The Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series win established them as a dynasty in MLB, but they can still improve upon some areas in free agency this offseason.
The Dodgers’ bullpen struggled towards the end of the 2025 season, blowing countless leads as the postseason closed in. Dodgers relievers posted a 4.90 ERA during the final month of the season, which ranked third-worst in the National League and sixth-worst in MLB. LA actively avoided their conventional relievers in the postseason, largely relying on starters like Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki to come out of the bullpen for a big performance.
Despite their struggles out of the ‘pen, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reports the Dodgers are confident in the depth they have next season.
“It said everything about how hard the Dodgers’ bullpen fell in 2025, and yet it runs in stark contrast to the front office’s staunch belief at this moment, according to sources — that their bullpen depth should inspire confidence in 2026,” Gonzalez wrote.
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The Dodgers’ issues in the bullpen can certainly be attributed to injuries, as several key relievers spent time on the injured list this season. Brock Stewart, who the Dodgers acquired at the deadline, pitched just four times in his return to the Dodgers before landing on the IL, and Kirby Yates had three separate stints on the injured list. They also lost Evan Phillips for the season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in May and is likely to miss a large portion of 2026.
The bigger problem rested in the healthy players, though, as some of their go-to guys out of the bullpen severely underperformed.
LA brought in Tanner Scott last offseason, looking to add an elite closer to their ranks, but he wildly underperformed during his maiden season with the Dodgers. He featured in 61 games — the fourth-most on the team — and posted a 4.74 ERA while blowing 10 of his 33 save opportunities.
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Blake Treinen also massively underperformed last season after re-signing with the Dodgers, posting a 5.40 ERA in 32 appearances.
While some of their bigger names underperformed, the Dodgers still have plenty of promising players to pitch in relief, leading to their confidence in that area. Jack Dreyer, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia all maintained an ERA right around 3.00, and Edgardo Henriquez managed a 2.37 ERA through 22 games.
The Dodgers have plenty of reason to believe their bullpen can manage in 2026, especially after winning the World Series in 2025. With some arms returning and their promising pieces ready to go, they’ll have plenty of reinforcements in the ‘pen come next season.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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