THE DODGERS' WINTER OF DECISIONS: FREE AGENTS, RULE 5, AND THE FUTURE OF THE FRANCHISE

In case you have been living under a rock, the World Series is over. The Milwaukee Brewers are celebrating, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are watching from home.

That wasn't supposed to happen.

But it did, and now Andrew Friedman faces what may be one of the most consequential offseasons of his tenure with the Dodgers. We have talked about it ad nauseam and will continue to do so. Why? Because that's what we do!

This isn't just about signing another superstar or finding another bullpen arm. It's about deciding what kind of team the Dodgers want to be in 2027 and beyond.

The Dodgers have plenty of talent. They also have plenty of money committed to aging players, considerable injury risk, and a farm system loaded with prospects who eventually need opportunities.

They cannot keep everybody. They cannot protect everybody. And they certainly cannot expect Father Time to take the winter off.

So let's examine the decisions ahead.

1. THE FREE AGENTS: WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES?

The Dodgers enter the offseason with eight players available through free agency, plus Miguel Rojas, who has announced his retirement.

PlayerMy RecommendationTarik SkubalPursue, but establish a spending limitAlex VesiaRe-signEvan PhillipsRe-sign on an incentive-based dealKris BubicAttempt to re-signEric LauerBring back at the right priceBrusdar GraterolOnly on a low-risk dealBlake TreinenMove onKiké HernándezMove on unless there's a specific roster needMiguel RojasRetired; potential player-development asset

Tarik Skubal is the biggest question.

The Dodgers already gave up significant talent to acquire him at the trade deadline. Now they face the possibility of losing him without receiving draft-pick compensation.

He's an elite pitcher, and I would love to have him back. But how much pitching is enough?

Consider a potential rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, and Gavin Stone.

That's eight names before accounting for additional prospects.

Of course, the Dodgers have learned that eight pitchers in November can turn into four healthy pitchers by October.

Still, would another enormous contract for a starting pitcher represent the best allocation of resources?

My position: Pursue Skubal aggressively, but don't become so obsessed with signing him that you neglect the lineup, bullpen, and future payroll.

I'd rather have a better-balanced team than the most expensive pitching collection in baseball.

As for Vesia, Bubic, and Phillips, I would make a serious effort to retain them. Vesia provides valuable left-handed relief, Bubic offers versatility, and Phillips has demonstrated that he can handle important innings when healthy.

Treinen has had a terrific career, but at some point, the Dodgers have to stop paying for what players used to be.

The same principle applies to Kiké Hernández. I appreciate everything he's done, but the Dodgers need roster flexibility and younger legs.

Sentimentality doesn't win championships. We love you Kiké, but this is the end!

2. RULE 5: THE DECISIONS THAT COULD HAUNT THE DODGERS

November 17 is one of the most important dates on Friedman's calendar.

That's the deadline for adding eligible minor leaguers to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.

A player selected in the Major League phase generally must remain on the selecting team's active roster for the season or be offered back to his original organization.

That requirement limits how many players are selected, but it certainly doesn't eliminate the risk.

The Dodgers finished the season with considerable prospect depth and only 40 spots available.

Here are the players I would prioritize.

Christian Zazueta, RHP: PROTECT

This should be an easy decision.

Zazueta has emerged as one of the organization's best pitching prospects. His combination of strikeout ability, developing arsenal, and upside makes him exactly the type of pitcher another organization might try to acquire.

The Dodgers spent years building this talent. Losing him for essentially nothing would be inexcusable.

Jackson Ferris, LHP: PROTECT

Ferris struggled at times in Triple-A, but he also showed why the Dodgers acquired him in the Michael Busch trade.

His late-season improvement is encouraging, and his left-handed power arsenal has considerable value.

A talented young left-hander who has already reached Triple-A is a legitimate Rule 5 target.

Protect him.

Adam Serwinowski, LHP: PROTECT

Serwinowski is another pitcher with intriguing strikeout ability.

He led the Texas League with 146 strikeouts and could eventually become an effective Major League starter or high-leverage reliever.

With several left-handed pitchers entering free agency, protecting Serwinowski becomes even more important.

Jake Gelof, INF: SERIOUS CONSIDERATION

Gelof hit 34 home runs at Tulsa.

Thirty-four!

Power like that deserves attention, especially within an organization whose veteran corner infielders are approaching the end of their contracts.

The questions involve his contact ability, defensive fit, and whether another organization would realistically carry him on its Major League roster for an entire season.

I would investigate every possible way to protect him without sacrificing more valuable pitching prospects.

