Monday, November 4, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Well, after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Championship, they must turn to the offseason and make improvements.
Both Kevin Kiermaier and Daniel Hudson are retiring after the 2024 season.
The Dodgers must rebuild their starting rotation. Since the Dodgers have an injury–decimated starting rotation, the Dodgers must rely on bullpen games through the postseason. Kyle Hurt, Emmet Sheehan, and River Ryan will be recovering from Tommy John surgeries. Gavin Stone, who had shoulder surgery during the postseason, will miss the 2025 season.
Although the Dodgers have many starters returning from injury for the 2025, they don’t know how they will do. Shohei Ohtani will try to pitch after his second elbow surgery. Tony Gonsolin will be ready to pitch after his first Tommy John surgery. Dustin May will be ready for pitching.
The Dodgers have many questions about their starting rotation. Will Tyler Glasnow be healthy? Will Clayton Kershaw return for the 2025 season?
The Dodgers must sign two free-agent starters. Although Jack Flaherty wants to return to the Dodgers, his velocity is dropping. He has a history of back problems.
Gerrit Cole impressed me during Game 5 in the World Series, and he is a free agent. He is a bona fide ace.
Blake Snell is a free agent left-handed starter. He has opted out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants. He won two Cy Young awards. The Dodgers desperately need a good left-handed starter.
Since the Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers must have a six-man starting rotation. They should re-sign Walker Buehler since he is healthy after two Tommy John surgeries. During the postseason, Buehler demonstrated that he had learned how to pitch with his different skills after surgery. the Dodgers need this.
The Dodgers need to re-sign Blake Treinen. He was an unsung hero during the postseason. The Dodgers need him to be in their bullpen. They don’t need the oft-injured Joe Kelly.
Teoscar Hernández must be re-signed by the Dodgers. His offense is crucial to the Dodgers. His even-keeled sunny personality is equally important.
The Dodgers need to have a center fielder and second baseman. Tommy Edman will play shortstop. Gavin Lux has proven he is a streaky hitter who can’t hit left-handers. The Dodgers should trade Lux. Mookie Betts has expressed interest in moving into an infield. He will be a Gold Glove second baseman.
James Outman is not going to be a good major leaguer, so the Dodgers should trade him. Andy Pages is ready to be an everyday major league outfielder but not in center field. Pages will be a terrific right fielder. The Dodgers must find a quality center fielder to repeat as world champions.
President Andrew Friedman and General Manager Brandon Gomes have demonstrated an incredible ability to get whatever the Dodgers need. If they didn’t obtain Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech, the team probably wouldn’t be world champions.
It will be an interesting offseason for the world-champion Dodgers.
