The Dodgers Have an Open Spot on the 40-Man Roster, How Will They Fill It?
The Los Angeles Dodgers traded two players to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, opening up a couple spots on their 40-man roster. Right-handed pitcher Yency Almonte and infielder Michael Busch went to Chicago, and in return the Dodgers added two young prospects, left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope. To read more about those two prospects, you can click here.
The Dodgers’ 40-man roster now stands at 38. Teoscar Hernández, who reportedly signed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $23.5 million deal, will be the 39th player when that signing becomes official.
So, that begs the question: How will the Dodgers fill their open roster spot?
The Dodgers have been linked to myriad players this offseason. Let’s start with the biggest name of the bunch.
Latest Clayton Kershaw Rumors
Earlier this week, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported the Dodgers are “keeping the door open” for a potential return of Kershaw. According to Bowden, the front office is hoping the 36-year-old left-hander elects to finish his career with L.A.
This goes hand-in-hand with what president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said earlier this offseason, when he claimed the Dodgers “absolutely” want Kershaw to return in 2024.
Kershaw underwent surgery to repair the glenohumeral ligaments in his shoulder and is targeting a return at some point during the summer.
Kershaw went 13-5 with a 2.46 ERA in 2023, his 16th season in the major leagues, but averaged fewer than five innings per start after the All-Star break. It’s clear the Dodgers want him back, and the only other team he would consider pitching for is his hometown Texas Rangers.
The only question is: Where does Kershaw want to be?
Could the Dodgers Be Targeting a Ryan Brasier Reunion?
Next on the list is Brasier, whose fit just got much more obvious with the Almonte move.
Brasier — who was arguably the Dodgers’ best reliever in the second half of last season — has a strong market, with at least six teams reportedly showing interest. The Dodgers are one of those teams, and a deal to bring him back as a high-leverage reliever makes all the sense in the world.
Released by the Boston Red Sox in May, Brasier had a 0.70 ERA in 39 appearances with the Dodgers at the end of last season. He revitalized his career in Los Angeles, and it would make sense for this successful partnership to continue.
The Haders Won’t Like This One
The Dodgers proved they were all in when they signed Shohei Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million with unprecedented deferrals. They then traded for Tyler Glasnow, and subsequently signed him to a five-year, $136.5 million extension. They signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal, the MLB record for a pitcher in years and dollars. Last week they agreed to terms with Hernández, an All-Star outfielder and two-time Silver Slugger award winner.
Could it be time for another all-in move?
The Dodgers have been linked to the best closer on the market in Josh Hader all offseason long. At this point, it’s impossible to rule out a move.
Hader is not only one of the best ninth-inning guys in baseball. Currently Caleb Ferguson and Alex Vesia are the only left-handed relievers on the bullpen depth chart since the trade of Victor Gonzalez. If Hader’s market continues to drop, the Dodgers could swoop in and complete their transformation as the new ‘Evil Empire’ of MLB.
Other Potential Dodgers Targets
The Dodgers’ next move might not be as obvious. Keep an eye on these names:
• The Dodgers remain interested in making a trade for a starting pitcher, whether it be Dylan Cease or Jesus Luzardo. They also were linked to All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase earlier this offseason. If the Dodgers can piece together an attractive package for the Guardians without subtracting from their major league roster, a blockbuster deal for Clase and Shane Bieber makes sense.
• On the free agent market, the Dodgers could justify adding a left-handed starting pitcher without Kershaw’s health concerns. Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell would fill that need, although they are likely reluctant to engage in a high-priced bidding war at this stage of the offseason.
• The Dodgers could look for other bullpen arms if they lose out on Brasier, such as Robert Stephenson or Jordan Hicks.
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KERSHAW is number one, all of the others are numbers 2 through 40!
I do want the Dodgers to look in bringing back Clayton Kershaw, and talking to Justin Turner. Turner needs to finish his Baseball Career with the Dodgers He is worth the money and a great third base men Please get him back sign him, the Dodgers have the money and Justin Turner is worth it.
Eventually, Kershaw. I’m not sure when they want to re-sign him, or when he wants to re-sign. I would think that management would want him in the building for his rehab and that Kershaw would want to be back as soon as possible while being paid to rehab. Having said that, I think there is one more trade coming. It sure seems like Miller and Sheehan are locked in. I thought Pepiot was too, but that sure changed. Now, I look at who’s next. The Dodgers have repeatedly said “another SP”. Most likely Cease or Bieber. To get them, they have to give up someone. So, who else is blocked from the major league? Cartaya is behing Rushing and Feduccia. Stone is behind Miller, Sheehan, Beuhler, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and eventually Ohtani. So, Cartaya and Stone for either Cease or Bieber is my guess. Two players off the 40-man, one on by trade, then still one spot for Kershaw.