San Francisco’s outfield has been lacking star power. A top free agent fits the bill for the Giants, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
“[Kyle] Tucker falls in that interesting bucket where he will rightly demand a contract in excess of $300 million, but the number of teams willing to pay that will limit his options,” Passan wrote in a recent column. “The [Los Angeles] Dodgers and Giants make sense, as do the [Philadelphia] Phillies.”
Tucker is not expected to re-sign with the Chicago Cubs after being traded there last offseason by the Houston Astros. The Giants reportedly were one of the teams in trade talks with the Astros to acquire him at that time.
Tucker, a four-time All Star, has made just over $57 million in career earnings in his eight years of MLB service, according to Spotrac.
As Passan wrote, Tucker’s performance warrants a large, long-term contract. The Giants have become increasingly willing to sign such contracts, as evident with Matt Chapman’s extension, Willy Adames’ free-agent signing and the trade for Rafael Devers, who has a lucrative long-term contract.
Tucker, who will turn 29 before the start of next season, provides left-handed hitting which the Giants have been searching for in past years.
Last season with the Cubs, Tucker got off to a scorching start, batting .291 with 17 home runs in his first 83 games played. However, a hairline fracture in his hand hampered his production for the rest of the season. He hit just .225 in his final 53 games.
In addition to bolstering outfield depth, the Giants will need to rebuild a depleted bullpen. That need might become a factor in their determination of how much they can budget on a star position player like Tucker.
As it always seems, San Francisco will need to compete with the rival Dodgers as well in pursuit of landing the star.
Right-handed hitters. Phillies fans might get sick of hearing how much the organization values adding them this offseason.
Wednesday — the day before free agency opened — offered another example. On MLB Network’s Hot Stove, Jon Morosi reported that the Los Angeles Angels are considering trading outfielders Jo Adell and Taylor Ward, adding that there’s a “better than 50-50 chance” one of them gets moved. And yes, the Phillies were the team highlighted that could swing a deal.
"I would say a better than 50/50 chance they move one of their significant veteran outfielders."
Adell, 26, was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2017 and one of baseball’s most hyped prospects before injuries and inconsistency stalled him. From 2020–23, he never played more than 88 games in a season. In 2024, he finally earned a full-time role in right field, hitting 20 homers among 37 extra-base hits but finishing with a .207 average.
A year later, everything clicked. Adell quietly turned in one of baseball’s most underrated seasons at the plate – 37 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a .236/.293/.485 line for a .778 OPS, finishing fourth in the American League in homers.
The advanced numbers backed it up. His .565 expected slugging, 17.3% barrel rate, and 77.6 mph bat speed all ranked inside the top four percent of MLB. But the swing-and-miss remains a problem – 151 strikeouts, a 25th-percentile whiff rate, and just 33 walks.
Defensively, Adell struggled again. He played 89 games in center and 69 in right but ranked last in Outs Above Average, with below-average arm strength. On a contender like Philadelphia, he’d likely fit best as a corner outfielder or part-time DH, depending on whether Kyle Schwarber returns.
Still, there’s no denying the physical tools. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Adell has real middle-of-the-order power and the athleticism to one day succeed in the outfield.
Sep 3, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Taylor Ward (3) bats during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Taylor Ward’s consistency
Ward, 31, brings a more polished version of that same right-handed power profile. Another first-round pick (2015), he’s hit 23-plus homers in three of the last four seasons, missing only in 2024 after a fastball fractured his nose and orbital bone.
He came back stronger in 2025, hitting 36 homers with 103 RBIs and a .228 average, ranking fifth in the AL in home runs, sixth in RBIs, and seventh in extra-base hits (69). Ward does strike out a ton (175 times last season) but offsets it with strong plate discipline – 75 walks (seventh in the AL) and a 20.7% chase rate, good for the 92nd percentile.
He’s the steadier of the two hitters and could bring much-needed lineup protection for Bryce Harper or potentially whoever occupies Schwarber’s old role. Ward’s plate discipline and ability to grind at-bats make him a strong middle-of-the-order fit. Defensively, he’s played a ton in left field – especially this past season – and a fair amount in right.
Player outlook, trade pieces
Adell is under control through 2027 and projected to make about $4.5 million in arbitration this season. Ward, on the other hand, is entering his final season under contract, set to earn around $11 million. The Angels’ farm system is light on position players and loaded with pitching – just two Top 100 prospects (Tyler Bremner and Ryan Johnson), both arms – which makes the Phillies a logical partner.
