Dodgers Interview: Gomes Focused on What the Team Can Control
CAMELBACK RANCH, AZ — The Dodgers come into Spring Training with outsized expectations brought on by their star-studded lineup. And everybody knows it. When GM Brandon Gomes met the media on Sunday, he sounded upbeat about the talent and the mood around camp, but his answers kept circling back to the same priority: build up smart, stay focused, and have the group ready for the long season.
“A lot of stuff to look forward to,” he said to reporters. “I feel really good about the team again coming into the year and putting ourselves in a good position to go out and compete for another World Series. Group of guys, it’s a good vibe right now, and full camp starting here soon. Really excited about it.”
Even on a veteran lineup like the Dodgers have, there’s always uncertainly as winter gives way to spring. When asked if there were any pressing questions that needed to be answered, Gomes didn’t take the bait. “A lot of it is just continuing to make sure our guys stay in a good place health-wise,” he said diplomatically. “Obviously we started as early as we could and ended as late as we could, which was awesome. Now it’s just making sure we’re being smart with the buildup and guys are ready to take on another long season.”
As for a “World Series Hangover,” Gomes was optimistic while acknowledging the possibility. “We did okay last year,” he said, but then added, “I wouldn’t say we played our best baseball all year, but a lot of it is coming in making sure our guys are focused. It’s incumbent upon all of us to mind the little things and make sure the attention to detail is there so there is no drop-off in intensity.”
Gomes said the main focus of the front office and the coaching staff would be on the mound. “Just making sure our starters are building up the right way, making sure guys are progressing well and coming out of each pen and live and game feeling in a good place. The camp is a little bit longer compared to what we’ve had the last few years, so we have more wiggle room to give a guy some time here and there if need be. The benefit of the WBC, beyond some exciting games, is a longer spring for us and not starting so early, so there’s a little bit of wiggle room built in for guys getting ready.”
As far as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the other Dodgers who are participating in the WBC this year, Gomes admitted that it “adds a wrinkle” But he didn’t seem too concerned with the early ramp-up. “For Yama, he’s a total pro and is prepared incredibly well. We’ll make sure we’re getting him ready as well as we can leading up to that. He’s done it before. Just putting him in a good position, making sure he feels good along the way. He may be a tick more sped up to go and compete, but using those outings as a buildup towards the regular season is helpful.”
Things are more in flux with Shohei Ohtani, Gomes explained. “I think a lot of it is going to be having the conversation and what is available. The part of Sho is that there’s nobody else that does what he does. There’s not a whole lot we can say, “We’ll plan on X, Y, or Z.” It’s the conversation and what resources are available. The nice thing is whatever he is built up to is only beneficial. We’re not going to put too much emphasis on the beginning of the season, and we’ll just make sure he’s prepared for the long haul.”
The third Japanese star, Roki Sasaki came into camp with a focus on developing a third pitch to complement his fastball and splitter, but Gomes didn’t care for the suggestion that it’s been a “problem” for him. “He’s fully capable of it,” the GM said. “We’ve seen a lot of really good stuff: the sinker, the cutter he’s throwing. In the past, you have the fastball and split that are incredibly dominant. Last year, I don’t think he was ever really in a great spot health-wise until the end of the year. All the stuff we’ve seen so far, he’s looked really, really good. The bullpens have been exceptional, the pitch movements. He’s throwing the cutter, sinker. He has an expanded arsenal. If he’s executing the fastball and split the way he’s capable of, with what he’s done in the past, it’s an amazing foundation. Anything on top of that is going to make things more challenging for opposing hitters.”
Gomes described Sasaki as having had a “period of adjustment” in 2025, but felt that all the challenges and been met and overcome, adding “I’m really pumped to see Roki out there today.”
As far the the two Dodgers who were just signed this week, Kiké Hernandez and Evan Phillips, Gomes was optimistic, but new that it would take a while before either of them is activated. Hernadez, he said, “is progressing well. He should be starting swinging here pretty soon. We’re going to be really mindful of how we progress into this and make sure when he comes back he’s not only healthy, but healthy and ready to perform.”
Phillips was pretty much in the same basket. “Sometime mid-season,” Gomes said when asked about the reliever’s timetable for return. “It all depends on how the buildup goes and if there are any slowdowns or hiccups once he gets going into the mound progression and the full TJ stuff. He’s feeling really good. Throwing looks great. Body looks great. Viewing him almost like a trade deadline acquisition, in some way, shape, or form, is kind of how we have it in our heads.”
When the topic shifted to how rival stars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have talked about the Dodgers’ spending and operations, Gomes credited the organization’s foundation more than anything. “Incredible support from ownership, like we’ve always had,” he said, which puts them “in the position to address the needs that will help us… try to win another championship.” He acknowledged the Dodgers brought in “two really high-end talents on big contracts,” but noted “there’s competitive markets,” and said those players choosing L.A. “speaks to the culture” the coaching staff and players have built.
Gomes made it clear he’s not chasing compliments from outside. “I don’t really pay any attention to that at all,” he said when asked if it’s nice to hear less complaining. And when a follow-up tried to frame praise as validation, he turned it back to the only measuring stick he cares about. “We’re not looking externally for validation,” Gomes said. “Validation is winning championships and putting out as good of teams as we can each and every year. All we’re trying to do is get a little bit better each and every season… Good, bad, or indifferent, the external stuff is stuff we can’t worry about.”
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