Dodgers: Imagining 2023 New Year’s Resolutions for LA’s Squad
Happy New Year, Dodgers Nation! We are officially in the year 2023, and that’s great news for the Dodgers. We can now say the NLDS collapse happened last year, and all eyes can be set on a much better 2023 season.
With that being said, we at Dodgers Nation wanted to have some fun and somewhat predict what the Dodgers’ New Year’s resolutions would be for 2023.
So I’m going to go through everyone who should play a decent role in 2023, and give my thoughts on what their Dodger-related resolution could and should be. Let’s start at the top:
Mangement Resolutions
Andrew Friedman: Swing a major trade, similar to the one he made in 2020 for Mookie Betts. The Dodgers won a World Series the same year they made the Betts move, and it feels like a major trade for one of Bryan Reynolds, Corbin Burnes, Willy Adames or Rafael Devers (wishful thinking) could put them in position to repeat that trend.
Dave Roberts: Work with the front office to keep starting pitchers in the game longer in the postseason. Let’s use our baseball feel sometimes and not solely rely on analytics.
Pitcher Resolutions
Clayton Kershaw: Stay healthy for *most* of the 2023 season. At least no long-term injuries. Also, more dominant postseason starts.
Julio Urias: Some Cy Young recognition would be nice. Maybe even winning the award in 2023.
Tony Gonsolin: Repeat the first five months of the 2022 season. And don’t fall apart come September and October.
Dustin May: Get back to the pre-Tommy John surgery version of yourself (I genuinely think he could throw a no-hitter next year with the stuff he has).
Noah Syndergaard: Get back to throwing close to 100 mph. Maybe even make an All-Star team, a la Tyler Anderson.
Walker Buehler: Contribute to the Dodgers’ postseason run, but mostly look ahead to a healthy 2024.
Shelby Miller: Spend all your time with Mark Prior and find that All-Star stuff again.
Daniel Hudson: Fully recover from the torn ACL and emerge as the team’s closer.
Evan Phillips: Keep doing your thing.
Yency Almonte: Also keep doing your thing, but stay healthy.
Alex Vesia: Read Evan Phillips resolution.
Brusdar Graterol: How about a sub-three ERA.
Caleb Ferguson: Be a solid lefty in a right-heavy bullpen.
Phil Bickford/Justin Bruihl/Andre Jackson/Victor Gonzalez: Get scoreless innings when called upon.
Ryan Pepiot/Michael Grove: Make strong spot starts when called upon.
Gavin Stone/Bobby Miller: Make your MLB debuts in 2023.
Batter Resolutions:
Mookie Betts: Get the average back up (but also keep hitting home runs). And emerge as a leader in the clubhouse.
Freddie Freeman: No notes. Keep being you. Maybe emerge as a clubhouse leader, too.
Max Muncy: Pretend 2022 never happened and play like it’s 2021.
Chris Taylor: Read Max Muncy’s resolution.
Will Smith: Continue to improve on a dominant 2022 campaign. Maybe even make an All-Star team (not his fault he was snubbed, though).
Gavin Lux: Prove the haters wrong and play a really solid shortstop. And hover around a .300 batting average.
J.D. Martinez: Hit at least 25 home runs. Maybe even 30.
Trayce Thompson: Prove that last year wasn’t a fluke.
Miguel Vargas: Play yourself into an everyday role, and be a versatile option in the infield and outfield.
James Outman: Play into a consistent platoon role in the outfield.
Austin Barnes: Keep being a consistent force behind the plate. And the home runs last year were fun — so more of those.
Michael Busch/Andy Pages: Contribute if/when called upon.
Bonus Resolution After Looking at the Whole Roster:
Andrew Friedman/Brandon Gomes: Let’s add some more depth in the field, maybe someone who can play both infield and outfield, and especially shortstop.
And finally…
Whole Team Resolution: I don’t think this one needs to be said, but just in case. Win the 2023 World Series.
Again, Happy New Year to everyone! Let’s hope for an even better 2023 for the Dodgers, hopefully culminating in a World Series parade.
What do you think are some of the Dodgers’ New Year’s resolutions? Let us know in the comments below!
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The fake Cy Young winner wasn’t included for 2023! Happy New Year!
Happy new year Dodger nation. My resolution is for this team is basically what your asking for. But my big one is a blockbuster before the season starts. Trade for Curbin Burns and Willy Adames. Here’s why. 1 even with the return of Kershaw and the addition of Noah you still need a 1 2 punch with Julio that’s why u Need a Burns that’s pretty basic. 2 remember the infield shift will be gone in 2023 so you need a big time middle infield for defense now. I think the of Willy at short and keeping Gavin at second would be a much better defense than going with Gavin at short and a platoon at second that’s not going to work. And finally 3, obviously this won’t be cheap and Friedman and Guggenheim know that, this would also create luxury tax space which is what Guggenheim wants. To reset the tax. I’m my stupid opinion this is what it would take to get them. For the tax issue give up Chris Taylor that’s 15 million a year for the next several years, that’s pretty cheap for the brewers, but I understand that in order for them to take that contract the dodgers pay big. Here’s the package(Taylor and Prospects Cartaya,Pepiot,Pages). I hope when somebody reads this they look at the picture and not think I’m crazy. With this deal I think the team is a legit championship contender. That’s my resolution.