Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Moves are coming hot and heavy in this first week after the World Series. And, when it all shakes out, your Los Angeles Dodgers might have a very different roster going into Spring Training than the one they finished the season with. Let’s look at what’s happened so far:
1. Dodgers decline the club option on JT
After signing Justin Turner to a two-year free agent deal after the 2020 season, the Dodgers had a club option for a third year, which they needed to exercise this week. The deal would have brought Turner back to the Dodgers at a price of some $16 million dollars. That was a bit too hefty of a price for a soon-to-be 38-year-old infielder with declining defensive skills. The Dodgers have declined to pick up that deal.
Now, this doesn’t mean that JT is gone for good. It only means that Turner is now a free agent, just as he was at the end of the 2020 season. There is the (strong?) possibility that Turner can be signed at a cheaper price and still finish his career as a Dodger. Let’s hope that happens. Still looking for JT to be able to celebrate a World Series win on the field with the rest of his teammates. Fingers crossed that that can still happen.
2. Anderson and Trea get qualifying offers
In more free agent news, both pitcher Tyler Anderson and shortstop Trea Turner were extended a qualifying offer for next season. Both players have until 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday of next week to either accept or decline the one-year, $19.65 million deal.
For Trea, there is virtually no way he accepts this offer, as it far undervalues his contributions on the the baseball field. Once he rejects the offer, he’s free to sign with whomever he pleases. And once again, it could very well end up being the Dodgers. Turner is one of the elite offensive players in the sport, so he’ll be looking for a big payday. Like a Corey-Seager $300 mil kind of payday. The Dodgers may decide that that kind of money is better spent elsewhere. We shall see.
As far as Anderson goes, the $19.65 million would more than double his 2022 paycheck, which is not a bad chunk of change. However, given his breakout year in Dodger Blue, he may have his eyes on even more dollars and more years in another uniform. Surely there is a lot to consider in Camp Anderson over the next few days.
3. No QA for Kersh
In a move that mirrored the 2021 off-season. The Dodgers did not give a qualifying offer to Clayton Kershaw. However, in this case it doesn’t indicate a lack of interest in having their veteran ace back again for 2023. Instead, it’s more a matter of courtesy. The team is willing to let Kershaw decide whether or not he wants to play again or whether or not he wants to come back to the Dodgers on his schedule with no league-imposed deadlines to worry about. All signs seem to be pointing to at least one more season in Dodger blue. It’s just a matter of Clayton, Ellen, and the Dodgers’ front office getting on the same page about the terms.
UPDATE: Late on Thursday, the Athletic reported that the Dodgers and Kershaw were inching closer to a one-year deal that would be pretty similar to the one that Clayton signed for 2022. We’ll keep an eye on that for you.
4. Hanser leads list of names who are not being picked up for more
In addition, there are some moves that have already been made earlier in the week. On Tuesday, both infielder Hanser Alberto and pitchers Jimmy Nelson and Danny Duffy were also cut loose, with the club opting not to pick up its option on these players as well. The Alberto move seems to indicate that the Alberto spot on the roster might be now taken by Miguel Vargas, who replaced him on the NDLS roster as well. I’m guessing the team thinks Vargas is big-league ready, although I can see him doing a bit of shuttling back and forth depending on the needs of the moment.
Nelson’s career as a Dodger never quite got off the ground. He made the team out of training camp in 2021, but spend most of the las two years on the IL, making only a handful of relief appearances over the last few years. If he could stay healthy (big if), Nelson might be a bargain-hunter’s dream in the off-season.
Duffy’s career as a Dodger was basically non-existent. After being picked up at the trade deadline from the Royals in 2021, Duffy spent his entire Dodger tenure on the IL. There were rumblings of his being activated late in 2022, but nothing ever came of it. So, he will join Cole Hamels and Hansel Robles in that trivia category of big-leaguers who signed with the Dodgers but never set foot on the Chavez Ravine grass.
We’re just getting started, folks…
There will be a lot more to say over the coming weeks as the Dodgers try to piece together a team that can go all the way next season. Obviously, a team that has won 111 games is in a good starting position, but that doesn’t mean they’re just going to play it safe this offseason. Watch this site for all the updates and info as we try to figure out together just what it all means for the future of our beloved team. It ought to get interesting.
But please, Andrew, no Carlos Correa!!
