Rating MLB general managers in 2021: The NL West

NL West GM rankings: No. 2 Andrew Friedman, Los Angeles Dodgers president

+4.3 WAA

The Dodgers were so statistically good – and Friedman did such a neat job of enhancing the product – that it’s hard to explain how they failed to overtake the Giants.

The team’s president – Friedman has no general manager – made 56 personnel moves impacting the major league roster. He hit on 29 of those – 52 percent – while missing on just 20 – 36 percent. With eight of those player moves, Friedman impacted the Dodgers by one full game or more, six of those eight times positively.

The team’s search for supplements to its already imposing rotation illustrates that point. That search began with the off-season signing of free agent Trevor Bauer (8-5, 2.59 in 17 starts, +2.1 WAA).

Then when Bauer was sidelined by a domestic violence allegation, Friedman acquired Max Scherzer (7-0, 1.98 in 11 starts, +2.11 WAA) as a high-end replacement part. In the process, Friedman also landed infielder Trea Turner (.338, .950 OPS, +2.5 WAA).

The long-term contract Mookie Betts (+2.4) signed with the Dodgers kicked in during 2021, as did an extension for Justin Turner (+1.6) and a new deal for reliever Blake Treinen (+1.4)

Friedman’s only true bungle was his late-October decision to make Kiki Hernandez a free agent. Hernandez (+3.0) left for Boston, where he became one of the heroes of that team’s push to the ALCS.

For the first time in several seasons, the usually mega-productive Dodger farm system largely failed Friedman. He called on 11 first-year players, all for supplemental roles, and they cost him a collective -3.2 WAA.