The Los Angeles Dodgers inked their first free-agent signing of the winter Wednesday, bringing back clubhouse favorite Miguel Rojas on a one-year, $5.5 million deal. The move didn’t come as a surprise. Rojas stated at the end of last season that he’d like to play one more year before retiring, and given his high status amongst his peers, re-signing Rojas made sense.
With the Winter Meetings set to begin next week in Orlando, the Dodgers’ work is far from done. Addressing the bullpen is a top priority. The Dodgers are firmly in the mix on that front this winter, as always. But their relief pursuits, as of now, are trying to thread a tight needle. They want to be engaged on several of the top relievers available on the market, league sources said, but have tried to stick to shorter-term frameworks.
They were among the teams involved in Raisel Iglesias’ market before he re-signed with the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $16 million deal — the kind of deal that seems to fit the team’s desires. Los Angeles also floated the idea of a one-year deal with closer Ryan Helsley before he opted for a two-year, $28 million pact with the Baltimore Orioles, one that includes an opt-out after 2026.
And, most recently, the Dodgers were in hot contention to sign Devin Williams before he signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the New York Mets, sources said.
With those options off the board, what now?
The Dodgers’ bullpen received an uncharacteristic infusion of spending ahead of 2025 with the additions of Tanner Scott (four years, $72 million) and Kirby Yates (one year, $13 million), only for neither to throw a pitch during the team’s repeat title run and for the team’s bullpen to finish tied for 20th with a 4.27 ERA. So rather than dive back into the deep bullpen waters, they appear to be simply dipping their toes.
Los Angeles has also shown interest in former San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez, a source said, seeking to go for a shorter-term deal with a higher average annual value for the two-time All-Star (who has a 2.91 ERA over the last four seasons). Pete Fairbanks remains on the market at likely a lesser price than Suarez, but the Dodgers have not been engaged on that front.
Then there’s Edwin Díaz, the best reliever on the market, who, in addition to having a qualifying offer attached to him, is likely outside of the Dodgers’ desired range.
Rojas’ return to Los Angeles was expected, even if his role could shift depending on how the rest of the team’s offseason plays out.
The Dodgers’ bench during their World Series run was veteran-laden and righty heavy. The lone left-handed pinch-hit option the team had for much of October was backup catcher Dalton Rushing, which made for a setup that was far from ideal. A step forward from Hyeseong Kim offensively in his second year stateside would help. So would some progress from Alex Freeland, a switch-hitter who had a .601 OPS in 97 plate appearances in his first taste of the majors last summer.
It remains to be seen what path either has to regular playing time, especially with Rojas picking up occasional starts against left-handed pitchers and to spell Mookie Betts at shortstop, Max Muncy at third base and Tommy Edman (or others) at second base whenever necessary.
Injuries, of course, could change the calculus.
Then there’s the looming possibility of the Dodgers re-signing Kiké Hernández. The two sides are interested in a reunion, though that only further clogs some things up for the Dodgers’ bench plans going forward on paper.
There’s a delicate balance the Dodgers will have to figure out next season. On one hand, they clearly have a championship core intact. On the other hand, they had the oldest position player group in the majors a year ago and a deep farm system of potential young contributors.
“I think there’s the give and take of how do you get some of these younger guys in to get a taste and get their reps,” general manager Brandon Gomes said last month. “A lot of that ends up happening from injuries happening throughout the year, which then creates opportunity for guys to get their feet wet.
“Making sure we maintain a good group of young guys that are ready to come up and fill holes when necessary, and also balancing as we get into the season, are we making sure we’re having conversations with our guys of, maybe a day here and there isn’t the worst thing, and trying to work those in more.”
At this stage of the winter, it seems that, if the Dodgers are going to address their outfield, it will likely be on the trade market. Kyle Tucker still looms as the best available free agent, but the factors that made him an unlikely Dodgers target are still in play (and will be, barring a sudden crash in Tucker’s market).
The team has been connected to Cody Bellinger, whose versatility certainly makes him a fit, though the history between the two sides is hard to ignore. Bellinger endured the worst two seasons of his career before the Dodgers unceremoniously non-tendered him after the 2022 season. Bellinger, however, is believed to be open to a return to Los Angeles, a source said.
That leaves the Dodgers in a position to perhaps target some names that came up this past July. Harrison Bader, a free agent, was a past trade target. Los Angeles pushed until the final hours of the trade deadline to get a deal done with the Cleveland Guardians for Steven Kwan, but that never came to fruition. Cleveland’s grinding negotiating tactics, the club’s status as contenders and its need to add (not subtract) offense present similar hurdles for the Dodgers to get a deal done this winter.
The St. Louis Cardinals loom as one of the most intriguing teams in the marketplace, as one of the few teams clearly inclined to move big league talent, and with plenty of outfielders available. It’s a list that includes Brendan Donovan, a left-handed hitting utility man who could play left field and whom the Dodgers had interest in at the deadline.
That list could also include Lars Nootbaar, who has a career OPS+ of 109, has played all three outfield spots and hits left-handed. The 28-year-old will be coming off of double heel surgery that he underwent at the end of last season. His Opening Day timeline is in jeopardy, but even if Nootbaar is not ready at the start of the season, he should not miss more than a few weeks.
The Cardinals are beginning a rebuild and want to move at least one of their left-handed hitters. Donovan and Nootbaar are on the table, though the asking price on Donovan in particular is high. The Boston Red Sox, of course, could move an outfielder as well, with left-handed hitters Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu among players who have drawn interest from clubs.
Then there’s Byron Buxton, the best player at the position who could be moved, and holds a no-trade clause which could help him steer where he’d like to go, should the Minnesota Twins actually trade him.
Another reliever on the Dodgers’ radar, per a source: Evan Phillips, who the Dodgers elected to non-tender last month rather than pay him a projected $6.1 million in his final season of arbitration.
Since arriving in Los Angeles in a 2021 waiver claim, Phillips, 31, has been one of the better relievers in the sport, carding a 2.22 ERA in 201 appearances in a fireman role before undergoing Tommy John surgery this past summer.
The right-hander started his throwing progression shortly after the World Series, posting footage of himself playing light catch. He’s not expected back until midseason at the earliest, with Gomes saying last month, “We have to figure out exactly what that looks like.”
“He’s put in a ton of really good work along the way,” Gomes said. “His body looks great. He’s in great shape. And you don’t know what that looks like until guys get throwing.”