The Dodgers Don’t HAVE to do Anything!

Posted By on November 18, 2024

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:

  1. Ohtani DH
  2. Betts SS
  3. Freeman 1B
  4. Smith C
  5. Muncy 3B
  6. Edman CF
  7. Rushing LF
  8. Pages RF
  9. Lux 2B

Against LHP:

  1. Ohtani DH
  2. Betts 2B
  3. Freeman 1B
  4. Smith C
  5. Edman CF
  6. Muncy 3B
  7. Taylor LF
  8. Pages RF
  9. Rojas SS

The Bench includes Kike and Barnsie and Outman could make the final spot.

The Starting Pitchers:

  1. Yamamoto
  2. Glasnow
  3. Ohtani
  4. Gonsolin
  5. Miller
  6. 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:

  1. Casparius
  2. May
  3. Wrobleski
  4. Banda
  5. Kopech
  6. Phillips
  7. Henriquez/Brasier
  8. 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
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.”

–Melissa Lockard

This article has 27 Comments

  2. 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.

    1. In theory, Outman and Pages could Platoon. Pages kills LHP and Outman can’t hit LHP. Outman would get the bulk of the ABs. Maybe 2024 was just an outlier.

      I like Kike off the bench as a jack-of-all-positions.

      Also, in theory, pitching coul be a huge strength with Brent Honeywell, Clayton Kershaw, Bazooka Graterol and Emmet Sheehan also coming back.

  4. 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!

  6. 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!

  7. 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

      1. I’m assuming AF wants 14 pitchers. Don’t you think an extra arm in the pen in wise or you’re thinking 5 guys on the bench?
        Book em

      2. Hello Mark. I don’t fully understand the rule but I’m pretty sure they won’t be able to carry the extra player at the start of the season. The reason being: since Ohtani didn’t pitch at all this year, he loses his qualification as a two way player for next season and will need to re-establish it by pitching a certain number of innings this season. You might want to look into it and will probably understand it better than me once you do but a very reliable source has explained that to me. HBD!

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

    2. Forgot about Blake, we should bring him back.
      And forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday. Best to you and many happy returns.

  11. 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?

  12. 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

    1. It’s fairly simple you can have 12 position players plus Ohtani and 13 pitchers. Or you can have 13 position players and 12 pitchers plus Ohtani. There is only 26 roster spots and Ohtani has the ability to float between both positions and pitchers. I believe Friedman will carry 13 pitchers and Ohtani will be counted as a position player who can pitch

  13. 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.

    1. The late Steven Covey a distinguished author talks of this type of situation. He called the scarcity mentality. To put it simply if he is marketable there will be a market. Personally I don’t think he will have problems getting endorsements if he signs with the Dodgers

  14. 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!)

  15. 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.

    1. Andrew really likes those short term deals.
      I hear it’s going to be 1 year for 600 million.
      With an opt out after the All Star Game.

    2. I’m betting Soto winds up a Met for 700 million plus .Steve Cohen, the Met owner will pay it.

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