Why haven’t the Dodgers just signed Teoscar Hernandez, Walker Buehler, Willy Adames, Juan Soto, Max Fried, or Matt Snell? I mean… not all of them… but maybe one… or three?
Every year, the free agent market is different. This year, several teams are really in on Juan Soto, namely the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers, Jays and allegededly a “mystery team.” I did not mention Roki Sasaki because he has not been posted… but while we are talking about Sasaki, some say it is a done deal and that he is going to sign with the Dodgers while others say that Rob Manfred is going to take action against them for tampering with Sasaki. I have no clue – he hasn’t been posted yet. If he is posted this year, the Dodgers can offer him the most money, but I suspect his Japanese team will post him next year, in which case here is what each team has to spend:
$7,555,500 Pool
Cincinnati Reds
Detroit Tigers
Miami Marlins
Milwaukee Brewers
Minnesota Twins
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay Rays
$6,908,600 Pool
Arizona Diamondbacks
Baltimore Orioles
Cleveland Guardians
Colorado Rockies
Kansas City Royals
Pittsburgh Pirates
$6,261,600 Pool
Atlanta Braves
Boston Red Sox
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Los Angeles Angels
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies
San Diego Padres
Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays
Washington Nationals
$5,646,200 Pool
Houston Astros
St. Louis Cardinals
$5,146,200 Pool
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
So, only 28 teams can outbid the Dodgers for Roki Sasaki. Not good odds! Oh, and they are really likely to post him for 2025, so the Dodgers are screwed! Right? No… so fast! Andrew Friedman knows that he will have to overpay for it, but he could get about $3 to $4 Million if he traded some top prospects for International Signing Bonus Money.
It could work, but then AF might have to sign Juan Soto. There are lots of scenerios and I can’t list them all, but Soto is still a possibility…not a huge possibility, but Borass knows that Soto wants to win and the Dodgers are his best option to do that!
Personally, I think the Dodgers have enough starting pitchers. They can start the season with Yamamoto, Glasnow, Gonsolin, Knack, Ohtani, and (pick one) May, Miller, or Wrobleski, and then add Sheehan and/or Kershaw later. There are so many options.
Alex Freeland is ranked the #2 Dodger Prospect by Baseball America in 2025. Here’s what they say about him:
Track Record: Despite being born with a clubfoot which required multiple surgeries to correct, Freeland has thrived on the diamond. First, he starred at Central Florida, where he swatted 18 home runs across two seasons before the Dodgers selected him in the third round of the 2022 draft. Two years later, he was one of the system’s highest risers. In 2024, Freeland moved from High-A to Triple-A and racked up a system-best 32 doubles while hitting 18 home runs and stealing 31 bases in the process.
— Baseball America
Scouting Report: Inside and outside the organization, Freeland drew raves from evaluators for his well-rounded skill set. In the batter’s box, he can work an at-bat until he gets the pitch he likes before spraying a line drive to the outfield—if not over the fence. He’s got quick hands, excellent bat speed and the ability to manipulate the barrel into different parts of the strike zone. Defensively, Freeland has a chance to stick at shortstop but second or third base are also viable options. His bat would profile at either spot. Freeland’s above-average arm makes third base his likeliest non-shortstop defensive home. He’s an above-average runner and was one of just four players in the minor leagues with 30 or more doubles and stolen bases. Evaluators were also particularly fond of Freeland’s makeup, citing a player dripping with the kind of confidence necessary to remain unfazed in key situations.
