The Los Angeles Dodgers may hold out on big moves until 2028, when the MLB landscape may be ripe for notable changes.
In 2027, a lockout looms over the offseason, along with a lack of true star power in free agency or the trade block.
Why the Dodgers may not make moves in 2027
Theoretically, while very unlikely, a salary cap could be in place in 2028, which may make teams like the Dodgers hesitant to add more money to their already bloated payroll.
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said that while the Dodgers will evaluate their options, they will focus on transitioning to younger players.
“……when you couple the core talent that we have at the major league level with the position-player strengths that we have in our farm system, that’s what makes us excited, is the art of how to onboard some of these young, talented minor league players,” Friedman said in his end-of-year presser.
Katie Woo of The Athletic took part in an Ask Me Anything on Reddit, where she laid out her reasoning for interpreting Friedman’s comments as a signal for some possible internal changes rather than external additions.
“Reading between the lines of how those questions were answered: the Dodgers are certainly aware of their age of their roster,” Woo wrote on Reddit.
“There’s not much they can do about it, given the contracts. They also believe in the pedigree of their players, which I do understand.
“I think 2028 will be the season we see major change. 2027 seems to be about getting younger on the margins and preparing for a transition in the season to follow.”
What changes in 2028?
There is a much better free agent class that will lack a player better than Tarik Skubal, but it will have much more depth.
Munetaka Murakami, Wilson Contreras, Adley Rutschman, Ozzie Albies, Jeremy Peña, Nolan Arenado, and Steven Kwan are the position player headliners.
As always, there will be a lot of quality pitching options, with tons of starters and high-leverage relievers.
Additionally, the Dodgers could move on from Teoscar Hernandez, Tyler Glasnow, and Hyeseong Kim, and trade other veterans with longer deals who have one less year left.
With the emotional connection to the current veteran core as well, who have brought great memories, one more run to see where things stand, whether it is possibly another title or a second season of coming up short, prompting big changes.
