The Los Angeles Dodgers had a bittersweet taste in their mouths a year ago after being eliminated early from the postseason. Despite a decade of playoff appearances, they had only one championship to show for it. The NLDS sweep by the Arizona Diamondbacks fueled a sense of urgency to make significant roster changes. This led to a series of impactful offseason moves, including the signings of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the extension of Tyler Glasnow, and the addition of Teoscar Hernández. These moves paid off as the Dodgers went on to win their eighth World Series title in 2024.
As the new hot stove season begins, the mood is different with the Dodgers coming off a championship win. However, there is still a need for reinforcements to defend their title. Mookie Betts hinted at the victory parade that the team is motivated to repeat as champions, a feat not achieved since the 2000 Yankees.
Here are the five biggest questions facing the Dodgers as they aim to build a roster capable of repeating their success:
1. What are the potential ramifications of Mookie Betts moving back to the infield?
2. If Betts is indeed moving back to the infield full-time, how will the Dodgers fill out their outfield?
3. Which free-agent pitchers are most likely to be retained?
4. Is the rotation as currently constituted a strength or a weakness?
5. Who will end up being the biggest addition of the winter?
The Dodgers have a mix of veteran players hitting free agency and young talents looking to make an impact. The rotation is a mix of experienced arms and promising prospects, with uncertainty surrounding their ability to sustain a full season workload. The front office will need to make strategic moves to address these questions and ensure the team remains competitive in the upcoming season. The evolution of the Dodgers’ roster will be a key storyline to watch during the MLB offseason.