Cody Snavely
With the non-tender deadline officially over, new free agents have been added to the pool, with some names standing out more than others. In typical Andrew Freidman fashion, there are now some new toys in the treasure chest the Dodgers can take a chance on.
Brandon Woodruff
Perhaps the biggest name to be non-tendered this offseason was Brewers star pitcher Brandon Woodruff. It has been a stressful two seasons for Woodruff, who missed significant time in 2023 due to a shoulder injury, which was ultimately reaggravated before the 2023 postseason. This shoulder issue would, unfortunately, need to be repaired by surgery, putting his 2024 season in serious doubt.
If Woodruff is sidelined for the 2024 season, the Dodgers could look into a two-year deal allowing the right-hander to rehab all of 2024 and make a comeback in 2025. With the Dodger’s current rotation in flux, the team’s outlook of baring any big moves this winter does not bode well either, with Walker Buehler set to become a free agent after the 2024 season. The Dodgers, who are always looking ahead, could get Woodruff to replace Buehler if he were to leave.
Woodruff has had an under-the-radar career in Milwaukee, posting a 3.10 ERA and 788 SO in 680.1 IP. However, from 2021 to 2023, he made 68 starts, playing over 150 innings in those seasons other than this year due to his shoulder. However, the team currently has their own star-free agent in a similar situation to Clayton Kershaw, who also went under the knife for his shoulder surgery, likely putting his 2024 season in doubt. While the team could sign both, I imagine they will only want one guy to let rehab and hope for 2025 success, and my guess would be Kershaw.
Nick Senzel
Another shocking move this offseason was the Red non-tendering former second-round pick Nick Senzel. While Senzel is no longer the star player that the Reds hoped he would be, the Dodgers could use another platoon bat for the infield if they decide to move away from other options in Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch.
Looking at the numbers, it is not hard to see why the Reds moved on from Senzel, as he has under-league-average numbers for most, if not all, of his offensive categories. In 2023, Senzel posted a .239 BA, .671 OPS, and OPS+ at 85. However, a silver lining to these numbers was Senzel’s OPS against lefties, which was 1.008 last season. Perhaps the Dodgers could work on something with Senzel, possibly with a minor-league contract.
The Dodgers were not exactly juggernauts with their right-handed batters last year, and with the team looking into Shohei Ohtani, who bats left-handed, they’ll need more options from the right side.
