The Los Angeles Dodgers finally got over the hump in 2020, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to win their first World Series since 1988.
It was a long journey filled with ups and downs to get to this point, but the Dodgers can now call themselves champions after a unique 2020 season that no one was even sure would take place due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
A big reason the Dodgers won it all was because of the moves they made last offseason, which included a blockbuster trade for Mookie Betts as well as the signing of Blake Treinen.
No one in L.A. is satisfied with just one championship, so president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and his staff will quickly get to work on putting together another quality roster to compete to get back to the World Series in 2021.
The 2020 MLB offseason is expected to be a unique one due to it not being known which teams plan to spend and which won’t. There are some quality free agents, including Trevor Bauer, George Springer and JT Realmuto.
The Dodgers also have some free agents of their own that may or may not be back, but there is no doubt that is what the front office will prioritize after winning it all in 2020.
Listed below is a full breakdown of where the 40-man roster currently stands in the early days of the offseason.
Under contract/team control (26)
The Dodgers have eight players signed to a Major League contract for the 2021 season: Betts, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Clayton Kershaw, Max Muncy, AJ Pollock, David Price and Chris Taylor.
Both Muncy and Taylor signed extensions last offseason to buy out their respective arbitration years, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see L.A. look to do that with other players this winter.
Meanwhile, 18 additional players who have yet to log three years of Major League service time and aren’t eligible for salary arbitration, are under team control as well.
That group is comprised of Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, Tony Gonsolin, Victor Gonzalez, Adam Kolarek, Dustin May, Dennis Santana, Josh Sborz, Keibert Ruiz, Matt Beaty, Gavin Lux, Edwin Rios, Will Smith, Mitch White, Zach McKinstry, DJ Peters, Luke Raley and Terrance Gore.
Gore was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Players with options (2)
The Dodgers had two players with options for the 2021 season in Jimmy Nelson and Jake McGee.
Nelson had back surgery in July and did not pitch in 2020 after signing as a free agent last offseason. The Dodgers declined their $2 million club option and instead paid a $500,000 buyout on the 31-year-old for the 2021 season.
McGee had a strong season for L.A. after being released by the Colorado Rockies, and could be retained on a $9 million option in 2021. If the Dodgers choose not to pick that up, the Rockies are on the hook for McGee’s $2 million buyout.
Arbitration eligible (7)
The Dodgers have seven players who are eligible for salary arbitration this winter: Scott Alexander, Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Dylan Floro, Corey Seager and Julio Urias.
Most notably, it’s Buehler’s and Urias’ first time going through the process, and it could be a lucrative experience after both had spectacular postseasons to help the Dodgers win the World Series.
Free agents (7)
The Dodgers had six players become free agents the morning after the World Series concluded in Pedro Baez, Kiké Hernández, Joc Pederson, Blake Treinen, Justin Turner and Alex Wood. That grew to include Nelson after he was bought out.
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