After a season that was close to seeing them reach the World Series, the Dodgers ended up only taking the title of National League winners. Even with their star-studded roster, they still missed the mark.
However, with the new season approaching and the MLB odds swaying in their favor again already, what is their current situation?
Trevor Bauer
One of the biggest disappointments and scandals in recent Dodgers history is that of Trevor Bauer. Once one of the most feared and deadly pitchers in the game, Bauer has been on the sidelines due to numerous assault and domestic violence accusations.
Considering he was meant to be the player that took the Dodgers’ pitching to the next level, the fact that there is a very good chance he won’t ever play baseball again is a huge blow. While we can’t ignore the fact that what he did was terrible, the Dodgers put their faith in the wrong guy.
Reports are now coming out that it wouldn’t be in Dodger blue even if he were to play again. With the rest of their pitching team either too old or inexperienced, the likes of Walker Buehler need to step up.
Freddie Freeman
One piece of news that should set Dodgers off is the fact that current World Series champion, and all-around nice guy, Freddie Freeman, could be making his way to LA. While the Dodgers aren’t the only ones interested in the left-hander, they certainly have the money to tempt him.
Max Muncy is returning much slower than the Dodgers expected. Signing a big-hitter like Freeman will not only take the pressure off of Muncy, but when they are both fit and ready to play, they could prove to be a deadly duo with a bat in hand.
The Lockout
The lockout is proving much trickier to overcome than many would have expected. After weeks without any contact, the players’ union had their first meeting with owners since December 1st, and to say things didn’t go well would be an understatement.
While the discussions center around player pay, performance bonuses, arbitration, and players with a certain number of years under their belts, the discussions aren’t really going anywhere. While this past discussion was an hour, there is still no progress compared to the 7-minute long one before.
With Spring training set to start near the end of February, but Opening Day scheduled for the end of March, there is still more than enough time for a solution to be found; the sooner, the better.
Bonus Money
In this international signing period, the Dodgers have one of the lowest bonuses in the league. With a little off $4.5 million to spend, the Dodgers are near the bottom of the pile, along with the likes of the Oakland A’s, the Astros, White Sox, the Yankees, the Cubs, and a few others.
Considering the Dodgers signed 22 international players at the beginning of the season last year, it really is no surprise that they won’t be able to pull off the signing fiesta again. This could end up being a problem, as there are a few positions they would want to improve and shore up.
Opening Day Roster
There have also been many predictions for their opening day lineup and rotation. Walker Buehler is likely to start on the mound, with Julio Urias, Luis Castillo, Clayton Kershaw, and Andrew Heaney likely to be the starting rotation.
Gavin Lux, Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Mookie Betts are all likely to be on the field, with Trea Turner having an incredible 2021 season and not only one of the best Dodgers players but one of the best players in the league.
Turner will undoubtedly look to build on his 2021 season; being crowned an All-Star, he was part of the All-MLB Second Team, the NL Batting Champion, the 2021 stolen base leader, and gained his third Hit for the Cycle.
While the Dodgers are slightly precarious, they can very easily build on last season’s success. They have the players and the talent to dominate the National League again and go all the way to the World Series. We just have to wait and see what 2022 will bring.
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