Cody Snavely
This past weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers held their yearly fanfest, rebranded this season as DodgersFest. The event had 35,000 Dodgers fans, with appearances from numerous players, meet and greets, interviews, and photo ops.
While the event was free in the past, this season, the Dodgers decided to change it to a $10 fee, and all other proceeds would go to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. However, with Spring Training less than a week away, we got news and updates on all things Dodgers.
Looking back at 2023
The 2023 season was a special one for the Dodgers. While they did not accomplish their ultimate goal, many young players made their mark and will be no-brainers to make the roster this year.
The two rookies who stood out the most were James Outman and Bobby Miller, who contributed significantly to the Dodgers’ regular-season success. Outman, particular, had huge shoes to fill with the uneventful departure of fan favorite Cody Bellinger.
James put together an outstanding campaign, hitting a slash line of .248/.353/.437, an OPS of .790, and an OPS+ of 112. After a hot start in April and May, Outman hit a wall during the dog days of summer but eventually hit his footing again to round out the season.
Bobby Miller is a name we Dodgers fans have heard over the past two seasons. In 2022, we got the first real taste of the young star as he struck out now-current teammate Shohei Ohtani in one of the two exhibition games before the official season.
Miller was an anchor in the Dodgers’ rotation who was desperate for arms. Like Outman, Miller put up great numbers for a rookie, going 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA, 119 SO, and 116 ERA+ over 142.1 IP. While the Dodgers have revamped their starting rotation with the additions of Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, expect Miller to be the 3rd or 4th starter for year two.
However, as good as the Dodgers were in 2023, we all know how it ended in October, and Max Muncy and Mookie Betts also remember that fate. Mookie Betts was asked about the 2023 season and how it ended. Betts had this to say:
At the end, I let up. I didn’t play well in the Playoffs. That ate at me more than people think. Just because I don’t voice it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t eat at me. My goal now is to complete the season.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy shared a similar sentiment, simply stating the team “blew it.” With what the team has done throughout this Winter, the players know what is at stake and how they need to prove it come this October.
Update from the farm system
During the 2023 season, the Dodgers had plenty of help from their minor-league players. The Dodgers system is filled with high-end pitching talent that will no doubt make an impact at some point in 2024. However, one arm that the Dodgers will likely not see is the #80 ranked prospect in the MLB, Nick Frasso.
Frasso, projected to debut during the 2024 season, will now miss most, if not all, of 2024, recovering from labrum surgery in November. During the 2023 season, Frasso went 4-6 with a 3.77 ERA and 107 SO in 93 IP. Frasso, who suffered the injury towards the end of the year with OKC, looks forward to his recovery to help the team out soon.
Another big arm is Emmet Sheehan, who the Dodgers used extensively through the minor and major leagues in 2023. In his own words, Sheehan, who will no doubt be a big part of the Dodgers’ pitching plans, “does not know what his role is.”
The Dodgers used Sheehan in the rotation and the bullpen as a “piggyback” arm for Kershaw as he recovered from the IL with his shoulder injury. With Walker Buehler likely being put in a delayed start, expect Sheehan to start the season in the starting rotation, but even that isn’t a given.
Other arms in the minors, such as Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, and Kyle Hurt, are all expected to impact the Dodgers this upcoming season. Whether that is in the bullpen or starting rotation remains to be seen. Knack is the only starter of that trio not to make it to the big leagues yet, and with this upcoming season being his age, 26 years, expect the Dodgers to bring him into the fold.
On the offensive side of things, few candidates are yet to make an impact. Dodgers minor league OF prospect Andy Pages is the likely choice, but since he missed nearly all of 2023 with shoulder surgery, expect him to spend most of the year in the minors.
Dodgers catching prospects Dalton Rushing, Diego Cartaya, and Hunter Feduccia are likely options. After a disastrous season in 2023, Cartaya will likely spend most of his time in the minors as he works on his offense production. Rushing, now the Dodgers’ #1 ranked catching prospect, will likely not make the big league team in 2024 due to his age. Feduccia is the most realistic option as he is entering his age 26 season.