The Future: Shortstop is one of the few spots where the reigning World Series champions have a bit of a question mark. If they do not sign a free agent to take over the role, Freeland has a shot to earn the job at some point in 2025. If not, he’ll head back to Triple-A to continue getting reps at other infield spots after having played exclusively at shortstop from Double-A onward.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 55
I could see a scenerio where the Dodgers trade DePaula and/or Rushing and get International Draft Money for Sasaki and then sign Juan Soto and Teoscar Hernandez… and are done! Rojas can play SS until Freeland is ready and this would be the lineup:
- Ohtani DH
- Betts 2B
- Freeman 1B
- Teoscar Hernandez RF
- Juan Soto LF
- Will Smith C
- Max Muncy 3B
- Tommy Edman CF
- Miguel Rojas and later, Alex Freeland SS
Rotation: Yamamoto, Glasnow, Sasaki, Gonsolin, Ohtani, Miller, Knack ,Wrobleski, Sheehan, and Kershaw.
I’m not saying that is what will happen… but you never know!
I could see Dodgers offering Soto $50M over 10 years. But he’ll probably sign for longer and for more $$.
I suspect Teoscar or another RHH outfielder will be brought in. Maybe O’Neil who’s a better defender than Soto or Teoscar. It feels like they want a place for Rushing in LF.
I’d be surprised if they splurged on Adames too. With Mookie at 2nd, and Rojas, Edman, and Taylor SS has some depth. Hopefully Kike is back too.
So I think pitching is where they’ll drop the big $$. Sasaki would be great. Hopefully he isn’t staring down TJ surgery after an off year in 2024. If they miss on Sasaki, maybe Blake Snell. They thiught they had plenty of pitching last year with a bunch of guys coming back from surgeries too. It barely worked, and only after picking up Flaherty and Kopech at the deadline. Treinen might have another good hear in him. LHRP Scott would be a big get too.
Part of the sustainable winning means giving your own home grown guys opportunities. It would be great to see Pages, Rushing and Freeland force their way into the lineup. But having them and others around for depth in case of injury is another part of the LAD secret sauce.
Buehler turned it around in playoffs, but his regular season was a mess. There’s no gurantee anybody coming back from surgery will be both healthy AND effective. A lot of the young guns showed potential, but are far from being as established as Walker is. They’re going to be healthy as depth, but when Shohei and Glasnow aren’t sure to be healthy a rubber arm innings ester might be their best investment.
I suspect that Soto will stay in NYC. Both the Yankees and Mets make more sense (and dollars and cents) than LA. I’m optimistic that Teo will return.
That report on Freeland is very encouraging. If the Dodgers don’t sign Adames, perhaps it makes more sense to pass on Kim and go with an Edman/Rojas/Freeland combo at SS–assuming that Freeland is truly ready. And Freeland could spell Max at 3B from time to time as well.
While Mookie handles 2B full-time, Edman could shuttle between SS and CF in a quasi-platoon with Miggy and Outman or Pages or Taylor.
Roberts loves that “optionality” stuff.
The no-Adames, no-Kim lineup options…. with a optimistic youth movement (Rushing + Freeland + Pages + Outman)… but still assuming Teo returns.
Against righties:
Shohei DH
Mookie 2B
Freddie 1B
Teo RF
Max 3B
Smith C
Rushing LF
Outman CF
Edman SS
Against lefties:
Shohei DH
Mookie 2B
Freddies 1B
Teo LF
Smith C
Pages RF
Edman CF
Freeland 3B
Rojas SS
Soto will be a Met for the 2025 season and beyond. Bet it!!!
If I were to bet, it would be as follows:
1. Mets
2. Yankees
3. Phillies
4. Dodgers
However, any sane GM of a Big Market Team has to look at a player like Soto:
1. He is maybe the best hitter in the game and he just turned 26.
2. He likley has a big 10-year runahead of him.
3. He is maligned defensively as a RF’er but could be above average in LF.
4. These kinds of hitters don’t grow on trees and adding him would make the Dodger Offense Devestating! You have to kick the tires and see if there is any common ground.
5. I am not holding my breath and I do not anticipate it, but if they don’t neet with him (and they already have) he would never be a Dodger.
6. Finally, he wants to play with Ohtani and has said so.
7. During the HR derby he was hanging with the Dodgers.
8. If the Dodgers were to add Soto, they might win 3-5 more World Series in the next 8 years!
I agree with this, but would add that Soto would also offer superstar continuity in a post Freeman era and when Betts is past his prime.
