered one home and one road game. Then they play the Angels in May and do not see them again until August. Usually it has been the following week.
I think the “you don’t lose your job due to an injury” philosophy was started by the family of Wally Pipp. It sounds great but you know as well as I do that it doesn’t hold water. Plenty of guys coming off injuries have been replaced by better players. It’s the job of every organization to field the best team possible.
Now that the regular season is over, Trevor Bauer is officially off the Dodger’s payroll forever and maybe a MLB payroll also.If he was on the roster ,he would have prohibited us from taking a look at some of our fine young pitching prospects. A blessing in disguise.
What do you mean off the payroll forever?
I hear we’re getting ready to offer him a 5 year deal. 🙂
Just saw this Bauer video online.
I know Andrew would never ever ever bring him back, but somebody might offer him a contract.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1708904525724270659
I am pretty sure that Manfred “blackballed” Bauer, and it will eventually come out. Bauer will get paid!
This case always was total Bullshit, and MLB’s Commissioner is a straight-up Bitch!
If you watch that video and are not outraged, something serious is wrong with you.
Manfred’s idiocy may have cost the Dodgers a World Series… or two.
I freely admit to being one of the “woke” crowd, but this one struck me as fishy from the get go.
Russ Francis, former NFL star was killed in a plane crash. RIP. Woodruf out of Wild Card Series with a sore shoulder.
Russ was a baller. Great athlete . When he showed up at Pats camp talk eventually came out about his skydiving. Don’t remember him ever stopping while in NFL.
His numbers with Pats were great especially so considering Steve Grogan was pretty mediocre QB. Was cool to see him get a ring with 49’s.
When we got wind of his large appetite for adventure on/off field he moved into Legend status while still playing.
A real Dude. RIP
From today’s LA Times:
Dodgers bullpen before Ryan Brasier arrived: 4.98 ERA (29th in MLB)
After: 2.28 ERA (best in MLB)
Ryan was called up on June 20th, and his first game was June 21st. since then, no team has had a better bullpen.
I think AF will push to sign him… even though he is 36.
I’m sure he’d be happy to have him back for one year but someone will offer him at least two and I’m not sure AF will do that.
Kind of like Chris Martin.
However, AF will find some more… he always does.
Well Mark, no one saw the Dodgers winning a hundred games. So, you’re In good company.
I think Gavin Lux remains at short. Mookie probably moves around, Outman stays in center.
I’m not sure the Dodgers go all in on Ohtani. On the other hand, I’m not sure they won’t.
Most of the Ohtani rumors are media, generated, but in many cases are attributed to people inside the organization. The anonymous sources. At this point, it’s probably safe to say, the Dodgers are very interested.
If not LA, where? The Angels definitely want him back. Don’t see that happening
The Mets may be the biggest player, but the current mess may give Ohtani pause.
The Dodgers have a lot of money to spend. If not a hitter, then who will they pursue? Maybe the other Japanese pitcher?
Who replaces JD? They could use Muncy at DH with Vargas and Busch playing some role.
Kershaw returns. No to Arenado. Can see Heyward returning as a definite possibility.
The Dodgers are the best choice to win it all. I would offer the playoff field against my Dodgers as I made the offer Dodgers would take the division over the field. But knowing Betts and freeman would have many more good days than bad days at batting it only made sense Dodgers to win the division. There’s no telling if one or both will be hot or cold these post games and one cold day could ruin the chances. If both are hot and sparking then the parade will happen. Dodgers are nobody’s little brother,
Does anyone predict Kapler will be a manager next year in 2024 and for who. My prediction he will be the Los Angels Angels manager that’s what I see. Bob Melvin becomes San Francisco Giants manager after not leading Padres to playoffs and Phil Nevin becomes the new Padres managers. Why Melvin former Giant and Bay area native and Nevin former Padres player. That leaves the Mets opening and Indians who would be good for those two teams.
I think that is possible. But Melvin to the Mets might happen too. First things first, Melvin is still under contract to the Padres. There is a meeting scheduled between Seidler, Preller and Melvin. Melvin might want to get out of Dodge. Never can tell. Cleveland could try to snap up Showalter. It is going to be an interesting winter.