Every Dodgers Free Agent Hitting the Market During the 2023-2024 Offseason
Now that the Dodgers season is unfortunately over, it’s time to look ahead to the 2024 season. That means starting with free agency, and seeing who could and should return from this year’s group.
LA has lost a lot of talent over the last few years, but this season has far less star power heading to free agency for the Dodgers. So, who will be a free agent, and who will return to the team next season?
Clayton Kershaw: 13-5 record, 2.46 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 137 strikeouts
Kershaw is one of the most interesting cases as a free agent because if he wants to return, the Dodgers will bring him back. But it remains to be seen what the future holds for him. If I had to guess, he returns to the boys in blue for one final season in 2024.
Jason Heyward: .269, 15 home runs, 40 runs batted in, 1.9 WAR, .813 OPS
Heyward was a key player for the Dodgers over the course of the season, as he filled the leadership void in the clubhouse. He also contributed with the bat during the year, so I think he will return to the team. However, I see him taking on less playing next time season.
David Peralta: .259, 7 home runs, 55 runs batted in, 0.6 WAR, .675 OPS
Like Heyward, Peralta brought veteran experience to the table in 2023. He was productive with the bat, and put together a solid season. However, I think between the two of them, Peralta could be the odd man out.
Lance Lynn: 13-11 record, 5.73 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 191 strikeouts (Combined with White Sox and Dodgers)
Lynn has a $18 million club option, and it’s hard to see LA picking it up. He was okay for the team down the stretch, but his home run issue became a real problem. Maybe he returns on a smaller, more team-friendly contract, but he may be better suited elsewhere.
Julio Urias: 11-8 record, 4.60 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 117 strikeouts
Urias will not be back with the Dodgers after his legal issues caused him to miss the last part of the season.
Max Muncy: .212, 36 home runs, 105 runs batted in, 2.6 WAR, .808 OPS
Muncy struggled with the batting average all season but still found a way to produce runs for the team. He is a big voice in the clubhouse, which can’t be overstated. He holds a $14 million club option for next season, which the team likely picks up to keep him around.
Kiké Hernández: .237, 11 home runs, 61 runs batted in, -0.1 WAR, .646 OPS (Combined with Red Sox and Dodgers)
Hernandez was acquired back at the trade deadline, and he looked like a completely different player. LA should make sure they re-sign him this offseason, if anything, to bring more energy to the clubhouse.
J.D. Martinez: .271, 33 home runs, 103 runs batted in, 1.9 WAR, .893 OPS
Martinez was arguably the steal of the offseason, as he was one of the more productive players on this Dodgers team. Unfortunately, he is most likely gone after the season he put together as the team makes a push for full-time DH Shohei Ohtani.
Kolten Wong: .183, 4 home runs, 27 runs batted in, -0.8 WAR, .519 OPS
Wong joined the team late in the season but did make the postseason roster. I could see him returning on a very team-friendly deal for depth purposes.
Joe Kelly: 2-5 record, 4.12 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 60 strikeouts (Combined with White Sox and Dodgers)
Kelly was acquired with Lance Lynn at the trade deadline and made his impact felt. While he missed time due to injury, he brought firepower back to the bullpen. LA loves him, and his $9.5 million club option will likely get picked up.
Blake Treinen: N/A
Treinen missed the entire 2023 season due to injury, but there was hope he could return at one point. He has a $7 million club option for next season, and I could see them declining that number. However, bringing him back on a smaller deal makes sense for this team.
Ryan Brasier: 3-0, 3.02 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 56 strikeouts (Combined with Red Sox and Dodgers)
Brasier was almost unhittable with the Dodgers this past season and became a trusted option out of the pen. They’ll probably look to bring him back, but they’ll want to be careful about how much money to throw at him.
Amed Rosario: .263, 6 home runs, 58 runs batted in, 0.6 WAR, .683 OPS (Combined with Guardians and Dodgers)
Rosario was brought in at the trade deadline to help with left-hand hitting, and he did alright with the Dodgers. He served as a good platoon piece for them, but it’s hard to see them re-signing him after leaving him off the playoff roster.
Daniel Hudson: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 5 strikeouts
Hudson returned for three games before re-injuring himself. It was an unfortunate break for the Dodgers, but they remain high on his skill set. He holds a club option for $6.5 million next season, and similar to Treinen, they could decline it, but bring him back at a smaller number — assuming he doesn’t decide to retire.
Shelby Miller: 3-0, 1.71 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 42 strikeouts
Miller was a reliable option out of the bullpen for the Dodgers, and manager Dave Roberts loved him. He made his case to return, but someone else will likely pay him more than LA.
Alex Reyes: N/A
Reyes missed the entire 2023 season, but he holds a $3 million club option for next season. I believe LA picks it up, and we finally get to see what he is made of.
Jimmy Nelson: N/A
Nelson missed the 2023 season as well, and I believe this time, the Dodgers won’t retain him over the offseason.
Jake Marisnick: .237, 2 home runs, 10 runs batted in, 0.4 WAR, .688 OPS
Marisnick got hurt shortly into his Dodgers tenure, but I can’t see him returning to LA next season.
Matt Andriese: N/A
He pitched in Triple-A this season and is unlikely to return to LA next year.
Tyson Miller: 1-0, 4.70 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 10 strikeouts (Combined with Brewers, Mets and Dodgers)
Miller was claimed by the Dodgers off waivers twice this year, but he has elected free agent. It is unlikely he will return to the team.
Robbie Erlin: N/A
Pitched in the minors this season, but could return on another minor-league deal.
Photo Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
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Do whatever is needed to sign Ohtani!
1. Sign Ohtani
2. Sign Kershaw for one more
3. Say goodbye to Urias and Lynn
4. Push Lux to the limit
5. Sign Matt Chapman
Kershaw is done, granted he can still pitch, but 20 million? Uh, no. Snell would be a better option at that price point.
For pitching, sign Snell. Sign Yamamoto. Hope Buehler and later Dustin May can give them 150 and 80 innings. They have another year of Yarborough. Keep Bobby Miller, Pepiot, Sheehan, Grove, Promote Kyle Hurt. Give Gavin Stone another chance. Together the 6 of them only cost $5 million. Some of these guys can be in the bullpen. Keep Brashier, Phillips. Vesia, Ferguson, Shelby Miller. Kelly is too expensive. Don’t bother with the mid-30s relievers who were injured the last few years – stay away from them. Try Graterol as a starter. Give up significantly fewer runs in 2024, maybe 50 -80 fewer runs. For position players replace Peralta with a better hitter. Replace Rojas with Lux. Ohtani for 160 games will be more productive than JD Martinez at DH, although Martinez was great for 120 games. It wouldn’t be a tragedy not to sign Ohtani. Give Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas another chance. at 2d, 3d and LF. Get a catcher who hits better than Barnes. Hope to score even more runs than in 2023, but that will be hard to do, even with improving on Peralta, Rojas and Barnes’ numbers. Jason Heyward could move to left field.
Kershaw isn’t worth millions. Miss half the season with injuries and then couldn’t pitch outta 1st inning. 1 out was all he was good for?? Way to get pulled in 1st ininf. He is not the same pitcher except in playoffs, he still sucks. He’s done!! If the Dodgers bring that crap back. I’m a have to look for another team to love. Dude your done, please for God sakes. No more Kershaw let him test free agency and see how many show interest. ZERO!!!! Maybe the Angels will!! Perfect!!!
Hoping Kershaw is back, announcing before opening day his retirement at season’s end. He doesn’t need to fit into the rotation except as a 6th starter when needed. Let him have his farewell tour in a Dodgers uniform.