Dodgers’ Offseason Surprises

Less than 5%. That’s probably what Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, thought about the likelihood of a certain offseason plan coming together. After all, they’d just clinched back-to-back World Series titles and had the core of their team lined up to return in 2026. Going into this winter, though, the situation felt a bit tricky.

Sure, they had issues in the bullpen and needed to shore up their outfield. But as the months passed, it looked less and less like this offseason would be marked by big signings or drastic moves. Yes, targeting players like Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker seemed ambitious, but hope was fleeting.

“That’s the hardest part of any offseason,” Friedman remarked in a recent interview. “You have your Plan A, but if something more affordable comes along, how do you decide? That’s how you navigate the offseason.”

Surprisingly, what unfolded was somewhat of a masterpiece.

As the Dodgers gear up for spring training at Camelback Ranch, their clubhouse is looking pretty full, perhaps even surprising for Friedman. Diaz is on board as the new closer, while Tucker is now seen as an All-Star candidate and MVP-caliber hitter.

“We feel lucky to have both,” Friedman admitted, noting that he would have estimated the chances of landing them at below 5% just a few months earlier.

In a different economic climate, this might have been a reasonable outlook for the Dodgers.

They have a hefty four-year contract weighing down on Tanner Scott from last offseason, making the addition of another high-priced reliever a risky gamble. Still, they’ve had enough flexibility in their roster to address outfield concerns and seemed ready for potential trades.

However, today’s Dodgers differ from past teams, as they’ve become financial powerhouses, drawing attention as top destinations.

Recognizing a unique opportunity, they opted for bold moves, signing Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract in December and nabbing Tucker with a groundbreaking four-year, $240 million deal in January. As a result, they enter the next season with no glaring weaknesses.

Their payroll is expected to exceed $400 million, positioning them as significant favorites for their third consecutive World Series title.

“I don’t mind that back-to-back titles are seen as the ultimate goal,” said manager Dave Roberts during a Fan Fest event. “But we know a lot of hard work is required to get there.”

Much of that groundwork was laid during the offseason, paving the way for the acquisitions of Tucker and Diaz.

Initially, the Dodgers looked elsewhere for relief options, assuming Diaz would re-sign with the Mets. They explored interests in Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez, even contending for Devin Williams despite a sky-high market.

Ultimately, missing out on those options led them to Diaz’s signing.

By the winter meetings, many teams seeking a closer had already made moves, and the Mets weren’t inclined to push too hard for Diaz, who found a favorable three-year deal waiting for him.

Even though the Dodgers hesitated on extending beyond three years, their offer of $23 million a year—a record for a reliever—sealed the deal.

“There were many scenarios where we might not have landed a top reliever,” Friedman reflected after Diaz’s signing. “But we’ve been preparing on multiple fronts. Being aggressive when opportunities arise is something we inherently prioritize.”

Of course, other offseason tasks still loom ahead.

During the holiday season, the front office kept in touch with Tucker’s representatives but remained flexible, hoping he would seek a long-term deal that they were attempting to avoid given existing financial commitments.

Trade rumors swirled around names like Jalen Duran and Steven Kwan, while they seemed comfortable with a left field pairing of Alex Cole and Ryan Ward.

Then, mid-January brought a turning point. Tucker showed an inclination towards a Dodgers short-term offer, and after discussions with officials via video call, he received a jaw-dropping $240 million proposal (with an annual average salary second highest in the sport).

Tucker was also weighing long-term offers from the Blue Jays and a similarly rich short-term deal from the Mets, but the Dodgers’ offer included opt-out options that made it hard to resist.

“Had something better come up earlier, we would have had decisions to make,” Friedman noted.

Luckily for the Dodgers, that moment didn’t occur.

In what once felt improbable, they landed both Diaz—the top free agent reliever—and Tucker, the leading hitter in free agency.

This week, they’ll step into a fortified Dodgers clubhouse alongside Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and the returning core, all striving for a third straight championship.