Los Angeles Dodgers wish list this offseason
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost in the divisional round in 2019, so they will be looking to get farther in the postseason in 2020, so here’s their holiday wish list.
The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t won a World Series since 1988 despite reaching the Fall Classic two years in a row so things obviously need to change going into next season.
The Dodgers have one of the best offenses in the league, which includes the reigning National League Most Valuable Player in Cody Bellinger. That’s not to say that they won’t be looking to improve in that area this winter.
Manager Dave Roberts might have a great offense, but he can’t say the same about their pitching.
So, with that said, here is the Dodgers wish list this offseason.
1. Add to the bullpen
The bullpen ended up costing the Dodgers in the decisive Game 5 loss to the Washington Nationals. Clayton Kershaw was first out of the bullpen and gave up back-to-back home runs to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto to tie the game.
Joe Kelly gave up the grand slam to former Dodger, Howie Kendrick, and to make matters worse, Kenley Jansen, who is arguably the Dodgers best reliever and closer didn’t get in the game until it was already over. That tells you how much confidence Dave Roberts has in his closer.
So, it is clear that newly extended Andrew Friedman needs to make the bullpen a priority if he wants to get farther in October in 2020.
I believe that he needs to go get multiple arms but ones that are established and ones that are risks.
Some great options include Dellin Betances, Will Harris, Drew Pomeranz, and Fernando Rodney.
Betances proved in his tenure with the New York Yankees that he can pitch in the biggest moments of games, so he would work with the Dodgers, especially when they like the short term-high AAV type of deals.
Harris and Pomeranz pitched well for two postseason clubs this season, but believe it or not Harris might be the cheaper option, as Pomeranz could be this year’s Andrew Miller arm out of the relief market that can pitch in the high leverage situations.
Rodney is over 40, which might not be appealing to the Dodgers but he is one of those pitchers that seems like the will pitch until they’re 50.
2. Sign Anthony Rendon
Besides the bullpen, their only really big wish should be to get Anthony Rendon. They will have competition with teams like the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers, but Rendon and the Los Angeles Dodgers could be the best match in terms of what Rendon wants.
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Rendon has expressed that he doesn’t want a long term deal, and as I mentioned earlier the Dodgers actually prefer those shorter-term contracts with a high average annual value.
In fact, they tried to lure in Rendon’s former teammate Bryce Harper last winter with a shorter deal with an insanely high AAV. Although Harper wanted to be with one team for the remainder of his career, Rendon might decide otherwise.
Rendon would add to what would be the best lineup in the game, and the Dodgers will have no problem moving around their infield if Rendon does indeed come.
Justin Turner has already expressed that he is willing to move to first base for Rendon, and the Dodgers would have to split time between Max Muncy and Gavin Lux at second base if they don’t trade one of their infielders this winter.
3. Fill out the rotation
Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill are free agents this winter, and if the Dodgers can’t bring back Ryu then they will be forced to fill out the rotation.
Rich Hill has a higher probability of coming back so he could slot into the third spot in the rotation, and then it could be filled out with internal options such as Dustin May and Julio Urias.
Or they could go externally and bring in a big guy like Gerrit Cole to lead their rotation and set them up better for those short series in the postseason.
Next. Dodgers all decade team. dark
The rotation is the least of their worries, as they have plenty of internal options if both Hill and Ryu don’t return.