Farhan Zaidi Credits Dodgers Never-Ending Pipeline of Talent For Building Superteam
Farhan Zaidi is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office as a special advisor. He previously served as the team’s general manager from 2014 to 2018.
In his new role, Zaidi will also assist Dodgers owner Mark Walter with his other sports ventures, including the Lakers, Sparks, Chelsea FC, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
During Zaidi’s five years as the Dodgers’ general manager, the team won the division each year, secured its first pennant in 29 years, and developed young talent like Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, and Walker Buehler. He was also instrumental in acquiring Max Muncy and Chris Taylor, who became key contributors to two World Series championship teams.
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Because Zaidi has experience working with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers, he understands how the organization is built for success. A big part of that has to do with the farm system and how the team allows homegrown talent to graduate to the major leagues.
“A big part of [the team’s success] has been the pipeline of graduating players to the major leagues and giving them the opportunity to slowly become key pieces of the picture,” Zaidi said during an interview with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
For the Dodgers this season, homegrown talent on the roster will include catchers Will Smith and Austin Barnes, and pitchers Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Landon Knack, Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller and Ben Casparius, among others.
While there isn’t a ton of homegrown talent on the roster this year, it has been used to acquire several of the team’s biggest stars in order to build a “superteam.”
Zaidi also mentioned one area that teams use to break in young talent is the bullpen as it gives young pitchers an opportunity to throw some low-leverage innings and get their feet wet.
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“The Dodgers bullpen is pretty stacked but at the same time a couple of guys are going to be brought along slowly with the long season… so maybe that will be an opportunity for some young pitchers to establish themselves.”
The entire pitching staff is loaded with talent and there might not be enough room to give many young pitchers a shot this year but if the Dodgers learned anything in 2024, pitching can easily disappear.
Los Angeles had a complete staff to start the season last year but by the end, the Dodgers only had three starters and relied on the bullpen more than they should have to win the World Series.
Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
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If the Dodgers had not traded away any of their prospects from this pipeline, they would have 1B Michael Bush 2B Lux SS Trey Sweeney 3B Zach McKinstry LF Miguel Vargas CF Oneil Cruz RF Andy Payes 4th outfielder Outman, DH Yordan Alvarez C Will Smith, Keibert Ruiz, Dalton Rushing Pitchers: Pepiot, Gonsolin May, Miller, Landon Knack, Casperious ,Emett Sheehan, Vesia, Kershaw, Caleb Ferguson, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone (2026) and 4 or 5 more to fill out the roster. I may have forgotten a few who are active major leaguers. Salary total — without Will Smith, maybe $50 million – $60 million. Win total — probably around 80-85 wins. Money to spend on a few free agents — yes. Spend $300 million to add to this group and you would have a better team than the current team. Add Snell, Tanner Scott, Corbin Burnes, Roki, Teoscar for $110 million.