The Dodgers: Towards a Historic Three-Peat?
The Los Angeles Dodgers, after celebrating the championship with their fans, have a clear goal: to seek a three-peat. Only two teams in MLB history have achieved this feat since the implementation of the divisional format in 1969: the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees.
“It’s not a matter of if we will do it, but how. We are committed to doing everything possible to get back in the best position to achieve it,” said Andrew Friedman, Dodgers’ president of baseball operations.
Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations
The path to this goal generates great expectation. The Dodgers have invested heavily in recent years, with millionaire contracts that have raised their payroll to impressive levels. This strategy has made them a feared rival, attracting the attention of agents and executives from other teams.
However, General Manager Brandon Gomes has raised a key question: How to win this year without compromising the team’s future? The management seeks to balance immediate success with long-term construction, a complex task that could define the franchise’s future.
On the one hand, the Dodgers are aware of the depth of their roster and the age of their players. On the other hand, they seek to consolidate their “golden era” with a third consecutive title, which, according to Friedman, could establish a dynasty.
The Dodgers’ success will depend on how they answer three crucial questions.
How to strengthen the bullpen?
In the decisive Game 7 of the World Series, manager Dave Roberts turned to six starters and two young pitchers converted to relievers. This reflects the problems in the Dodgers’ bullpen during 2025.
Despite this, the directive trusts in the depth of its bullpen for 2026. Seven of the eight positions are expected to be covered, with several promising relievers on the roster. However, the bullpen had an earned run average of 4.27, ranking 21st in the league.
The Dodgers will look for a solid closer or a reliable reliever for the ninth inning. Although a trade is the preferred option, the free agent market offers attractive options, such as Edwin Díaz and Devin Williams. Options such as Brad Keller, Pete Fairbanks, Emilio Pagan, Kyle Finnegan, Luke Weaver, Raisel Iglesias, and Robert Suarez are also being considered.
Need more power at the plate?
The Dodgers’ offense struggled at times last season. In a 33-game stretch, they batted .235 and averaged few runs. In the playoffs, the combined average was .213/.303/.364.
Therefore, the Dodgers are likely to seek to reinforce their offense. The simplest option is to add an outfielder, with Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger as the main candidates in free agency. Although the Dodgers are not expected to be the most aggressive for Tucker, they could consider a short-term deal. They have also shown interest in Bellinger.
The cost of Bellinger could be more viable, considering his ability to play in center field, which would allow Andy Pages to play in right field and Teoscar Hernández in left. This would require a starting center fielder, and Bellinger could be the solution, even considering the possibility of him playing first base after Freddie Freeman’s contract expires.
They could also consider Harrison Bader or explore trade options, such as Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians and Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, who are known for their ability to make good contact.
Do you need to rejuvenate the team?
Clayton Kershaw commented that the team felt exhausted after the lengthy Game 3 of the World Series. The average age of the Dodgers’ position players was 30.7 years old, the highest in the league.
The Dodgers, with key players like Freeman, Betts, Ohtani, and Will Smith, will seek to integrate more youth into the team. They may choose to develop their prospects or make impactful moves through trades.
The Dodgers have several promising outfield prospects, such as Josue De Paula, Eduardo Quintero, Zhyir Hope, and Mike Sirota. They could use them in trades to address needs, including the search for a closer. They could also consider River Ryan and Gavin Stone, who are returning from injuries.
In short, the Dodgers face crucial decisions to maintain their competitiveness and aspire to a historic three-peat.
