Dodgers News: Takeaways from the General Manager Meetings

LAS VEGAS, NV—The annual General Managers Meetings, which took place in Las Vegas this offseason, have offically concluded, and while we didn’t get any significant free-agent signings or trades (which were expected), we did get plenty of rumors and a sense of the direction the Dodgers are heading this winter.

So what did we learn from Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes, and what players or holes will the team try to acquire and fill?

Late-Inning Right-Handed Relief Option is Priority No. 1

A need carried over from last season for the Dodgers entering the 2026 offseason is their need for a late-inning right-handed option for the bullpen.

While in seasons past the team was able to rely on veteran right-hander Blake Treinen and the team taking a shot at right-hander Kirby Yates, that was not the case last season, with both pitchers having down seasons.

Andrew Frediman and Co. acquired right-hander Brock Stewart at the trade deadline as a way to rectify that need without trading away key prospects in the system as other teams did for top-end closers Ryan Helsley and Jhoan Durán, but that move ended up meaninglessness by October, with him undergoing season-ending right shoulder surgery.

The Dodgers aim to prevent another year of bullpen problems by expecting some players to improve or come back. However, they are also seeking to add a solid new option to their bullpen, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

The Dodgers are looking to add at least one high-leverage right-handed bullpen arm, league sources told The Athletic.

That rumor has proved to be true so far, as the team has already been connected to right-hander and former National League All-Star closer Devin Williams and former Tampa Bay Rays late-inning arm Pete Fairbanks.

However, fortunately for the Dodgers, there are multiple free agent right-handed bullpen arms available, such as Edwin Díaz, Robert Suárez, Raisel Iglesias, Ryan Helsley, Kenley Jansen, and Kyle Finnegan.

Díaz would be the most significant investment among that group, expected to have the biggest impact as one of baseball’s top-three closers. He is reportedly seeking a deal similar to his previous contract: a five-year, $102 million deal.

However, as he enters his age-32 season, teams might hesitate to offer five years because of his qualifying offer, which could cost the Dodgers a draft pick—something they’ve avoided in the past.

Finding a Solution for the Outfield

Entering the offseason, it has become evident that the Dodgers need to add another outfielder to their roster.

Their one-year prove-it deal for left-handed hitter Michael Conforto ended up backfiring hard for Los Angeles, as Conforto was one of the worst hitters in baseball with just an 83 wRC+ in over 400 plate appearances.

While the Dodgers re-signed fan-favorite and October riser Teoscar Hernández to a multi-year deal last winter, his below league-average defense was exposed last season on multiple occasions, especially in October.

The lone bright spot of the Dodgers’ outfield last season was the emergence of Andy Pages, who not only improved significantly on defense but also set career highs in home runs and RBI and was one of the team’s best hitters for most of the season.

With Edman undergoing offseason right ankle surgery, it remains uncertain as to whether he’ll be able to man center field during the 2026 season. While the team did add 27-year-old prospect Ryan Ward to the 40-man roster, it’s uncertain he’ll make the club or even be on the roster by the start of spring training.

The team has a multitude of options, whether through free agency (Tucker, Bellinger, Bader) or the trade market, with the team again connected to Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, who has two years of control remaining.

Kwan makes sense for several reasons, including defense, but he’s not the only outfielder on the trade block as the Dodgers could pivot to Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbar, or even Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox.

Kyle Tucker is not Los Angeles’ Top Need

As expected, the Dodgers are linked to another top free agent entering the 2026 offseason, which makes sense given that Kyle Tucker fits a significant need on the Dodgers roster.

Despite a “bad” second half of the season with the Chicago Cubs, Tucker is still on track for a significant payday, with multiple outlets projecting a 10-plus-year offer exceeding $400 million.

The Dodgers, who already have multiple ten-year-plus commitments, still have the financial flexibility to pull off a deal, but do they want to for a player like Tucker?

The answers so far from multiple MLB insiders, such as Jeff Passan, Alden Gonzalez, and Fabian Ardaya, have seemed to suggest that while the Dodgers will be connected to Kye Tucker’s market, they’ll be more on the outside of the sweepstakes.

While the Dodgers typically avoid signing free agents to contracts longer than 10 years, they have occasionally broken this rule for exceptional players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani is widely regarded as the top player globally, and Yamamoto, a 25-year-old ace, was an extraordinary case.

The latest player to obtain a long-term deal from Andrew Friedman was 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts. He agreed to a 12-year, $365 million extension following his acquisition from the Red Sox in the 2020 offseason.

Tucker is a skilled player, but he doesn’t have a highly distinctive profile as a free agent. The Dodgers might be willing to offer a five- or six-year contract with a substantial annual salary if Tucker prefers that route. Nevertheless, it’s likely that his agents will try to negotiate a ten-plus-year contract early in the offseason.

Roki Sasaki Will Return to the Starting Rotation

As the 2025 season approached, hype and pressure surrounded 23-year-old Japanese rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki, who was crossing the Pacific to join Ohtani and Yamamoto on the Dodgers.

Sasaki had a fluctuating first season in the States, struggling most of the 2025 regular season and also spending time on the injured list because of a right shoulder injury.

His rookie season was salvaged by the final month of the year, with the team needing reinforcements in the bullpen. Sasaki was the first man up for a role change heading into October.

Sasaki proved to be a key contributor in the bullpen, serving as the Dodgers’ de facto closer. He posted a 0.84 ERA over nine appearances and recorded three saves, a role he had never previously undertaken.

During the regular season, Sasaki compiled a 1-1 record with a 4.72 ERA, a 6.19 FIP, and a 1.49 WHIP over eight starts. Opponents posted a batting line of .225/.351/.411 against him, and Sasaki issued 22 walks in 34.1 innings.

Although Sasaki has shown promise in his new role, Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes stated at the General Manager Meetings in Las Vegas that Sasaki will go back to the starting rotation next season, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group.

Gomes reiterated that Roki Sasaki, one of the starters who emerged as a relief weapon, is “absolutely” going back to the rotation next season.

It remains uncertain where Sasaki will be placed in the starting rotation next season. With veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw‘s retirement, the rotation already has five confirmed spots filled by Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and potentially Emmet Sheehan.

You also need to account for right-handers Gavin Stone and River Ryan returning from injury, as well as left-hander Justin Wrobleski, who was developed as a starter in the minor leagues this season.

Regardless of the Dodgers’ decision, Sasaki will remain under team control for five full seasons before reaching free agency, as he was designated as an amateur international free agent last offseason.

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