Last summer, the Los Angeles Dodgers preached patience at the Trade Deadline — and followed through with a measured approach. That restraint didn’t last long this offseason. Within a day of arriving at the Winter Meetings, the back-to-back World Series champions made a decisive move, agreeing to a three-year, $69 million contract with closer Edwin Díaz. The deal addressed the club’s most pressing weakness and reinforced a familiar theme under Andrew Friedman: if the right opportunity presents itself, the Dodgers won’t hesitate.
That philosophy has defined this front office for years, and Friedman acknowledged as much when asked whether more significant moves could follow. “I would say we definitely can,” he said Tuesday. “Whether that makes the most sense within the timing of our roster — there’s so many factors that go into it, and any decision you make has a future cost… Yes, we can. How likely it is is probably another question.”
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Why the Outfield Looms as the Next Frontier For the Dodgers
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Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
With Díaz anchoring the bullpen, attention naturally shifts to the outfield — arguably the weakest position group on an otherwise stacked roster. Teoscar Hernández’s name has surfaced in trade chatter, though general manager Brandon Gomes insisted moving him is “not something we anticipate at all,” even as the door remains open to positional adjustments.
Andy Pages offers flexibility across center and right field, but Tommy Edman’s recovery from ankle surgery clouds early-season certainty. Alex Call, Ryan Ward, and Esteury Ruiz provide internal depth, yet adding another reliable bat could lengthen the lineup and stabilize a defense that showed cracks in 2025.
As with the bullpen, Friedman once downplayed urgency before pivoting decisively. “I think we have a lot of talented relievers coming back next year and feel like it will be a strength,” he said prior to the Díaz signing, adding that if the team could “augment it and enhance it we will.” Ultimately, the Dodgers handed out the highest average annual value ever for a reliever.
Measured Words, Flexible Plans
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That same dynamic could play out in the outfield market. Los Angeles has been linked to marquee names such as Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker, while also monitoring trade options like Steven Kwan. Whether through free agency or a deal, the goal remains the same: marginal gains that matter in October.
“We’ve been very aggressive the last couple offseasons,” Gomes said. “There’s not as many clear paths to make the team meaningfully better… when it makes sense to be aggressive, we will.”
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The Bottom Line
The Dodgers don’t need sweeping changes to chase a three-peat. They know that. But history suggests opportunity, not restraint, ultimately dictates their moves. After striking quickly for Díaz, the message is clear: complacency won’t be the reason their title window ever closes.