Offseason Outlook: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have won the World Series in a row. They aren’t losing any major contributors to free agency, so they enter the winter with a very strong roster and the ability to further strengthen it.

Guaranteed contracts

• Shohei OhtaniRHP/DH: $560 million through 2033 ($68 million in salary deferred annually)
• Yoshinobu YamamotoRHP: $260 million through 2035 (deal includes multiple opt-out opportunities beginning after 2029 or any season he is traded)
• Mookie BettsSS: $235MM through 2032 (includes $40MM in signing bonus yet to be paid; $10MM in salary deferred annually in 2026-27, $11MM annually in 2028-32)
• Blake SnellLHP: $104 million through 2029 ($13.2 million in salary deferred annually; deal includes conditional club option for 2030)
• Will SmithC: $83.45 million through 2033 ($5 million salary deferred annually)
• Tyler GlasnowRHP: $81.5625 million through 2028 (2028 is either a $21.5625 million player option or a $30 million club option)
• Tanner ScottLHP: $56 million through 2028 (includes $15 million in signing bonus yet to be paid; $5.25 million in salary deferred annually; deal includes conditional option for 2029)
• Freddie Vrijman1B: $54 million through 2027 ($12 million in salary deferred annually)
• Tommy EdmanIF/OF: $52 million through 2029 (includes $3 million buyout on $13 million club option for 2030; $6.25 million in salary deferred annually)
• Teoscar HernándezOR: $33 million through 2027 (includes $6.5 million buyout on $15 million club option; deal also includes conditional 2029 option; $8 million in salary deferred annually)
• Blake TreinenRHP: $13.5 million through 2026 (including $2.5 million in signing bonus yet to be paid)
• Hyeseong KimIF/OF: $9 million through 2027 (includes $1.5 million buyout of $10 million two-year club option for 2028-29)

Other financial obligations

Option decisions

• Team has a $10MM club option on 3B Max Muncy without redemption
• Team has a $3.65 million club option on LHP Alex Vesia with a $50,000 buyout (Vesia would remain controllable via arbitration even if the option is rejected)

Guarantees for 2026 (assuming both options are taken up): $283.15 million ($127.7 million deferred)
Total future liabilities: $1.559 billion ($792.55 million deferred)

Arbitration-eligible players (service time in brackets; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

Non-tender candidates: Graterol, Gonsolin, Phillips, Banda, Stewart, Rortvedt, Grove

Free agents

The Dodgers are very willing to bet on talent and aren’t too concerned about injuries. That’s partly due to their virtually unlimited budget, which allows them to take risks that other clubs may not be able to afford. It’s also because the lineup is so good that they’re almost guaranteed to make the playoffs every year, which gives them the leeway to let their players get healthy instead of rushing them back during the regular season.

This has led to some inconsistency in how things end up when October rolls around. In 2023, they were in such disarray that they were swept out of the ALDS by the Diamondbacks. In 2024, the Dodgers had just enough rotation to win the title. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty And Walker Buhler were the three traditional starters, as the club relied heavily on the bullpen. That changed in 2025. The bullpen was depleted by injuries, but the rotation had Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell And Shohei Ohtani all healthy. Manager Dave Roberts tried to avoid his traditional relievers as much as possible. He often had his starters throw deep in games. In Game Seven of the World Series he used all four Ohtani, Glasnow, Snell and Yamamoto.

Going into 2026, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Dodgers focus on more pitching, but the rotation is actually in good shape. The four starters they used in the playoffs this year are all healthy and under contract. Roki Sasaki ended up in the bullpen due to a shoulder injury, but he could be stretched out again next year. Boys like it Emmet Sheehan, Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Landon Knack, Bobby Miller And Justin Wrobleski worked as both starters and relievers in 2025 and could be back in the mix for starts next year. Each of Kyle hurt, River Ryan And Gavin Stone spent 2025 recovering from surgery but should be a factor next year. Top prospect Jackson Ferris now has 33 Double-A games under his belt and should play in Triple-A next year.

Nick Frasso The end of 2025 hurt and his current status is unclear. Tony Gonolin likely won’t be tendered because he underwent internal brace surgery and will miss at least the first half of 2026, though the Dodgers can afford to pay him and hope for a late-season return if they so choose. Michael Grove missed all of 2025 due to shoulder surgery and could also be undrafted, though he could be controlled for three more seasons.

However it turns out, it’s an impressive collection of talent, even with Clayton Kershaw to retire. The club has been very active in adding pitching in recent seasons. After their aforementioned rough ending in 2023, they added Ohtani. However, he wasn’t an immediate upgrade to the staff as he was recovering from surgery at the time, so they added Glasnow and Yamamoto as well. This year they came to Snell.

With the depth suddenly looking overwhelming, the Dodgers may not be as aggressive in the free agent starting pitching market. In fact, there are so many names on the card that they could probably trade some of them, although they could also opt to hold on and just have a lot of depth in reserve for the inevitable injuries that will occur.