The Los Angeles Dodgers are in need of offense by any means, and a possible upgrade could result in some 40-man roster casualties.
On paper, the Dodgers boast the best 40-man roster in baseball, but the team hasn’t played like it for most of August, excluding the rotation.
Why the Dodgers need to open up a spot on the roster
The Dodgers tend to value defense and experience in position players, but some parts of the roster may need replacing to bring in some youthful hitting.
The team is aging because of the number of free agents and veterans on the roster. Luckily, LA has options to add the needed offense and young players.
MLB rosters are expanding from 26 to 28 players, allowing two more players from the 40-man roster to be involved.
Here are some players who could be designated for assignment to make room for a prospect like James Tibbs III to be added to the 40-man roster:
Hyeseong Kim
Kim is a player with the defense and speed of a major league player, possibly even a really good one, who lacks the hitting consistency to deliver.
The Dodgers organization still seems high on Kim, who is in just his second year as a stateside professional baseball player.
However, he is only hitting .272/.334/.355 this year in the minor leagues, with 75 total at-bats.
His positional versatility and solid bat-to-ball skills give him a higher ceiling than his production suggests, but it is tough to see a team hitting like this add a non-slugging contact hitter who can whiff and chase at a frustrating clip.
Out of all the players on this list, this one is the most unlikely, but his play in Triple-A has him vulnerable.
Eliezer Alfonzo
Alfonzo would be the simplest move that the team can make, especially with Will Smith and Dalton Rushing healing.
The Dodgers have more than enough catching at the major league level, and Alfonzo did not produce much during his chance with the Dodgers this year.
With Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia also on the roster, the team can move on from Alfonzo, a slightly below-replacement-level catcher.
Paul Gervase
Gervase is only 26, making this one tough for a Dodgers organization that does see something in the tallest pitcher in franchise history.
He has only been an optionable arm for the Dodgers up until this point, filling in when needed to eat innings or provide cover.
If the Dodgers want to focus more on hitting and add a bit of pitching depth, they can add one of their outfield prospects in Gervase’s spot.
Odds are, another team picks him up, but the pitching staff is so deep for 2026 and 2027 that it may be for the best.
Landon Knack
At 29, Knack is a bit easier to move on from, given he is what he is. He has a stellar 2.67 ERA in 27 innings with OKC, but in the big leagues, he has a 5.87 ERA in 7.2 innings this year and a 4.89 ERA in 42.1 innings last year.
Knack is another piece who is far from being an option for the postseason roster. With the offense in a rut and the pitching so deep, he could be in a similar position to Gervase.
It will be a tough choice for a Dodgers organization that tends to covet the gems they scout and develop, but some candidates would be worth the possible offensive upgrade.