Many would suggest sending Justin Crawford – who will compete for an everyday role in Spring Training for the Phils – but he’s not necessarily a fit in Anaheim. The Angels’ top outfield prospect, Nelson Rada, has a nearly identical skill set – left-handed, high-contact, high-speed – making that swap less likely.
After sending Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel to Minnesota for Jhoan Duran, the Phillies’ system is thinner but still offers solid bats. Infield prospects like Aroon Escobar and Keaton Anthony along with outfielders Dante Nori and Gabriel Rincones Jr. could draw interest.
If the Halos aim to stay competitive, Alec Bohm could also fit their needs for 2026; they have an opening at third base after Yoán Moncada hit free agency following a .783 OPS season.
My take
Adell’s upside – and team control – is strong which means his cost will be too. Ward makes more sense – a right-handed hitter with patience, solid-enough defense and one year of control.
Projected deal: Phillies send OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. and 1B Keaton Anthony to the Angels for Ward.
Ward’s name has floated in Phillies rumors before, and the fit remains true. He posted a .918 OPS vs. left-handers in 2025, a skillset that would complement lefty bats like Brandon Marsh and potentially Schwarber, if he’s back.
A new-look Ward–Crawford–Marsh outfield balances the lineup with power, speed and athleticism – giving the Phillies another reliable right-handed bat in an offseason where that is their largest priority.
The Phillies enter the 2026 offseason with several key players hitting free agency — including Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez and J.T. Realmuto — as the front office faces major roster decisions following another postseason run.
This tracker will update throughout the winter as players re-sign, move on or have contract options resolved.
Schwarber’s contract year was one of the best in recent memory. The slugger led the Majors in homers and RBIs, marking his fourth straight 38-plus homer season — all in Philadelphia. His production and leadership made him a cornerstone of the offense once again.
“He’s a priority for us,” president Dave Dombrowski said entering the offseason.
The veteran catcher’s seven-year run in Philadelphia could end this winter. Known for his defensive leadership and steady handling of the pitching staff, Realmuto’s offensive numbers dipped in 2025, but the free-agent market for catchers is thin — a factor that could keep him in play for a short-term reunion.
Bader’s energy and defense transformed the Phillies’ outfield after his trade-deadline arrival. His track record of injuries may shape how aggressive teams get in free agency, which could give Philadelphia a window to bring him back on a short-term, affordable deal to anchor center field again.
OF Harrison Bader declined his portion of his mutual option for 2026 and will become a free agent.
Kepler’s first season in Philadelphia started slow but ended with him settling into a steady platoon role for Rob Thomson. A return seems unlikely, but you could make a case to bring the 33-year-old back as a left-handed fourth outfielder with experience.
Suárez once again provided stability at the top of the Phillies’ rotation. The 30-year-old left-hander is expected to draw heavy interest across the league, given his steady production. His October dominance only adds to his value entering free agency.
Before being claimed off waivers by the Phillies, Buehler struggled in Boston, posting a 5.45 ERA. But in 13 2/3 innings with Philadelphia, he allowed just one earned run, showing flashes of his old form. The 31-year-old profiles as a low-risk, high-reward signing candidate this winter.
José Alvarado, RP (Club Option — $9 million)
2025: 28 G, 4–2, 3.81 ERA, 26 IP, 32 K, 1.31 WHIP
The Phillies have exercised the club option on left-handed pitcher José Alvarado for the 2026 season.
Analysis: Even with an 80-game suspension and a late-season forearm strain, Alvarado remains one of the hardest-throwing lefties in the game. The Phils struggled with their bullpen depth down the stretch, so a full season of Alvarado should provide Thomson with plenty of flexibility.
Romano never found his rhythm in 2025. Shifting in and out of the closer role, the right-hander struggled to regain the form that once made him a reliable late-inning arm in Toronto.
Robertson rejoined the Phillies for the third stint of his career ahead of the trade deadline. The 41-year-old flashed moments of effectiveness early, but opponents began squaring him up more consistently down the stretch — likely signaling the end of his long career.
Claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh to bolster the bullpen late in the summer, Mayza struggled in limited work with Philadelphia (4.91 ERA). The left-hander isn’t expected to be a candidate for re-signing this offseason.