The wild card factor in this equation is winning. While I have a hard time envisioning a scenario where Soto would give the Dodgers a discount in order to win, if contract dollars are equal and Soto wishes to prioritize winning, as his camp has expressed, then the Dodgers have to be favorites. However, if making the most money is the goal, and it should, I have a hard time seeing anyone beating out the Mets.
If Teo doesn’t return, the Dodger will need to sign a power right handed bat for the outfield.
I like the fact that Freeland is a switch hitter. Mark do you have stats on him from both sides of the plate?
He is a power hitter as a Lefty. Most of his HR come as a LH Batter. He is a work in progress as a RH Hitter, but I could see a scenerio where he platoons with Rojas.
That RH bat could end up being Adames. If Soto signs with one of the NY teams, the team out of NY which loses out will end up offering Teo a 3-4 year deal.
Thanks Mark. Nice opposite field power too..
The Angels have been the most aggressive team in baseball during the first month of the offseason, and they continued that pattern this morning by reaching an agreement with free agent left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year deal worth $63MM, per a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Shit, roll with Freeland right now.
Freeland and Rojas might be a perfect platoon!
You don’t have to sign Adames and have $$$ for Teoscar and maybe Soto.
Also, I see James Outman as a 4th or 5th Outfielder… not a starter in CF. He could platoon with Pages in RF, if Soto does not come.
This (realistically), could be the lineup:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts 2B
3. Freeman 1B
4. Teoscar LF
5. Muncy/Kike 3B
6. Smith C
7. Pages/Outman RF
8. Edman CF
9. Rojas/Freeland SS
Bench: Taylor, Barnes
Rushing is the first callup.
That could work.
It would only require bringing back Teo and Kike. The big question is whether Freeland is ready to step up.
The SS combo of the aging veteran and unproven rookie is risky–but Edman could step in if either stumble. (Taylor and Kike are SS options too, but not great ones.) If Edman winds up at SS, perhaps Outman and Taylor could platoon in CF. I am comfortable with Pages in a corner, but not CF.
At any rate, an Outman-Pages platoon has potential:
Against lefties in ’24, Pages produced a .906 OPS in 107 plate appearances. Against righties in ’23, Outman produced an .835 OPS (including 22 HRs) in more than 417 plate appearances.
Interesting trade proposal:
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/dodgers-land-projected-130m-all-star-ace-four-player-trade-proposal-1990802
A hard no. Freeland should be given a long look at shortstop with Rojas serving as his tutor. Rushing and the number 8 prospect should get it done, if not throw in a Noah Miller or someone of that status. The White Sox’s have said that they want position players, that’s understood. Anyone will tell you that defense up the middle is essential. Betts or lux at second is solid to excellent. Rojas at short is good but will his bat continue to produce? Edman in center had a great playoff but his overall stats doesn’t add up to that great of player overall. I like Edman a lot and glad the Dodgers have him, they didn’t get him to be an everyday player. If he proves to be one, fantastic.
Had a buddy one time told me that it’s a silly little mouse that leaves one hole to escape. The Dodgers need to make sure they have catcher, second, shortstop and centerfield covered before trading their top prospects in those positions.
Take the money that the Dodgers were going to give Adames and get a pitcher. I’m not wild about Snell because of dealing with Lucifer but we do need a lefty. People want to stay away from Fried because we lose a draft pick . During the trading deadline and this winter we are willing to give up three top ten prospects for a pitcher, where is the problem of giving a draft pick for a proven left handed starter?
Garrett Crochet checks a lot of boxes. Top of the rotation type 25 year old hard throwing LHP. Brings a 4-pitch mix with a FB that sits in the mid to upper 90’s, but is able to dial up to 100 mph. Guys like that don’t come around often.
An arm like this could propel our chances of winning yet another WS regardless of what happens with Sasaki.