Hyun-Seok Jang and Patrick Copen: THE TOUGH CALLS

Jang possesses a powerful arm but has struggled with consistency and remains relatively inexperienced at the upper levels.

Copen has intriguing pitches but faces similar questions about his readiness.

I would evaluate both carefully. If the Dodgers believe either could be taken and successfully converted into a Major League reliever, he deserves stronger consideration.

My first three protections are Zazueta, Ferris, and Serwinowski. Gelof would be my next priority.

But protecting prospects requires room, and that brings us to another uncomfortable subject.

3. THE 40-MAN ROSTER: SOMEONE HAS TO GO

The Dodgers began the offseason with 37 players on their 40-man roster.

That leaves three openings.

Conveniently, they have three pitchers who should almost certainly be protected.

But what happens if they want to protect Gelof? What happens if they re-sign Vesia or Bubic? What happens when they sign another free agent?

Someone must be removed.

This is where Friedman earns his money.

I would examine players such as Landon Knack, Jake Cousins, Alex Call, and several pitchers on the fringes of the 40-man roster.

Some might have trade value. Others could be non-tender candidates. Still others might pass through waivers. I think that Knack could be traded...

There is an important distinction between having Major League experience and having a meaningful future with the Dodgers.

A player shouldn't occupy a valuable roster spot simply because the organization is familiar with him.

However, I would be cautious about giving up on Gavin Stone. Healthy starting pitching is too valuable, and Stone has shown enough potential to deserve serious consideration.

The Dodgers must also remember that every new free-agent signing requires another roster spot.

This is a numbers game, and the numbers eventually force difficult choices.

4. THE AGING LINEUP: WHEN DO WE TURN THE PAGE?

Here is the elephant in the room... and we have talked it to death!

The Dodgers had the oldest position-player group in Major League Baseball in 2026, averaging 31 years of age.

Several important veterans will be well into their thirties next season.

Freddie Freeman will be 37. Max Muncy will be 37 by the middle of the season. Mookie Betts will be 34. Teoscar Hernández will be 34.

Those players have been outstanding major leaguers.

But here's the problem: great players don't stop aging because they have guaranteed contracts.

Reaction times decline. Recovery takes longer. Defensive range decreases. Injuries become more difficult to overcome.

Not every player ages at the same rate, and there's no reason to assume Freeman or Betts will suddenly become ineffective.

Nevertheless, the Dodgers cannot build their entire future around the expectation that everyone will defy the normal aging curve.

That's wishful thinking, not roster construction.

Josue De Paula

I believe De Paula needs a legitimate opportunity to win an everyday job in 2027.

He has enormous offensive potential, and the Dodgers must determine whether his defense is adequate for left field.

If it is, I would strongly consider moving Teoscar Hernández.

That isn't an indictment of Teoscar's entire career. It is a recognition that the Dodgers need to become younger and more athletic.

And if De Paula isn't ready defensively, the organization should develop a practical plan rather than forcing him into a role prematurely. Caveat: If the Dodgers do go after Elly De La Cruz, DePaula will be the centerpiece!

Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim

Second base should be a genuine competition.

The Dodgers received a miserable .676 OPS from their second basemen in 2026.

That is not acceptable for a team with championship aspirations.

I would give Freeland and Kim every opportunity to claim the job in spring training.

Both offer youth and defensive possibilities that deserve evaluation.

We don't need another aging utility player simply because he has played in a few postseason games. Tommy Edman becomes the Swiss Army Knife!

Charles Davalan

Davalan's work at second base in the Arizona Fall League is fascinating.

He is an athletic young hitter, and his defensive versatility could accelerate his path to Los Angeles.

I'm not suggesting that he should automatically make the Opening Day roster. He won't. He will likely start at AA, and then we will monitor his progress.

But I am suggesting the Dodgers should have a plan for him beyond spending several more years waiting behind veterans.

The farm system should be a pipeline, not a museum.

5. WHAT ABOUT TRADES?

This is where the offseason could become particularly interesting.

I would explore the trade markets for Teoscar Hernández and other veterans who may have value to clubs seeking established Major League talent.

And yes, I would listen on Tyler Glasnow.

That doesn't mean giving him away.

But Glasnow will be 33 next season, has a substantial salary, and has dealt with considerable injury issues.

If another organization is willing to offer something meaningful, why wouldn't you listen? I don't know who...

The same principle applies throughout the roster.

It is frequently better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late.

The trick is knowing which players are approaching that point.

Friedman doesn't need to blow up this roster. He needs to recognize which pieces have already delivered their greatest value and which younger players are ready to contribute.

