After years of aggressive activity on both the trade and free agent markets -- to say nothing of savvy drafting and player development -- the Dodgers stand alone on top of the MLB mountain. They erased a 5-0 deficit in Game 5 to topple the Yankees by a score of 7-6, securing the largest comeback ever in a clinching game. It's the eighth World Series win in Dodgers history and the fourth time they've topped the Yankees in the Fall Classic. Now, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and the rest of L.A.'s baseball operations outfit must turn their focus to a 2025 title defense.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH: $698MM through 2033 ($678MM deferred, without interest, through 2043)
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP: $270MM through 2035 (player can opt out after 2029 or 2031 seasons)
- Mookie Betts, OF/INF: $265MM through 2032 ($128MM deferred [$45MM signing bonus, $83MM of salary] through 2044)
- Tyler Glasnow, RHP: $111.5625MM through 2028 (includes $21.625MM player option for 2028)
- Freddie Freeman, 1B: $81MM through 2027 ($36MM deferred, without interest, through 2040)
- Will Smith, C: $96.45MM through 2033 ($45MM deferred through 2043)
- Chris Taylor, OF/INF: $17MM through 2025 (includes $4MM buyout of 2026 club option)
- Max Muncy, 3B: $12.5MM through 2025
- Tommy Edman, INF/OF: $9.5MM through 2025
- Ryan Brasier, RHP: $4.5MM through 2025
2025 commitments: $214.5MM ($93MM deferred)
Total long-term commitments: $1.565 billion ($887MM deferred)
Option Decisions
- Clayton Kershaw, LHP: $10MM player option
- Miguel Rojas, SS: $5MM club option ($1MM buyout)
- Austin Barnes, C: $3.5MM club option
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Dustin May (5.059): $2.135MM
- Michael Kopech (5.041): $5.2MM
- Brusdar Graterol (4.167): $2.7MM
- Tony Gonsolin (4.152): $5.4MM
- Evan Phillips (4.136): $6.2MM
- Gavin Lux (4.114): $2.7MM
- Alex Vesia (4.078): $1.9MM
- Connor Brogdon (3.139): $800K
- Anthony Banda (3.135): $1.1MM
Non-tender candidates: May, Gonsolin, Brogdon
Free Agents
- Teoscar Hernandez, Jack Flaherty, Blake Treinen, Walker Buehler, Joe Kelly, Kevin Kiermaier (retiring), Daniel Hudson (retiring)
As is often the case, the first "question" of the offseason for the Dodgers will center around the dugout. Dave Roberts, who's helmed the club for nine seasons en route to eight division titles, four National League pennants and World Series wins in 2020 and 2024, is slated to enter the final season of his contract. A change would register as a shock after Roberts' first World Series win in a 162-game season. An extension to avoid lame-duck status next year seems like it'll be in order, though it's possible that'll be held off until spring training. Broadly speaking, changes on the staff will likely be minimal, unless the Dodgers see a coach or coaches hired away for promotions on other staffs.
With regard to contractual options on the actual roster, there's not a lot of drama. Clayton Kershaw has already committed to returning to the Dodgers next season. Exercising his $10MM player option seems like the most straightforward means of making that happen, but perhaps the two parties will connect early to hammer out slightly different terms. Miguel Rojas' $5MM club option is a net $4MM decision when factoring in the $1MM buyout. After the season he just had, that should be a no-brainer, even if he's ticketed for a more limited role in 2025. Austin Barnes is an organizational favorite, but the Dodgers are deep at catcher. He's a borderline call, but maybe shelling out $3.5MM (and a presumptive 110% luxury tax) for a veteran backup isn't something the organization cares to do with Hunter Feduccia, Diego Cartaya and Dalton Rushing all on the the near-MLB depth chart.
Talk of Juan Soto will dominate the offseason, but we'll get to him in a bit. Starting pitching figures to be the primary focus for a Dodgers club that patched its staff together in the rotation and watched several young arms go down with long-term injuries. Righty Gavin Stone is likely out for all of 2025 following shoulder surgery. River Ryan, Kyle Hurt and Emmet Sheehan all had Tommy John surgery this season. Dustin May's return from flexor surgery was derailed by a bizarre and frightening tear in his esophagus that required surgery. Tony Gonsolin had Tommy John surgery last August and should be back in '25, but he'll be on an innings restriction. Walker Buehler and deadline pickup Jack Flaherty are free agents. Last season's breakout right-hander Bobby Miller endured a nightmare 2024 campaign, logging an 8.52 ERA in the majors and a 6.00 mark in Triple-A.
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Dodgers really do just need to bring back Buehler. His post season performances should have guaranteed that.
I was amazed at how well he played. Horribly overpaid but shut me up with WS performance!
Congrats to the Dodgers. Hoping for a rematch next year.
I’m hoping for a Boone-less Yankees next year….
We’ll be back next year stronger than this year
man 1.565 billion in commitments – that is nuts
Tells you how much money there is in baseball. Nobody seems to want to say it out loud.
There’s so much money that “small market” owners refuse to sell. It’s easy money for them. Invest nothing in the team, then put tens of millions of dollars in your pocket each year while crying poverty.
Now looking forward to the Dodgers spending another billion dollars on FA payroll signings, why not they brag they have the wealth to outspend most teams two times over, so a payroll of 300 to 400 million cannot be out of the realm of possibilities in this off season.
Not enough punishment to exceed the luxury salary cap. BTW, should also be a minimum salary cap to avoid being a team like the Athletics.
UWP – Of course it’s a matter of opinion, but a 110% penalty and loss of draft picks and loss of international bonus pool money are pretty stiff penalties.
Why do you think the Yanks didn’t sign Snell last offseason? Because they didn’t want to pay $63M for one year of his services, which is what it would have cost with all the penalties.
They’ll sign Soto or Burnes. Guaranteed.
“Soto or Burnes”..Burnes, Snell or Fried are much more likely. The Dodgers value defense and Soto just doesn’t have it. I can’t see Soto manning the expansive Dodger’s outfield. Besides, I doubt the Dodgers are looking for a full-time DH anyway, since they already have Ohtani.
As a Dodger fan, I would welcome Burnes.
Let Flaherty walk.
Too bad about Muncy and Taylor being player options. They should both go along with Barnes. You can add Kiki to that list too! BTW congratulations on winning the series!
Please re-sign Kike, Walker and Teoscar. These guy prove can perform very well in postseason, something that very rare in 2022-2023 postseason.
Also take Sugano and Sasaki since both of them would love play in west coast and LA.
I would love Willy Adames sign with LA also, but his postseason number was mediocre (.216 BA). So, if the price is right, sign him please AF
Thanks for all of these Offseason Outlooks, to you Steve and the whole staff. You all do a great job.
They’ve tried short term, very high AAV, offers to top FAs. Bauer accepted, Harper didn’t. They probably will try again, hard to predict if any9ne will go for it.