The Dodgers had to work for that second title. They needed to win their last two games on the road and were two outs away from ceding the crown to the Toronto Blue Jays. Two extra-inning games – a marathon 18-inning Game 3 and a thrilling 11-inning Game 7 – proved to be the difference as the Dodgers emerged victorious in both.
The Dodgers are also in impressive form heading into the offseason. Their core will return intact. A deep farming system, coupled with an ownership group with a willingness to spend as much as necessary to win, will ensure the Dodgers remain one of the favorites to take home the championship for years to come.
Three questions facing the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into the offseason
1. Is Roki Sasaki the Dodgers closer to the present and future?
Sasaki was one of the most ballsy prospects from Japan in recent memory. Instead, he struggled to draw in the United States, posting a 4.72 ERA and 1.485 WHiP over 34.1 innings. as a starterstriking out 24 batters with 22 walks before being retired due to a right shoulder impingement. After a pair of late-season relief appearances, Sasaki emerged as one of the Dodgers’ more reliable relievers in the postseason, taking over the closer role as he posted an 0.84 ERA and a 1.031 WHiP in 10.1 innings.
Sasaki liked the closer role, his fastball speed returned and his splitter was more effective. Sasaki would be a cost-effective option for the ninth inning if the Dodgers want to go that route. However, with closers like Edwin Diaz and Pete Fairbanks available in free agency, the Dodgers can look to add a proven product and see if Sasaki can succeed as a starter in the United States.
2. Is Tarik Skubal going to Los Angeles?
The Detroit Tigers ace is under team control for another year. While the Tigers may want to keep Skubal in Detroit, so can the two sides up to $300 million apart in expansion talks. As such, the expectation is that the Tigers will look to trade their asset this offseason to maximize their returns.
Realistically, the Dodgers don’t need Skubal. Their rotation consists of a formidable quartet with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. However, the Dodgers have done that too the highest ranked agricultural system in baseball. They may be able to make the Tigers an offer they can’t refuse, giving the Dodgers the best rotation in the Majors in years.
3. Will the Dodgers target Kyle Tucker to fix their outfield?
The Dodgers have two of the best outfield prospects in baseball: Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope. in 13th and 20th placeby MLB.com respectively. Neither player is close to the majors in terms of development, making the outfield the biggest question mark for the Dodgers.
In theory, the Dodgers have part of the outfield equation in Tommy Edman. While valuable as a utility man, Edman could take over the role of primary midfielder. Teoscar Hernandez could play either corner in the outfield as Ohtani is locked in as the DH.
Adding Tucker, who posted a .266/.377/.464 batting line with 22 home runs and 25 doubles with 25 steals over 597 plate appearances, would lengthen the lineup and improve their defense in right. The Dodgers are looking to build a juggernaut and continue their World Series run and Tucker could be the piece to put them back over the top.
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