Trivino appeared in just 10 games for the Phillies but allowed only two earned runs. After missing two full seasons recovering from injury, the right-hander pieced together a steady 2025 campaign and profiles as a reliable, budget-friendly bullpen option.
That is why, after returning to the Bay as one of Tony Vitello’s special assistants, as team chairman Greg Johnson told the San Francisco Chronicle in an interview published Tuesday, Bochy has some wisdom for the Orange and Black’s new manager.
Bochy shared what advice he’ll give Vitello — who only has coached at the collegiate level and most recently at Tennessee — once they begin working together in an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly published on Wednesday.
“You have to adapt, but that’s true even if you’ve been doing it a while in the major leagues,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “Every year is different. You’ve got to adapt to every bullpen. Sure, there’s more games, but believe me, he’s smart enough to figure that out.
“With all the success he had, he could’ve run for mayor in Knoxville. He’s got a lot of confidence. You can see it in him when you talk to him. He’s all in on this challenge.”
Bochy would know.
The 70-year-old won three World Series rings over 13 years with San Francisco and a fourth in 2023 with the Texas Rangers.
As a seasoned veteran who has been there and done that, Bochy can help the 47-year-old Vitello transition from working with young adults in Rocky Top to seasoned big-leaguers in the Bay.
“The only advice I’d say is be yourself,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “He’s so likable and personable. He’s worked with diverse players from all over the country at Tennessee. He’s had to work with a lot of different personalities. All that experience he’ll draw on and that’s going to work in the major leagues as well. So don’t change. Don’t try to be something you’re not.
“I think he’s going to be so good at that. He’s been in that dugout for a lot of games, so that’s not going to speed up on him. And hey, you learn on the job, too. He’ll have good people around him to help.”
Vitello doesn’t have any MLB experience; however, San Francisco’s new skipper will have tons of it in his corner in 2026 — especially from Bochy.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — First baseman Rhys Hoskins and left-hander José Quintana are heading to free agency after the Milwaukee Brewers declined their 2026 mutual options on Tuesday.
Milwaukee declined an $18 million option on Hoskins, who receives a $4 million buyout that completes a $34 million, two-year contract. Quintana had a $15 million mutual option and receives a $2 million buyout.
Milwaukee also declined a $12 million club option on two-time All-Star catcher William Contreras, who gets a $100,000 buyout. Contreras would be eligible for arbitration if he is tendered a 2026 contract by the Nov. 21 deadline. He is on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2027 season.
Hoskins, 32, batted .237 with a .332 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 90 games this season after exercising his $18 million player option for 2025.. He missed two months with a sprained left thumb, got moved to a bench role upon his return and was left off the Brewers’ postseason roster.
Quintana, 36, went 11-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 24 starts this season. He gave up three runs over five innings in two postseason appearances.
Contreras, 27, hit .260 with a .355 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 76 RBIs in 150 games while dealing with a fractured left middle finger for much of the season.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Derek Shelton spent the first couple of weeks after his firing by the Pittsburgh Pirates in his feelings, bitter about the dismissal just 38 games into his sixth season as manager and defiant about his ability to do the job well.
That sudden free time turned out to be an unexpected gift. As he candidly assessed in conversation with several confidants the approach he used, the adjustments he made and the lessons he learned, Shelton took the notes that helped him land in Minnesota — because the Twins took notice.
“I honestly believe the reflection period is probably the reason that I’m in this chair right now,” Shelton said on Tuesday after his introductory news conference at Target Field as Minnesota’s 15th manager. “I think if that happens to you at the end of the season, it’s really hard to turn that back around and be able to say, ‘I could have done this differently.’”
Twins president Derek Falvey already knew Shelton well, from their overlap in Cleveland when Falvey first began his career and the two seasons in Minnesota when Shelton worked as the bench coach for two different managers — Paul Molitor in 2018 and Rocco Baldelli in 2019 — before getting his big break with Pittsburgh.
Falvey would call Shelton from time to time for an outside perspective while he was with Pirates, a relationship that unequivocally influenced the decision by the Twins.
“I think we were harder on him than maybe we were on other candidates,” Falvey said. “Shelty and I talked about some of the real challenges that he had in Pittsburgh, very specific challenges, whether those were with players or staff or with the front office or otherwise, which we all have. These aren’t easy jobs. They’re challenging, and you go through them and you learn a ton. I was able to actually hit him on some of those things and say, ‘How would you handle that differently? Because I know how you handled it then. I know what you were frustrated by.’ That helped us a ton to kind of understand that.”
