In the final analysis, they won on each front: starting pitching, relief pitching, and hitting.
And thanks for the memories to LA Dodgers 2018. It was a rough season of injuries but they managed to pull together enough pieces to make a run all the way to the World Series.
What is 2019 looking like?
Starting pitching:
Buehler – the new #1
Hill – solid competitor, veteran presence, the number 2 starter
Kershaw – he can opt-out but am thinking Dodgers will extend him a couple of years at reduced cost, but clearly his health issues will need to be looked at carefully and he may need to adjust his pitching style. Perhaps, needs to pick up a fourth pitch? He is now the #3 starter
Ryu – how much effort to make to re-sign him for a couple more years?
Urias – he might be ready to start next year?
Stripling – did he run out of gas but could he return to starting next year or train to be a set-up guy? Maeda – might be time to move him? Long contract might make it hard to move him though.
Wood – might be time to move him?
Relief pitching
Jansen – remains the closer but will be watched more closely regarding work load
Baez – closer in training
Ferguson – will he move to starting? Or train to be a set-up guy?
The rest of the relief corp is a mixed bag. Don't think anyone is a "must keep." Clearly, Dodger relief was outmatched by the Red Sox. This area may require a little more resourcing.
Position players
Barnes (C) – keep, is Ruiz ready from the minors?
Grandal (C) – time to let go, too much of a lightening rod, is Ruiz ready from the minors?
Freese (1B) – keep, need veteran presence and still productive
Muncy (1B) - keep
Dozier (2B) – keep? he played injured, could he be more productive if recovered?
Turner (3B) keep
Machado (SS) – clearly a rental - he will get big $ somewhere else
Seager (SS) – hope he will be fully recovered
Bellinger (1B, OF) - keep!
Hernandez (OF, 2B, SS) - keep?
Kemp (OF) – his contract is big so maybe deal him to AL so he can DH and occasionally play OF? However, the contract might be too big to move? Is Verdugo ready to move up from the minor leagues?
Pederson (OF) - keep?
Puig (OF) - keep, he came through big on a few occasions, is his contract up for renewal?
Taylor (OF, SS, 2B) – keep?
The 25?
- Barnes (C)
- Ruiz or other minor league prospect (C)
- Freese (1B)
- Muncy (1B)
- Dozier (2B)
- Turner (3B)
- Seager (SS)
- Bellinger (OF, 1B)
- Hernandez (OF, IF)
- Pederson (OF)
- Puig (OF)
- Taylor (OF, IF)
- Verdugo (OF)
- Buehler (SP)
- Hill (SP)
- Kershaw (SP)
- Ryu (SP)
- Urias (SP)
- Stripling (SP)
- Jansen (RP)
- Baez (RP)
- Ferguson (RP)
- TBD (RP)
- TBD (RP)
- TBD (RP)
UPDATE:
Additional thoughts - what if the front office decides to "blow up the team" and try to move some of the players out?
Certainly, I don't think any of the relief corp is "safe" beside Jansen, Baez, and Ferguson. Some might be harder to move due to contract issues but I suspect the rest are on the table.
For the starting pitchers, I think Wood and Maeda showed that down the stretch they ran out of gas and might be moved out. If Ryu fetches a high price in the open market, I think the Dodgers won't match it and will let him go. Dodgers might need to get a top level starter to be part of a new 1-2 punch along with Buehler. Hill and Kershaw would be the wily veterans as the #3/4 starters. Urias would be the #5. Everyone else would be on the table to be moved.
Of the platoon players:
Left handed bat: Bellinger, Pederson, Muncy
Right handed bat: Hernandez, Kemp, Puig, Taylor
Who do you keep?
My feeling of this group Bellinger is probably the only "untouchable" since he is the one with the biggest up-side as a Rookie of the Year in 2017 and finding his way in 2018. He is only going to get better in 2019.
If you want to keep a defensive specialist with versatility, keep one or the other of Taylor and Hernandez. The rest would be on the table to be moved.
Of course putting somebody on the table to be moved doesn't mean they will get moved. You don't "give" players away in bad trades. Don't know if any are up for arbitration or free agency. In the case of free agents, I think Puig is in that category. How much do you want to pay to keep him?
Right handed bat: Hernandez, Kemp, Puig, Taylor
Who do you keep?
My feeling of this group Bellinger is probably the only "untouchable" since he is the one with the biggest up-side as a Rookie of the Year in 2017 and finding his way in 2018. He is only going to get better in 2019.
If you want to keep a defensive specialist with versatility, keep one or the other of Taylor and Hernandez. The rest would be on the table to be moved.
Of course putting somebody on the table to be moved doesn't mean they will get moved. You don't "give" players away in bad trades. Don't know if any are up for arbitration or free agency. In the case of free agents, I think Puig is in that category. How much do you want to pay to keep him?
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