Is Walker Buehler’s season to be delayed?
Dodgers ace Walker Buehler, who missed the 2023 season recovering from his second career TJS, is expected to be delayed for the 2024 season.
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts and General Manager Brandon Gomes were asked about Buehler, each indicating they are expected to take things slowly. However, do not expect more than a few weeks, as the Dodgers do not indicate putting Buehler on the 60-day IL.
Buehler, who tried to return at the end of last season, is now expected to be “slow-played,” in Gomes’s words. The Dodgers, who revamped their rotation and have plenty of pitching depth sprinkled throughout the minor leagues, will be in good shape until Buehler returns, which I would guess is sometime in May.
Will Ohtani be ready for Opening Day?
The star of DodgerFest was undoubtedly Shohei Ohtani, the 10-year $700 million two-way star. This was the first time Ohtani appeared to the media since his introduction conference and the first time with fans in attendance.
Ohtani has been hard at work at Dodgers Stadium, getting ready for the upcoming season and rehabbing his throwing arm. However, there is some risk that he may not be ready by the Opening Day series in Korea.
Ohtani put these concerns to bed, stating he is “very confident” he’ll be DH’ing for the Dodgers when they open the season overseas. According to Ohtani, he is right on schedule on the hitting side of things and will start hitting higher velocity pitching when the Dodgers report to camp next week.
Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes shared the same thoughts, stating Ohtani will be somewhat limited during the Spring but is expected to be a full go by the time the team heads to Korea. In terms of his throwing, Ohtani will likely be ready for the 2025 season, but Dave Roberts hinted at the possibility of placing Ohtani in the OF by the season’s end if it called for it.
Dodgers bullpen candidates
One area that the Dodgers have not touched much this Winter has been the bullpen. While the team rationed fan-favorite Joe Kelly to a 1-year $8 million deal, not much else has changed.
The Dodgers are also taking a chance on three injury-plagued players, Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen, and J.P. Feyereisen, hoping they can rebound and make the club.
Feyereisen is expected to be a full participant in Spring Training and even throw a bullpen before the start of DodgerFest. He was picked up after being released by the Rays last offseason and missed all of 2023 with shoulder recovery.
Daniel Hudson, who will be turning 37 in March, is coming off nearly two lost seasons after an ACL injury in 2022 and an MCL injury in 2023. The Dodgers declined the $6.5 million club option on Hudson in November but decided to bring him back on a minor league deal. Hudson can opt-out if he does not make the team’s MLB roster.
Blake Treinen is similar to Hudson in that he has missed significant time with injuries over the last three seasons. The Dodgers surprisingly picked up his club option in November, but it was reportedly an estimated $1 million.
Of these three options, if the Dodgers even hit on one, it would be a bargain for the bullpen, which is considered a strength for the Dodgers as they head into the 2024 season.
60-day IL/ 40-man roster situation
One topic that all eyes have been on for the Dodgers in their current 40-man roster situation. Throughout the Winter, the Dodgers have had to shuffle around their 40-man roster with every signing/trade to make room for the acquired players.
After the team officially announced the James Paxton signing, the Dodgers’ 40-man roster is full, which means if they sign any more players, they will have to make a corresponding move. However, a pivotal date to remember is February 8th, as that is when the 60-day IL opens up.
Once the 60-day IL opens up, the Dodgers will move Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Nick Frasso on it, removing them from the 40-man. This is also a period when I suggested that the Dodgers would also re-sign Kershaw, placing him on it.
However, once Spring Training starts, the Dodgers will have at least three new roster spots for potential players, making a possible reunion with Enrique Hernandez or another pitcher more feeable.
Conclusion
With DodgerFest finally over, the Dodgers have their eyes set on Spring Training, with pitchers and catchers offically reporting on February 9th and position players on the 14th. Be sure to follow us here at DodgersBeat as we prepare to break down the roster for our player/position previews.
If you couldn’t attend DodgerFest, be sure to check out our YouTube channel, as the Bleed Los Podcast crew was hard at work getting inside access with player interviews and more.