Shelton, who went 306-440 with the Pirates, didn’t pull any punches from his side of the interview, either.
The Twins, who fired Baldelli with a 527-505 record after three AL Central titles in seven seasons but only one trip to the playoffs over his last five years, have cut costs since the 2023 team ended the club’s professional-sports-record 18-game postseason losing streak and won a series for the first time since 2002. Executive chair Joe Pohlad led an exploration of a sale of the franchise his grandfather bought in 1984, before the family recently opted to stay put and add yet-to-be-identified new investors to the ownership group to help pay down debt and reset the financial outlook.
While neither Falvey nor Shelton would reveal a specific payroll target for 2026, in part because of the fluidity of the offseason transaction period that is just starting, both of them gave strong hints that they won’t be asked to further pare down the roster and be forced to trade, say, one or both of their All-Star starting pitchers, Pablo López and Joe Ryan.
“When I sat down with Joe Pohlad, and I asked him the question, I said, ‘What’s on the table? What’s off the table?’ And his response to me was, ‘Ask me anything you want,’” Shelton said. “I got the answers that made me really want this job.”
When Shelton arrived with the Pirates, long one of the lowest-spending clubs in Major League Baseball while playing in one of its smallest markets, they were in clear starting-over mode. The Twins, despite their 10-player sell-off leading up to the trade deadline this past season, don’t consider themselves to be in that same category.
“My goal this offseason is not to take away from this team,” Falvey said. “We’re going to have to evaluate every opportunity that comes our way. There’s going to be a lot of calls on players on our team because we think we have some talented players. I have little doubt that will be part of our process. At the same time, my personal goal is to find ways to augment and add around it.”
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners exercised their $6 million club option for 2026 on closer Andrés Muñoz, general manager Justin Hollander announced Tuesday.
Muñoz, 26, went 3-3 with a 1.73 ERA and a career-high 38 saves, third-most in the major leagues. He did not allow any runs in seven postseason innings while getting two saves.
Muñoz signed a $7.5 million. four-year deal ahead of the 2022 season that included three club options. The 2027 price is $8 million and the 2028 price is $10 million.
The 2025-26 season has certainly been a rollercoaster for the New York Rangers so far.
The Blueshirts currently have a 6-6-2 record and are seventh in the Metropolitan Division standings. But the biggest reason for their shaky start to the season has been their immense struggles on home ice.
The Rangers currently have a nightmare 0-5-1 home record this season. Meanwhile, they have had a lot of success away from Madison Square Garden, at 6-1-1.
Things have not been getting better for the Rangers at home, either.
In their most recent home matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 4, the Rangers lost 3-0. With this latest loss, the Rangers' home-ice struggles have now hit a historic level.
The Rangers are the first NHL club since the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1928-29 season to be shut out in four out of their first six home games of the season, according to Sportsnet's Stats.
This new low comes after the Rangers became the first team in NHL history to be shut out in each of their first three home games of the campaign.
“This is where we need to dig deep and carry the load a little and raise our own expectations for ourselves, not just you know, we like what we're doing, and we're getting looks,” J.T. Miller told reporters after Tuesday's game, according to The Hockey News' Remy Mastey. “It's not really cute anymore. It's been 14 games. We're not executing by capitalizing on our chances.”
This latest stat shows just how much the Rangers are struggling to produce offense at home. It is an incredibly concerning trend, and the Blueshirts will need to change that if they hope to get back into the playoffs this year.
The Rangers are set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 7 on the road before heading back to Madison Square Garden for their Nov. 8 matchup against the New York Islanders.
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“I’m looking forward to getting back to the Bay,” Bochy told Baggarly in a phone interview. “And of course, I’m looking forward to getting back with the San Francisco Giants, seeing familiar faces and hopefully bring value any way I can.”
Before president of baseball operations Buster Posey really dug into his search for a new manager, and weeks before Vitello was hired, many fans and pundits alike wondered if Bochy could retake his former position on the top step of the home dugout at Oracle Park.
Bochy himself said he’d never rule out a conversation with Posey about a managerial return, but after Posey shot down that option in his end-of-season press conference, it appears they decided the best path forward was in a special advisory role.
Now, Bochy doesn’t envision another stint as manager in his future after spending the last three seasons leading the Texas Rangers. Instead, the four-time World Series champion will serve as a guiding voice for Vitello, who is the first MLB manager to be hired straight out of college ball without any professional experience.
