Despite winning back-to-back championships, the Los Angeles Dodgers likely will not be quiet during free agency.
Expect Los Angeles to remain aggressive and try to bring in talented players. Last year, the Dodgers made major additions in the offseason after winning the World Series, bringing in Blake Snell and Rōki Sasaki, and they will likely target the biggest names in free agency again to address any shortcomings. The Dodgers bullpen could use improvement after a season in which it posted a 4.27 ERA, ranking in the bottom third in the majors.
Although the Dodgers signed Tanner Scott, they lacked a true closer down the stretch and had to turn to Sasaki for most of the playoffs, who has made his desire to be a starting pitcher known. Per ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, keep an eye on the Dodgers targeting two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams from the New York Yankees this offseason.
“With everything on the line in Game 7 of the World Series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts deployed six starting pitchers, including his entire postseason rotation and two young starters who had become relievers out of necessity,” Gonzalez wrote. “The Dodgers will carry a high bar when it comes to their pursuit of bullpen help.
“A solidified closer, or at least one leverage arm capable of handling the ninth inning on a championship team, will be what they spend the most time on in the coming weeks. More likely is someone such as Devin Williams, who they’ve already expressed interest in, according to sources.”
Williams struggled in his first season with the Yankees, posting a 4.79 ERA, the worst in his seven seasons in the MLB. Though the Williams had a rough regular season, he returned to form in the postseason, throwing four scoreless innings in relief for New York.
Los Angeles could sign Williams to a relatively cheap deal as well, with the 31-year-old projected to sign a one-year deal worth roughly $5.7 million, according to Spotrac. The Dodgers have proven they are the best team in baseball, but they can still improve this offseason.
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