Dodgers GM Says LA’s Reputation For Taking Care of Players, Families Has Helped Land Free Agents

The Los Angeles Dodgers are revered for the top tier quality of the organization from top to bottom. While the defending champions can attract players with the World Series trophy, the franchise has much more to offer.

The Dodgers are in the midst of building baseball’s next dynasty, but have already cemented a reputation of taking care of players and their families. It’s one of the reasons players want to come to Los Angeles.

General manager Brandon Gomes spoke about the Dodgers’ esteemed reputation in a recent episode of the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast.

“It’s always something that we talk about and take pride in. And obviously the actions is most useful than just saying these things, but what’s most powerful is when players are saying the same thing,” Gomes told Rob Bradford. “Players talk to players, it’s such a small community. You’re always one person away from knowing pretty much everybody in the big leagues. So they talk, and if they feel like they’ve been treated properly and we do take care of the families the way we do and we do travel best…so all of these things, they talk.”

During Blake Snell’s introductory press conference, he said he had wanted to play for the Dodgers for awhile. When Teoscar Hernández returned to Los Angeles, he said he chose the Dodgers because of the care they provide not only for him, but also for his family.

“The Dodgers, they’re different,” Hernández said. “They think about everybody. Not only the players, not only the things I can do on the field. For me, they just give me the confidence. I never got that really in the other places that I worked. They trust in everything that I can give them, and to this team and this organization. And that was one of the biggest things for me, that pushed me to the best job that I can do.”

It’s hard to name a better organization in the majors, and players know this.

“It may not always be top dollar, or if it is and all else is equal, I’d prefer to go to the team that is going to take care of my family, that we know is going to be competing for a championship year in and year out,” Gomes said. “And there’s organizations across the big leagues that do that, but we take pride in those things and players talk. Having come off a World Series and then showing that we’re continuing to try to even improve that team, I think, is powerful. And then those things on the outside that are off the field do make a difference in our opinion. And I do think players are valuing that as well.”