“I would say that’s where I’m at right now,” Bochy told Baggarly of likely never managing again. “I’ll add you don’t ever rule anything out. You don’t, you know? But I’m content with what I’m doing now. I certainly appreciate getting another opportunity to win a championship and I’m forever grateful for that. But I’m in a good place now. This is what I want to do. I want more time for myself and family but also to contribute to a game that I love.”
Bochy made plenty of memories at Third and King with the Giants from 2007 to 2019 and has three rings to show for it. Now, he’ll look to help San Francisco earn another from outside of the dugout.
A pair of former Mets coaches have found a new home in Atlanta.
The Braves announced on Wednesday that they have hired Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach and Antoan Richardson as first base coach.
Hefner, who pitched for the Mets in 2012 and 2013, was hired to be the team's pitching coach in December 2019. Hefner was not retained following a 2025 season in which the Mets saw their starters fail to give them consistent length, while the bullpen had issues when it came to building the bridge to Edwin Diaz.
Richardson, who joined the Mets when Carlos Mendoza was hired after the 2023 season, was lauded for his work with Mets baserunners, particularly during the 2025 season when he helped the club tie a major league record with 39 stolen bases in a row without getting caught. He also worked closely with Juan Soto, who stole a career-high 38 bases and nearly had a 40/40 season.
As a team last year, the Mets stole 147 bases, the fifth most in baseball, and were caught just 18 times, the second fewest of any team.
The Mets had interest in retaining Richardson to coach first base, but he and the club could not agree to terms on a new deal, leading to his departure from the organization.
The 2026 MLB season will be here before you know it, and the entire Grapefruit league schedule was announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The Yankees will play 33 spring training games, including 16 home games at Steinbrenner Field, opening with a road game against the Baltimore Orioles on Feb. 20.
Their first home game is set for Feb. 21 against the Detroit Tigers.
Additionally, the Yankees will have their 2026 Spring Breakout Game, which highlights some of the top prospects in the sport, on Mar. 21 against the Atlanta Braves' prospects.
The Yanks will then close things with a rare trip to Arizona to play the Chicago Cubs on Mar. 23 and 24.
The Phillies are bringing back a familiar late-inning arm.
Philadelphia exercised José Alvarado’s $9 million team option on Wednesday, committing to the left-hander for 2026 after a season with highs and lows.
When on the mound, Alvarado remains one of baseball’s tougher lefties. Before his mid-season 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy, he posted a 2.70 ERA over his first 20 appearances, striking out 32 batters in 26 innings. His sinker still ranked in the 99th percentile in velocity.
But the back half of the year told a different story. Upon his return in late August, Alvarado posted a 7.50 ERA and then landed on the injured list with a forearm strain, which ended his season prematurely. Part of the suspension was going to hold him out of the postseason anyways. Manager Rob Thomson noted in his end-of-season remarks:
“Tough year, it really was for him in a lot of different ways… I think making sure that he’s healthy going into the offseason kind of eased his mind and mine.”
The decision to bring back Alvarado sense for the Phillies, though. Left-handed relief is a scarce commodity, and Philadelphia enters the offseason light in that area — with only Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks under contract among LHPs.
The familiarity factor also counts: Alvarado has logged 21 postseason games since 2022.
Still, the upside comes with risk. His command remains one of his major issues. But for a one-year, $9 million commitment — under the $11.6 million market value that Spotrac estimates — the front office appears willing to bet on the “Alvy” who dominated in 2022–23 rather than the one who sputtered late in 2025.
In a bullpen that struggled for middle-relief depth down the stretch, bringing Alvarado back provides flexibility for Thomson. Whether he’s back as a seventh-inning bridge or strictly for matchups, the move signals the Phillies believe in his ability to bounce back.
The Dodgers celebrate after winning Game 7 of the World Series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. It was the most-watched MLB game since Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Two years ago, the Dodgers set out to become Japan’s team. The Toronto Blue Jays are Canada’s team.
The deciding Game 7 of the World Series attracted a record 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada and Japan, Major League Baseball said Wednesday, making it the most-watched MLB game since Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.
The series averaged 34 million viewers across the three countries, the largest global audience for the World Series since 1992. The audience outside the U.S. was the largest ever — even with other countries yet to be tallied.
