Which teams will want to change everything in the offseason after failing to make it all the way this year?
Among the clubs that missed the playoffs, we can think that the Giants, the Brewers, the White Sox, the Twins, the Tigers, the Angels and the Red Sox will stir up certain issues.
At the clubs that failed to pass the round of the best second? The Mets… and maybe the Braves. But I believe thatAtlanta doesn’t necessarily feel the need to change everything however.
We can also think that the Yankees, if they can’t beat the Guardians over the next few days, will stir up some issues. It could brew a lot if Aaron Judge quits, actually.
But I don’t see a club trying to shuffle their cards more than the Dodgers.
In Los Angeles, expectations were high after enjoying a 111-win season…and after going 1-3 in the playoffs, everyone in town is hurting.
What could change? Several important players are subject to a contract decision and could leave Los Angeles.
The first? Cody Bellinger.
His MVP season has boosted expectations of him and he is currently far from playing at level. He was making $17 million in 2022, and in his final year before self-reliance, he’ll have to get a more lucrative offer to not be free as air.
But does LA really want to give that much money to a guy who’s been struggling to hit for a few years? The question is valid.
But he is not the only one.
Will Clayton Kershaw return? We think so, but we cannot be sure – and that’s not to mention his state of health.
Will Trea Turner quit? Many rumors send him to the East, he who will be a free agent, but nothing is less certain.
Will the Dodgers agree to take Justin Turner’s ($16 million) contract option? He is an icon in Los Angeles, but he is no longer advancing.
And finally, there is the case of Dave Roberts. The manager, who promised a World Series title last spring, is increasingly challenged for his decisions in October – unlike other managers elsewhere.
Is it time to move on? The question must be asked, even if I believe the Dodgers will retain his services, in the end.
I don’t know what LA will do. Will a big star (Xander Bogaerts) land at shortstop should Trea Turner ever quit? Will the transaction market be an option? Will the mound be targeted?
Big questions will have to be asked.