Interesting trade scenario.
Crochet also stated publicly that he wouldn’t pitch in the playoffs last season if traded unless he had a new contract. He has a career record of 9-19. He’s started 32 games in his career.
So (1) his putting the team first has to be questionable. (2) his pedigree is very unproven. (3) Freeland looks as to have as good or a better future than Crochet.
Doesn’t matter how I feel but I got a real bad taste in my mouth when Crochet made those comments last season when he had absolutely no past history to warrant making demands.
If I’m a young pitcher playing on a team that was on pace and finally did break the record for loses in a season and had the opportunity to go to an organization that’s in the hunt every year. The pitcher needs to keep his mouth shut regardless of what his greedy agent tells him to do. If he’s good he will get paid. Everyone wants the golden egg right now. If your entitled to it like Teo go get it.
Well if Freeland is now the number 2 prospect in the dodgers organization, why on earth trade him away if they’re not signing Adames? they could sign Fried,Snell, Corbin and keep Freeland and Rushing! Never trade for a player who wants to dictate when and where he pitches! …. Offer Snell 3 years and he probably signs. Bring Teo back! package lux, outman , and a couple of other prospects and make the cubs an offer for Bellinger. Maybe they would have to sweeten the offer a little more , but if Mookie is at 2nd, lux is expendable. Outman needs a change of scenery. …9 That bench crew of Taylor, Barnes, and Rojas worries me! good defense, very questionable offense! Too bad cKike isn’t a catcher!!! Although he has been an emergency catcher in the past. … I’ll be so happy when Shuttles Soto signs! Elsewhere i hope! I said yesterday, Teo in left,Bellinger in center, and Pages in right. I like it!
Cubs would give Bellinger away to get out of his contract. Give them a bag of baseballs and free dodger dogs when they come to LA and we would probably have a deal.
Damn I’m chatty today. Need to chill and get some work done..
Dan estoy contigo al 100%
A very hard NO. Give up Freeland, Rushing and Morales for a likely malcontent pitcher without much of a history? Especially when we have a lot of pitching coming back with other trade or free agent possibilities ? No way, Jose.
Don’t sleep on Teo going to Boston.
Minnesota is talking to Teo as well
And Teo could be the consolation prize for whichever NY team doesn’t get Soto.
His market is strong–and the Dodgers can’t count on much of a discount to bring him back.
The FA market has been relatively quiet, but once the Juan Soto sweepstakes are settled, Teo should be the next OF to generate a lot of buzz. Primarily from teams who miss out on Soto. At the moment, Soto is the main target for the major market teams.
Teoscar 1-year gamble with the Dodgers paid off and he is about to reap the benefits. At 32 years old, I expect him to seek a max year contract. Deservedly so!
There will be no discounts this time around, including the Dodgers.
Ohtani is focused on being ready by Opening Day of the 2025 as both a hitter and pitcher, but won’t rush anything, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
“The goal is to be ready for Opening Day,” Ohtani said. “That includes hitting and pitching. We are kind of taking our time. Obviously we want to make sure that I’m healthy first. We’re not going to rush anything. I think, discussing my shoulder, I think we are going to take a little bit more time and be conservative and we’re going to make sure I’m healthy before I step back on the mound.”
Anyone else feel Kikuchi going to the LAA could entice Sasaki to give the Angels a more serious look?
I don’t think so. He wants to go a winner who has the best developmental programs for pitchers and that would be the Dodgers. I read an article or heard it on the MLB Network that Ohtoni is his idol. He also could pickup many more endorsements playing for LA. Let’s see how this plays out as AF has had his sights on signing Sasaki for many years .He usually is pretty successful in those situations .If it’s all about the Benjamins, the Dodgers could lose out. Time will tell.
I think the Padres are more likely because of his friendship with Yu Darvish.
Very slight chance, if Kikuchi and Sasaki are pals. (We do not know what we do not know.)