In the U.S. alone, an average of 16.1 million viewers watched each game, an increase from last year even with the New York Yankees out and a Canadian team in. (The series was a more dramatic seven games this year and five last year, which helped.)
For the third consecutive year and fifth time in six years, the World Series had a higher rating than the NBA Finals — this year, 56% higher.
The strong World Series ratings — and attendance that rose for the fourth consecutive year — underscore the risk owners would take if they locked out players next winter and shut down the sport in a quest for a salary cap.
After a work stoppage that cost the league the end of the 1994 season and the start of the 1995 season, average attendance did not rebound to pre-strike levels until 2006. Attendance soon dipped again as game times routinely crept past three hours — the pitch clock has solved that — and amid the pandemic.
Even with the recent gains, attendance remains 10% below its 2007 peak.
The Atlanta Braves, despite missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017, announced Wednesday that 2025 revenues through Sept. 30 had hit $671 million — up 10% from last year — and profits had hit $36 million.
The Braves’ revenues included $71 million from the Battery, their ballpark-adjacent development that depends largely upon selling three million tickets to Braves games every year. (As a publicly traded company, the Braves are legally required to release financial data; the Dodgers and most other teams are not.)
Los Angeles led all U.S. television markets in World Series ratings, followed in order by San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis and Milwaukee, according to Fox data.
Both the current and future homes of the Athletics — Sacramento and Las Vegas, respectively — ranked among the top 10.
In Japan, a country with one-third the population of the U.S., the World Series averaged 9.7 million viewers. In Canada, a country with one-tenth the population of the U.S., the series averaged 8.1 million viewers.
The Game 7 broadcast in Canada was the most-watched of any English-language broadcast on record aside from the 2010 Winter Olympics, which were held in Vancouver.
The Mets will play their first spring training game of 2026 on Feb. 21, when they open their Grapefruit League schedule against the Marlins at Clover Park.
New York will play 29 spring games in total, including two against World Baseball Classic teams -- against Nicaragua on March 3 and Israel on March 4.
The Spring Breakout Game -- featuring many of each team's best prospects -- will take place for the Mets on March 19 when they host the Rays.
Here's the Mets' full spring training schedule:
Feb. 21: vs. Marlins Feb. 22: @ Yankees Feb. 23: @ Blue Jays Feb. 24: vs. Astros Feb. 25: vs. Cardinals Feb. 26: @ Astros Feb. 27: @ Cardinals Feb. 28: vs. Nationals Mar. 1: vs. Astros Mar. 3: vs. Nicaragua (WBC team) Mar. 4: vs. Israel (WBC team) Mar. 5: @ Nationals Mar. 6: @ Marlins Mar. 7: @ Cardinals Mar. 8: vs. Yankees Mar. 9: vs. Marlins Mar. 10: vs. Cardinals Mar. 12: @ Cardinals Mar. 13: vs. Marlins (SS) Mar. 13: @ Nationals (SS) Mar. 14: @ Astros Mar. 15: vs. Blue Jays Mar. 16: vs. Nationals Mar. 17: @ Marlins Mar. 19: @ Astros Mar. 20: vs. Cardinals Mar. 21: vs. Astros (SS) Mar. 21: @ Nationals (SS) Mar. 22: @ Marlins
However, with plenty of money coming off the books, several notable contributors to this year’s team now free agents, and plenty of opportunities lying ahead of them this offseason, the Dodgers have work to do and decisions to make as they attempt to defend their title again next year.
“Our attention span has been about two and a half minutes to think about the offseason throughout the month of October,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said after the team’s World Series parade on Monday. “So we have a lot of work to do."
As that work begins, here are four big questions facing the Dodgers this offseason:
Can they keep on spending?
The Dodgers set MLB payroll records this year with $347 million in year-end salary and $415 million in competitive balance tax payroll.
Their projections for 2026 as of right now, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts: $251 million in salary and $313 million in CBT payroll.
Big numbers, to be sure, but theoretically providing room to maneuver this winter as well.
The question, of course, is whether even the deep-pocketed Dodgers can keep spending at the level they did this past season. Already, their 2026 CBT number will keep them in the highest tax bracket for luxury-tax purposes next year. Any new money they add this offseason will come with a 110% surcharge.
Friedman wasn’t ready to commit to any specific spending levels after Monday’s parade, saying the front office was still in the process of “really getting a sense of our roster, which obviously we know, but to really dig in and appreciate what areas we want to really target and making sure we have the requisite depth.”
