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“If you’re always rational about every free agent, you will finish third on every free agent.”

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman

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As fans of Major League Baseball know, the Dodgers did not finish third – or second – in their pursuit of Shohei Ohtani. The team stepped up BIG time to sign the best all-around MLB player of this generation – perhaps of any generation.

Box checked on Friedman’s to-do list.

And then last night it was reported that the Dodgers had acquired 30-year-old right-handed power pitcher Tyler Glasnow and 29-year-old outfielder Manuel Margot from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for 26-year-old right-hander Ryan Pepiot and 25-year-old outfielder Jonny Deluca.

Two more boxes checked.

Nonetheless, there remains significant needs for the Dodgers going forward in their preparation for the 2024 season. 

But even with the acquisition of Glasnow, who was initially selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of William S. Hart High School in nearby Santa Clarita, CA, rebuilding the pitching staff remains a work in progress.

Over the last couple of years, the Dodgers depth of pitching talent has been found wanting due to numerous injuries, most notably Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Daniel Hudson, Dustin May, Blake Treinen, and of course future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw; and the free agency losses of Tyler Anderson, Ryan Brasier, Andrew Heaney, Shelby Miller – not to mention the utter failure of 31-year-old free agent acquisition right-hander Noah Syndergaard (1-4, 7.16) and the off-field issues of 32-year-old right-hander Trevor Bauer and 27-year-old left-hander Julio Urias.

The next target for the team is right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the 25-year-old Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) phenom. The Dodgers are competing with teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies for Yamamoto, but they may have an advantage with Ohtani directly involved in recruiting efforts. It will not be a shock for Yamamoto to be in the Dodgers starting rotation for 2024.

Another NPB starting pitcher the Dodgers will likely consider is left-hander Shota Imanaga. With Kershaw’s shoulder surgery (coupled with his free agency) and free agent Urias’ likely persona non grata anywhere in the organization, a southpaw starter may be a priority acquisition target for Friedman.

With the trade of Victor González to the New York Yankees, the Dodgers will likely add another southpaw to the bullpen. Will the Dodgers make another free agent splash by signing Josh Hader, or will they explore the trade market for additional pitching help?

Should the Dodgers be forced to pursue starting pitching via the trade route, they are well positioned to include a couple of their top prospects for a difference-maker. The recent trade with the New York Yankees added left-handed-hitting shortstop/third baseman Trey Sweeney to the Dodgers prospect list makes 26-year-old infielder Michael Busch and/or 24-year-old utility infielder/outfielder Miguel Vargas more expendable for the right return. And the development of 22-year-old catcher Dalton Rushing into the team’s top prospect may make 22-year-old Dodgers Venezuelan catching prospect Diego Cartaya available.

The Dodgers and Miami Marlins seem like a good match for a trade. The Marlins have several southpaw pitchers and they continue to search for offense and catching help. While 26-year-old Marlins lefty starters Jesus Luzardo and Braxton Garrett may be classified as untouchable in trade discussions, 26-year-old lefty Trevor Rogers and 28-year-old left-hander AJ Puk may be available if the Dodgers do indeed offer Busch and Cartaya in return.

Next, we will consider position players and the bench for the roster.

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