At the moment, the Boston Red Sox are getting a lot of attention and that’s normal: they have just lost the services of Xander Bogaerts.
And it seems like everything is falling apart right now.
But in the shadow of the Red Sox, we must also talk about the Los Angeles Dodgers, who didn’t have such a bad offseason, but who are not the Dodgers we expected.
In fact, we know the Dodgers aren’t spending much because they don’t know if Trevor Bauer’s suspension will be lifted and he’ll be back on the club’s payroll.
But that’s not the problem for the fans, who expect their team to spend to have a good team on the pitch.
After the 2022 season, the Dodgers lost big chunks. Which?
- Tyler Anderson (Angels)
- David Price (retired)
- Tommy Kahnle (Yankees)
- Craig Kimbrel (free)
- Joey Gallo (Twins)
- Trea Turner (Phillies)
- Andrew HeaneyRangers
- Chris Martin (Red Sox)
- Justin Turner (Red Sox)
- Cody Bellinger (Cubs)
Clayton Kershaw is the only major name to choose to extend his stay with the Dodgers. It was LA or Arlington for him.
The club compensated by getting their hands on good plays to help, namely Shelby Miller, Noah Syndergaard and JD Martinez.
The constant? They all signed one-year contracts.
It’s the same for Kershaw. Tyler Anderson, meanwhile, had a one-year offer on the table ($19.65 million qualifying offer), but he signed in Anaheim.
Right now, the Dodgers have an average payroll and they also have an average club. Miguel Vargas and Gavin Lux are expected to replace the two Turners on the left side of the infield.
It’s not necessarily ideal.
I know the Dodgers always offer smaller contracts than other big-market teams (generally, except for Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, for example), but this winter, no one has taken the bait.
And that makes for an ordinary club by Dodgers standards. The shortstop, a strong position for years (Corey Seager, Manny Machado and Trea Turner played there recently), has become a question mark for the team.
The outfield? With Chris Taylor and Trayce Thompson every day, there are doubts.
And with Walker Buehler not playing in 2023, there are questions in the rotation. Can Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard and Dustin May stay healthy?
Meanwhile, the Giants and Padres continued to improve. The division will be quite fierce and even though the Dodgers have experience, their throne is in jeopardy.
But why do they act like this?
Rumor has it that the Dodgers have let the parade pass in order to have financial flexibility next winter, a question of getting their hands on Shohei Ohtani.
The club would have made it their priority long ago.
Obviously, this is a huge risk. He could sign long-term before becoming a free agent (whether in Anaheim or elsewhere) or he could go somewhere else.
If he goes elsewhere, the big names in the autonomy market are likely to be Max Scherzer (who seems to want to stay in New York and who hasn’t been happily ever after with Dave Roberts), Manny Machado (who isn’t loved in LA) and Rafael Devers.
If Ohtani doesn’t sign with the Dodgers, it will have been a big risk. That said, Ohtani is the kind of player you take risks for.
That said, the Mets also would have made it their priority in 2023-2024 … and that does not prevent them from spending a lot of money this winter. Their luxury tax will be around $80 million, unheard of in MLB history.
I know that by then the Dodgers will find a way to improve and I believe that will come with a big personnel move at the trade deadline.
But if nothing moves by then? California’s three-team run in the Nationals West will be something to watch.
- Bruce Bochy is adjusting to his life in Texas.
- The top of the lineup stands.
- JD Martinez wants to win.
- The Dodgers will miss Justin Turner.