What is clear, however, is that if there is a big-name player the team wants to pursue this winter, they could do so without raising payroll from their already historic heights of last year. They have a lot of previously committed money, but plenty of wiggle room relative to their 2025 payroll, too.
Will familiar faces return?
One of the big decisions the Dodgers will have to make this offseason is how much of last year’s team they want to bring back.
The clock is already ticking on their $10 million team option for third baseman Max Muncy, which either has to be picked up or declined by Thursday (though, given that relatively affordable amount, it’d be a surprise if they didn’t bring him back).
Then there will be the matter of Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas, free agents who have voiced their hopes of returning next year. Neither player flashed in the regular season. Rojas posted an exactly league-average OPS+ of 100, but saw his batting average decline from .283 in 2024 to .262 this past year. Hernández hit just .203 while battling an elbow injury, his lowest mark since 2016.
However, both veterans were integral to the team’s playoff run. Hernández started every game of the postseason and drove in seven runs. Rojas was inserted into the lineup in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series and made one season-saving play after the next, including combining with Hernández for a game-ending double-play in Game 6 and hitting the tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7.
Age will be a consideration with each of them. Muncy is 35. Hernández is 34. And Rojas will be 37 by opening day next year (which is likely to be the last season of his career). They’ve all missed time with injuries in recent campaigns.
But they were all hugely important veteran leaders as well, helping form a resilient culture that many on the team cited in the wake of their Game 7 triumph, and would like to see preserved as much as possible entering next year.
Will there be a big outfield addition?
The Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of Game 4 of their NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)
The most obvious area of need for next year’s Dodgers will be in the outfield.
Andy Pages will be back, trying to build upon his 27-homer campaign in 2025. Teoscar Hernández will enter the second of his three-year contract, trying to rebound from his injury-plagued struggles this past summer.
But the third spot remains wide open, with Michael Conforto hitting free agency after his dismal performance on a one-year, $17 million deal this past year, and Alex Call having been used in more of a depth role after his arrival of this year’s trade deadline.
Internally, the Dodgers don’t have an immediate plug-and-play option, as top prospects Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero and Mike Sirota remain a ways away from the majors.
Thus, don’t be surprised to see the Dodgers linked with big names on either the free-agent or trade market this winter, starting with top free-agent prize Kyle Tucker.
Since the summer, industry speculation has swirled about the Dodgers’ expected pursuit of Tucker this offseason. The four-time All-Star did not finish 2025 well while nursing a couple injuries, but remains one of the premier left-handed bats in the sport, and could command upward of $400 million-$500 million on a long-term deal — a hefty price tag, but certainly not one beyond the Dodgers’ capabilities.
Free agency will include other notable outfield options. Cody Bellinger is hitting the open market, though a reunion with the Dodgers has always seemed like a long shot. Harrison Bader and Trent Grisham could provide more glove-first alternatives, and have been linked with the Dodgers in the past.
Then there are potential trade candidates, from left fielder Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians to utilityman Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, also players the Dodgers have inquired about in the past.
The Dodgers could construct their 2026 roster in other ways, thanks to the versatility Tommy Edman provides in center field. But another outfield addition remains their most logical priority this winter. And there will be no shortage of possibilities.
What to do with the pitching?
The Dodgers enter the winter with somewhat of a pitching backlog.
Next year’s starting rotation figures to include Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan.
But the team’s depth goes far beyond that. Justin Wrobleski and Ben Casparius are still natural starters, though they both found a home in the bullpen down the stretch this season. Gavin Stone, River Ryan and Kyle Hurt will all be returning from injuries.
Given how hard the team had to push its starters this October, preserving depth in case of injuries will be important. But the young arms further down the depth chart could be intriguing trade chips as well.
The bullpen is another question. The team has plenty of depth there too, returning the likes of Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, Jack Dreyer and Blake Treinen, and hopeful of getting Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart and Brusdar Graterol back from injury.
But Tanner Scott’s 2025 struggles mean the closer role remains unsettled — making that another area the Dodgers could explore an upgrade.
Several established closers will be available as free agents, including Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez and Devin Williams (someone the Dodgers pursued last winter). Pete Fairbanks (who the Dodgers had interest in at last year’s deadline) could also be an option, either as a free agent if the Tampa Bay Rays don’t pick up his option for next year or a trade candidate if they do.
