Dodgers: What Are The Biggest Roster Holes Facing LA This Offseason?
Even if you are setting franchise records with 111 wins in the regular season there’s still room for improvement. The Dodgers were handed championship aspirations with their impressive play all season long before seeing it all crumble in front of them in the NLDS.
To add insult to injury, the Dodgers also lost some key players and while some can still be retained this leaves big holes to fill throughout the lineup. The Dodgers remained aggressive so far clearing over $100 million in the books and paving the way to sign some big free agents, but what are some of the biggest holes to fill?
Position: Pitcher
Possible Players: Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, Carlos Rodon
Probably the most prominent position to fill for the Dodgers is a stronger cast of pitching as Tyler Anderson was lost to the Angels. The Dodgers also ended the regular season without a designated closer and key players like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin dealing with their injuries.
Could Justin Verlander land with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason ?#Dodgers #AlwaysLA pic.twitter.com/kl6phvFdOX
— Front Office Failure ™ ? (@FOFailureTWT) November 20, 2022
With the depth lacking for the Dodgers, the team can turn to the bulk of their money and sign some of the top free agent pitchers in the market. The top choices include Justin Verlander or Jacob deGrom who have been linked with the Dodgers.
Carlos Rodon has also emerged as a possible candidate, who will likely come at a cheaper yet serviceable price in comparison to Verlander and deGrom.
Position: Centerfielder
Possible Players: Aaron Judge, Brandon Nimmo, Kevin Kiermaier
It seemed inevitable that Cody Bellinger would be released from the team after his struggles behind the plate. However, what Bellinger lacked in hitting ability he made up for with strong defensive efforts in the outfield.
Aaron Judge could land with the Dodgers… ? pic.twitter.com/f2tIPsdbz2
— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) November 19, 2022
Those efforts alone will land Bellinger on another team. However, the prize of the off-season belongs to Aaron Judge who many believed could possibly land in LA.
This of course could also shift Mookie Betts to center field and leave Judge at right field. The Dodgers can also go a cheaper route and go after Brandon Nimmo who would be an improvement batting wise or go with Kevin Kiermaier who presents similar struggles to Bellinger but will likely be much cheaper.
Position: Infield
Possible Players: Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, Justin Turner
The likelihood of Trea Turner returning continues to plummet leaving the Dodgers with an intriguing question. Will the Dodgers take a risk and bring in Carlos Correa, a player that stabs into the hearts of Dodgers fans for his role in the Astros cheating scandal?
IF the Dodgers sign Carlos Correa… Would the fans want him? Accept him?
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) November 18, 2022
Most signs point towards Correa being welcomed with open arms and it’s someone the Dodgers should consider spending big money on to replace Turner. A cheaper alternative can also be Dansby Swanson if the Dodgers choose to prioritize the outfield.
The Dodgers can also mix and match infield and move Gavin Lux around, but this doesn’t close the door to bring back Justin Turner. Depending on how much the Dodgers spend elsewhere, it’s possible Turner comes back on a cheap deal.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
There is zero chance Correa and Boras sign for less than Trea Turner.
Correa really needs to be on the Do Not Sign list. I don’t care how good he is. He’s a confirmed cheater and he played a big part in cheating the Dodgers. I don’t know why anyone would think he would be welcomed with open arms. That’s just total imaginary BS!