After a relatively slow first full month of the offseason, things are finally going to start heating up.
Over the weekend, all 30 clubs will continue their preparation and will then head to Nashville, Tenn., to make some noise at the annual Winter Meetings. Though it isn’t obligatory for things to happen, the Winter Meetings usually represent the busiest time of the offseason regarding the Hot Stove.
The Dodgers, as is usually the case, are expected to be among the busiest teams this winter. After three consecutive postseason runs that fell short of reaching the World Series, including two consecutive exits in the National League Division Series, the Dodgers are eager to make the necessary decisions to get back to the Fall Classic.
What that all looks like remains to be seen. But there’s a good chance that we’ll get a better sense of what the 2024 Dodgers will look like when the organization heads back to Los Angeles after spending four days in Nashville.
Key events
Sunday: The Hall of Fame Contemporary Era will release the results of this year’s ballot. The eight candidates for election are Cito Gaston, Davey Johnson, Jim Leyland, Ed Montague, Hank Peters, Lou Piniella, Joe West and Bill White.
Tuesday: MLB Draft Lottery
Wednesday: Rule 5 Draft
Club needs
Starting pitching, starting pitching and some more starting pitching. Yes, there’s a certain two-way player on the market (we’ll get to him a little later), but none of that will matter if the Dodgers don’t secure at least two top-end starting pitchers.
A lack of quality starting pitching ultimately doomed the Dodgers against the D-backs in the NLDS, and the organization knows the best way to avoid a repeat of that is to add frontline starters this winter. Luckily for the Dodgers, this is a strong starting pitching market, with Japanese phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto and two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell leading the free-agent arms. Names like Dylan Cease, Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber and Corbin Burnes could also be available via trade.