I think the biggest obstacle to the Dodgers landing Sasaki may be his desire to not labor in the shadows of Shohei and Yamamoto….
But by the same token, Sasaki might want to prove himself by playing alongside the best. Perhaps he wants to show he can be a big badass koi too.
If kinship is a factor, how about the Cubs with Imanaga and Suzuki?
I find it really hard to believe they’ll carry 5 reserves. Especially if they have a 6 man rotation like you say. It’ll be 6 starters and 8 relievers, or more than likely 5 starters and 9 in the pen. An extra position player over an extra pitcher is unrealistic. But until Ohtani reaches the innings minimum, it’s moot.
Book it
So I’ve just seen a report on YouTube claiming that the Cubs are “desperate” to unload Bellinger’s contract….
Do I think the Dodgers want him back?
Not really. He’s an OK player now–short of all-star caliber. But he still might look good in CF depending on how things shake out–say if Dodgers miss out on Adames and Edman takes over SS.
Would it be possible to swap bad contracts?
How about a deal built around Belli and Chris Taylor?
Straight up, I think the swap would save the Cubs about $10 million and add that amount to the Dodgers’ payroll. If AF really wanted to bring Belli back, they could sweeten the offer with a prospect.
If nothing else, it would be an interesting story.
Doh!
I thought that Belli, like Taylor, has one year left on his contract. But he has two years left–so that would add about $36 mill to the payroll thru the ’26 season.
No wonder the Cubs are desperate to make a deal.
How much of that salary are they willing to eat?
We don’t need Bellinger. We need a right handed power bat for the outfield. Hopefully it’s Teo.
The worst-kept secret at the GM meetings was the Cubs offering Bellinger to anyone and everyone. So far, no team has expressed strong interest. “Come on,” one GM said, “who’s going to touch that contract? The risk is just too great for the production.”
I like the idea of resigning Teo for left, then using Pages and Rushing for RF. The great Joe Ferguson was a C-RF and was adequate and Dalton should be okay. Love the thought of Freeland and Rojas sharing SS. Then we have Barnes and Taylor for bench reserves. I think the Dodgers should go after Max Fried and Roki Sasaki. Resigning Treinen should be a priority too. With all our young arms and young talented hitters, we can stay in budget and still contend. I think Dalton Rushing is going to a dynamic major league hitter. His on base % is eye popping for a power hitter and Freeland , being a switch hitter with great base running ability has great potential too. Lux and Outman should be traded for young prospects or international signing bonuses.. My 2 cents
Nice. I like it. . And sign Kike and DFA Taylor. Reserves would be Barnes, Kike , Rojas and Pages. Giving Freeland and Rushing the starts against righties. World Series here we come. Ha ha.
Book em
Dont sleep on CT3. He is going to have a bounce back year….
would still like Adames! then once Muncy is gone, he can slide over to 3rd and Freeland moves into the SS slot. If Teo leaves, there’s not a lot we can be sure of in the outfield. Pages has promise. Edman is very solid in center, but he needs to be that super utility guy. Left? Rushing is intriguing but not proven. the bench is very weak offensively! The Friars are going to be hungry and talented! Absolutely strengthen the starting rotation, but don’t leave the offense behind!
I believe that Andrew values defensive skills more than offense when it comes to the bench.
I don’t want Soto. He’s an average defender and below average base runner. Put the money towards a few good starters, sign Teo and shore up the bullpen. If Mookie moves into 2nd, you may need another outfielder. I like Pages as the 4th OFer or platoon option. Pitching should be the focus this off season. It seems like every year the starting pitching is always the issue in the playoffs. A six man rotation may be the way to go moving forward.
https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1861280202816430409
And the winner is the NY Mets Bet it!!!
LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball announced the postseason shares for 2024, during which the total player pool of $129,092,159 smashing the previous year’s record. The Dodgers total share of pool, as World Series champions, was $46,473,177, with full postseason shares tabbed at $477,441 each.