6. WHERE SHOULD THE DODGERS SPEND IN FREE AGENCY?

I would establish three priorities.

First: Bullpen reliability.

The Dodgers have Edwin Díaz and Tanner Scott under contract, but the departures of Vesia, Phillips, Treinen, and Graterol create important questions.

They need dependable innings, not merely impressive radar-gun readings.

I would favor pitchers who throw strikes, miss bats, stay healthy, and can handle consecutive outings.

That sounds simple. Apparently, finding them is not.

Second: Athleticism and defense.

The Dodgers need additional speed and range.

A younger, athletic player who can play multiple positions may provide more overall value than another aging slugger who hits 25 home runs but contributes little elsewhere.

The Dodgers already have power.

What they need is greater balance.

Third: Strategic opportunities.

If a special player becomes available at an attractive price, Friedman should investigate.

But signing free agents because they are famous is not a strategy.

The Dodgers need to make the roster better, not merely more expensive.

7. THE LOCKOUT CHANGES EVERYTHING

There is one enormous complication to this offseason.

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on December 1, and a lockout is widely anticipated.

If that happens, Major League transactions could be suspended until a new agreement is reached.

That creates additional urgency.

Here is the immediate calendar:

There is also an interesting wrinkle involving Rule 5 protection.

If a lockout occurs, players on 40-man rosters may be unable to work with team personnel or use team facilities, while unprotected minor leaguers could continue their normal development programs.

That makes the decision more complicated.

But I would not expose a premium prospect simply because the league might shut down.

You protect your best assets first.

Then you deal with the consequences.

8. MY OFFSEASON BLUEPRINT FOR ANDREW FRIEDMAN

If I were sitting in the Dodgers' front office, here's the plan I would put on the table:

1. Protect Christian Zazueta, Jackson Ferris, and Adam Serwinowski before the Rule 5 deadline. Investigate a fourth roster spot for Jake Gelof.

2. Prioritize re-signing Alex Vesia, while evaluating sensible offers for Kris Bubic, Evan Phillips, and Eric Lauer.

3. Pursue Tarik Skubal, but don't get trapped into a bidding war that compromises roster flexibility.

4. Actively explore trading Teoscar Hernández to create an opportunity for Josue De Paula, provided De Paula is ready to handle left field.

5. Give Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim a legitimate opportunity at second base. Keep Charles Davalan on an accelerated development track if his performance warrants it.

6. Explore trades involving veterans, including Tyler Glasnow, without dumping valuable assets merely for the sake of getting younger.

7. Build a younger, more athletic bench rather than automatically returning to familiar veterans.

8. Preserve flexibility for 2028, when Freddie Freeman's contract expires and the Dodgers face additional decisions involving Max Muncy and other veterans.

9. THE BIGGER PICTURE: 2027 IS NOT 2028

There is an important distinction between planning for 2027 and rebuilding for the next three years.

The Dodgers are trying to win the World Series next season.

That remains the priority.

Freddie Freeman may still be considerably better in 2027 than any first baseman currently in the organization. The same may be true of Muncy at third base.

If that's the case, you play the best players.

You don't replace a productive veteran merely because his birth certificate makes you uncomfortable.

But you also don't ignore the obvious signs of decline or prevent young talent from emerging.

The Dodgers need a transition, not a demolition.

That means getting younger, where there are legitimate opportunities, and retaining veterans, who still provide superior production.

The goal is not to field the youngest team in baseball.

The goal is to field the best team in baseball.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Andrew Friedman has built one of the most successful organizations in baseball. He deserves considerable credit for that.

But past success doesn't guarantee future success. He has never been in THIS position before!

The Dodgers can spend enormous amounts of money, acquire almost any available superstar, and assemble a roster filled with famous names.

What they cannot purchase is youth.

They cannot purchase yesterday's reflexes, yesterday's speed, or yesterday's ability to recover from a grueling 162-game season.

Those things eventually disappear.

The farm system is supposed to replenish them.

Friedman has an opportunity this winter to make the Dodgers younger, more athletic, more balanced, and better prepared for the next championship run.

It will require difficult decisions. Some popular veterans may have to leave. Some prospects will have to receive opportunities. Some free agents will have to be allowed to sign elsewhere.

And perhaps the biggest decision of all will be recognizing that the players who helped build the Dodgers' dynasty will not necessarily be the same players who sustain it.

The Dodgers don't need another collection of baseball cards. They need a baseball team.

And the time to build that team is now.

What say you, LADT readers? Would you spend big money to retain Skubal, or would you allocate those resources elsewhere? Which prospects absolutely must be protected, and which veteran would you consider trading?

Let the offseason begin.