Dodgers News: Two Titles, One Strategy: Dodgers Veterans Scale Back Spring Workload
With heavy workloads the past two years, Los Angeles is managing its veteran roster carefully throughout Cactus League play.
GLENDALE, AZ—Over the first week of Cactus League play, the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup has looked a bit thin in the star player department, with multiple key veteran players yet to appear in any games.
While most pitchers who are in the running for the bullpen or starting rotation have already appeared in a game, the position player side of things has been a different story.
However, that is not a coincidence, as many veteran players came into spring training this season looking for a bit more of a “normal” spring training build-up, with players such as Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman playing little or not at all this past week.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the same thing when asked about Mookie Betts’ whereabouts, stating that there’s a reason why Betts and other veterans haven’t been seen as often as they were in previous camps.
“It’s not load management and just kind of, you know, I wanted Mookie to kind of start a little bit later as far as not getting into spring training ready to go and kind of use spring training to build up given it’s six weeks, so he’s building up nicely, so he’ll be in the lineup soon.”
Muncy, who is entering his age-35 season, also shared the plan he and other players on the team have shared after coming off back-to-back deep October runs after making his debut earlier this week.
“For a lot of us coming off back-to-back World Series, just trying to prioritize rest over the offseason,” Muncy said. “That was a conversation that was had with several people.
“…It was kind of ‘Give your body as much rest as possible. We’ll start ramping up a little later than normal.’ As a result, we’re just not ready for the first week of games. But we’re still scheduled to get more than 50 at-bats, which is definitely plenty to get ready.”
Most of the team’s veterans will stay at the Dodgers’ camp during spring training, with only four MLB roster players participating: Edwin Diaz, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Hyeseong Kim. With the majority of their veterans present, the Dodgers — having the oldest position player core in MLB — can increase their training intensity at a pace they determine appropriate.
Still with the ones who remain, it’s expected that Freeman and Muncy will alternate playing days for now, and Mookie Betts is expected to make his 2026 debut likely on Sunday.
In the meantime, multiple non-roster invitees and top prospects will get their opportunity to shine, with veterans getting time off, along with the start of the WBC next week.
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