LOS ANGELES — Change is coming. It always is.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman admitted Tuesday that the Dodgers’ early exit from the postseason had caught him by surprise and left him sorting through the roster and plans for 2023 sooner than expected.
“We weren’t planning to start thinking about the ’23 team until later,” Friedman said.
“So now the question is – how can we best use this time? Use it wisely to do everything we can not to have this time next year.”
There are plenty of decisions to be made regarding a roster that produced the best regular season in Dodgers history – and the most disappointing postseason imaginable.
The first decision (chronologically) might be regarding the future of third baseman/DH Justin Turner. The Dodgers hold a club option on Turner for $16 million in 2023 (or a $2 million buyout). Teams have until five days after the conclusion of the World Series to act on options.
Turner will turn 38 next month and his 2022 season sent mixed signals. While his batting average (.278) was down and his slugging percentage (.438) and OPS (.788) were his lowest with the Dodgers, he was one of the best hitters in baseball from July on (.340 average and .926 OPS). Like most of his teammates, however, he disappeared in the National League Division Series (2 for 13).
“He’s been a huge part of our success. He’s been right in the thick of everything as long as I’ve been here,” Friedman said. “But answering definitely about what next year’s team is going to look like, it’s just really difficult right now. We’re gonna take time to meet as a group and really get into those things.”
There are potentially 10 free agents on whom the Dodgers have to make decisions. Shortstop Trea Turner will be the most sought-after. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw might be the easiest negotiation.
After a very uncertain winter, Kershaw signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers last spring and said playing would be a year-to-year decision from now on. The 34-year-old Kershaw finished the season healthy and said late in the year that he was “leaning” toward playing again in 2023. Friedman has made it clear the Dodgers want the three-time Cy Young Award winner back as long as he wants to continue his Hall of Fame career.
“From my standpoint, nothing has changed in that my strong hope is that Clayton Kershaw is pitching here next year,” Friedman said.
Cody Bellinger presents a dilemma for the Dodgers. His regression from NL MVP in 2019 continued into a third year this season and he was not in the starting lineup for two of their four NLDS games against the Padres.
In his final year of arbitration eligibility, the Dodgers might not be willing to absorb a salary approaching $20 million for an elite defender who has become one of the least productive hitters in baseball. They could make him a non-tendered free agent. That decision will have to be made by Dec. 2.
“That’s just not something we’ve discussed internally,” General Manager Brandon Gomes said. “Obviously, Belli’s had spurts of being really successful throughout the season. His elite defense has continued to be there and we still think that there’s upside. So those will be discussions we have moving forward as we look into what 2023 looks like.”
One free agent almost certain not to be re-signed is Craig Kimbrel. The veteran closer was unreliable for most of the season, was demoted to a lesser role down the stretch and then was left off the postseason roster. Friedman and Gomes said finding a defined closer this offseason will not be a priority.
Here is a look at the Dodgers’ current roster and their contract status:
• 1B Freddie Freeman – signed through 2027 ($27 million salary in 2023)
• OF Mookie Betts – signed through 2032 ($20 million salary in 2023)
• OF/IF Chris Taylor – signed through 2025 with a club option for 2026 ($15 million salary in 2023)
• IF Max Muncy – signed through 2023 with a club option for 2024 ($13.5 million salary in 2023)
• RHP Blake Treinen – signed through 2023 with a conditional option for 2024 ($8 million salary in 2023)
• RHP Daniel Hudson – signed through 2023 with a club option for 2024 ($6.5 million salary in 2023)
• C Austin Barnes – signed through 2023 with a club option for 2024 ($3.5 million salary in 2023)
• SS Trea Turner – free agent ($21 million salary in 2022)
• LHP Tyler Anderson – free agent ($8 million salary in 2022)
• OF Joey Gallo – free agent ($10.275 million salary in 2022)
• LHP Andrew Heaney – free agent ($8.5 million salary in 2022)
• RHP Tommy Kahnle – free agent ($3.45 million salary in 2022)
• LHP Clayton Kershaw – free agent ($17 million salary in 2022)
• RHP Craig Kimbrel – free agent ($16 million salary in 2022)
• RHP Chris Martin – free agent ($2.5 million salary in 2022)
• OF Kevin Pillar – free agent ($1.4 million salary in 2022)
• LHP David Price – free agent (expected to retire)
• SS Trea Turner – free agent ($21 million salary in 2022)
• 3B/DH Justin Turner – club option ($16 million or $2 million buyout)
• IF Hanser Alberto – club option ($2 million or $250,000 buyout)
• LHP Danny Duffy – club option ($7 million if exercised)
• RHP Jimmy Nelson – club option ($1.1 million if exercised)
• OF Cody Bellinger – arbitration eligible ($17 million salary in 2022)
• LHP Julio Urias – arbitration eligible ($8 million salary in 2022)
• RHP Walker Buehler – arbitration eligible ($4.25 million salary in 2022)
• C Will Smith – arbitration eligible ($730,000 salary in 2022)
• RHP Dustin May – arbitration eligible ($730,000 salary in 2022)
• RHP Tony Gonsolin – arbitration eligible ($720,000 salary in 2022)
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• OF Trayce Thompson – arbitration eligible ($700,000 salary in 2022)
• LHP Caleb Ferguson – arbitration eligible ($762,500 salary in 2022)
• RHP Yency Almonte – arbitration eligible ($1.5 million salary in 2022)
• IF Edwin Rios – arbitration eligible ($730,000 salary in 2022)
• RHP Brusdar Graterol – arbitration eligible ($720,000 salary in 2022)
• RHP Evan Phillips – under club control
• 2B Gavin Lux – under club control
• IF-OF Miguel Vargas – under club control
• LHP Victor Gonzalez – under club control
• LHP Alex Vesia – under club control
• RHP Phil Bickford – under club control
• RHP Ryan Pepiot – under club control
• RHP Andre Jackson – under club control
• LHP Justin Bruihl – under club control
• RHP Michael Grove – under club control
• OF James Outman – under club control