Breaking Down the Dodgers’ Active Roster With Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Where Could They Still Upgrade?
The Los Angeles Dodgers have put together as good an offseason as we’ve ever seen. The front office spent over $1 billion in free agency, signing the best player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani, and the best pitcher on the market in Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
But that’s not all.
The front office also completed a blockbuster deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, bringing RHP Tyler Glasnow to Los Angeles along with OF Manuel Margot. Glasnow and the Dodgers then agreed on a five-year extension, fortifying the starting rotation for the foreseeable future.
While the Dodgers have made these major moves — along with re-signing OF Jason Heyward and RHP Joe Kelly — they’re not done yet. They still have money to play with, prospects to trade and a few holes to fill.
So, I thought it would be a good idea to reassess the active roster, and see exactly where they could use upgrades before Opening Day in South Korea.
Note: The Yoshinobu Yamamoto signing is not yet official, but for the sake of this exercise, I’m slotting him into the rotation.
Dodgers Active Roster Outlook
Starting Rotation
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP
- Tyler Glasnow, RHP
- Walker Buehler, RHP
- Bobby Miller, RHP
- Emmet Sheehan, RHP
Bullpen
- Yency Almonte, RHP
- Caleb Ferguson, LHP
- Brusdar Graterol, RHP
- Joe Kelly, RHP
- Evan Phillips, RHP
- Alex Vesia, LHP
- Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
- J.P. Feyerisen/Blake Treinen/Michael Grove/Kyle Hurt, RHPs
Lineup (vs. RHP)
- Mookie Betts, 2B
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Will Smith, C
- Max Muncy, 3B
- James Outman, CF
- Chris Taylor, LF
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Gavin Lux, SS
Bench
- Austin Barnes, C
- Miguel Rojas, SS
- Manuel Margot, OF
- Miguel Vargas/Michael Busch, INF/OF
Lineup (vs. LHP)
- Mookie Betts, 2B
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Will Smith, C
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Chris Taylor, LF
- Manuel Margot, RF
- James Outman, CF
- Miguel Rojas, SS
Dodgers Starting Rotation Outlook
The Dodgers’ starting rotation is leaps and bounds better than it was at the end of 2023.
While the Dodgers had an injured Clayton Kershaw, a rookie Bobby Miller and home run-happy Lance Lynn pitching in the NLDS against Arizona, this year, they’ll have a deck of aces to choose from.
Does that mean the rotation couldn’t use another player, though? Absolutely not.
How Could the Dodgers Upgrade Their Rotation?
Emmet Sheehan is currently slated to be the No. 5 starter. While he showed elite flashes in 13 games in 2024, the Dodgers may elect to have him open the season in the bullpen — or potentially as a sixth man/swing man in the rotation.
Additionally, Tyler Glasnow hasn’t pitched more than 120 innings in a season, while Walker Buehler is working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery.
So, the Dodgers could still look to add someone like RHP Lucas Giolito to the rotation to eat some innings, or they can look to add a lefty, something they are clearly lacking.
The Dodgers could still look to the trade market to add another starter, considering they have a loaded farm system even after trading RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca.
While someone like Corbin Burnes or Dylan Cease may not be necessary anymore, someone like LHP Jesus Luzardo would make a ton of sense, adding a hard-throwing lefty with multiple years of team control to the mix.
Additionally, we still don’t know what Kershaw is going to do, but the Dodgers will always welcome him back for a late summer return.
Dodgers Bullpen Outlook
The Dodgers’ bullpen dramatically improved over the course of the 2023 season, and is entering 2024 on a high. However, bullpens are the most volatile part of a major league roster, and the Dodgers know they can always improve with proven talent.
Yency Almonte, Caleb Ferguson, Alex Vesia and Michael Grove all had up-and-down 2023 seasons, while Blake Treinen and J.P. Feyereisen will be hoping to work their way back from serious injuries.
How Could the Dodgers Upgrade Their Bullpen?
While the Dodgers are likely out on All-Star closer Josh Hader now that they’ve shelled out over $1 billion this offseason, they could still look to bring back the dominant Ryan Brasier. Shelby Miller signed with the Detroit Tigers on Friday morning, so Brasier is the last key free agent the Dodgers should look to bring back on the pitching side.
Additionally, it’s been rumored that the Dodgers could make a splash for someone like Cleveland Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase. It would take a haul of prospects, but it’s definitely a move L.A. should consider to make their bullpen truly formidable.
Dodgers Lineup Outlook
The Dodgers will be deploying arguably the best top-of-the-lineup in MLB history with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani (order yet to be determined).
Then, they have one of baseball’s best hitting catchers in Will Smith, followed by the power-hitting Max Muncy.
That’s unfair.
The bottom of the lineup could always use upgrading, especially with another right-handed bat who hits lefties well.
Additionally, with the unknowns surrounding Gavin Lux amid his return from a torn ACL, the Dodgers may want a better bat behind him instead of Miguel Rojas — but Rojas’ defense is a huge plus.
How Could the Dodgers Upgrade Their Offense?
The most obvious move would be re-signing Kiké Hernández, as he can play all over the diamond, hit left-handed pitching and is an overall positive in the clubhouse.
The Dodgers could also look to the trade market to add someone like switch-hitting outfielder Dylan Carlson.
In terms of other free agents, there are other OFs like Adum Duvall and Tommy Pham.
Do the Dodgers Need to Make Any More Upgrades?
While a team could always use more depth, if the Dodgers didn’t make another move this offseason, they’d still be the World Series favorite entering 2024 and beyond.
Not only do they have one of the most talented rosters ever, they have have a farm system oozing with major league ready talent.
The Dodgers are built to win now and in the future, and that’s in no small part due to the work that Andrew Friedman and his staff have done over the last decade.
While the Dodgers have dominated the last decade, making the postseason 11 straight years and winning 10 NL West titles, this next decade may be even better.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Could next year be the year for the Dodgers? I believe so. Go Dodgers
With Roberts as Manager, I am skeptical.
While the pedal is on the metal, work on a trade with the Rays for Arozarena. He would be the icing on the cake. A clutch post-season player that bats from the right side. Just what they need to replace CT3 in left field. Then make CT3 a utility player. Just like they didn’t hesitate to shell out money for Ohtani and Yamamoto, they shouldn’t hesitate to give up the prospects required to land him.
Need to move on from Muncy and make room for Busch. Muncy 2.0 is cheaper and hits for a higher average with similar OBP. Taylor too. If they can find a taker.
Sasaki – trade for international signing money to sign him. Better than Yamamoto. Sign Brasier. Sign Soto after 2024 season. Package several players on the 40 man roster including a catcher to make room and maybe get a starting pitcher with one year of team control or a left fielder but the roster space is more important as they have Chris Taylor, Vargas, Busch, Margot to muddle through for one year in left field.
What we really need is a good left handed starter we are too right hand dominant
Kershaw can win 20 with this kind of support.
Most logical proposal from the supplied article: Trade Cartaya, Vargas and two young arms for Luzardo. Solves the need for a young lefty starter that eats innings w/ team control for several years while opening up roster spots.
As I posted earlier, to really balance the team, they need to get a LH ace type of starter as they already have a bunch of solid RH starters.
Second, they need a RH big bat (LF//3b) between Ohtani and Freeman as the lineup is already LH heavy.
Thirdly, find a real shutdown closer stud to have Phillips and Graterol as 7th and 8th inning set-up guys.
Now that will certainly complete the team. I know I’m dreaming, but possible.