For the first time since 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions.
Go ahead and enjoy it, Dodgers fans. But when the celebration is over, the work begins anew -- to try to stay on top.
David Schoenfield takes a look at where the Dodgers stand and answers three key questions for the club moving forward to 2021 and beyond.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Notable free agents: 3B Justin Turner, OF Joc Pederson, UT Enrique Hernandez, SP Alex Wood, RP Blake Treinen, RP Pedro Baez
Trade candidate: C Keibert Ruiz
Extension candidates: SP Walker Buehler, OF/1B Cody Bellinger
1. How do they get better?
With that elusive championship finally captured, there is less pressure to do something big like they did in trading for Mookie Betts for 2020, or signing A.J. Pollock in 2019. There will be no rumors about firing manager Dave Roberts, as would have been the case had the Dodgers lost. Still, there is always room for improvement, and while the Dodgers are obviously deeper than most World Series winners, a common mistake championship teams do is bring back the same club or remain loyal to aging veterans.
With no clear holes, the Dodgers can sit tight, but there are some intriguing options to consider. While the rotation is six deep with Clayton Kershaw, Buehler, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and David Price (who opted out of the 2020 season), you know the Dodgers like to go seven or deeper in starting pitching options, not just to have depth in case of injuries but so the top guys aren't pushed too hard in the regular season. The obvious guy: free agent Trevor Bauer, who has stated in the past that he wants to sign one-year contracts to maximize his salary each season. The Dodgers would be the perfect fit for such a deal.
OK, maybe that rotation would be too crowded. How about trading for Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor and sliding Corey Seager over to third base to replace Turner? The Dodgers still have one of the better farm systems around, even after the Betts trade, and imagine that infield defense with Lindor as the anchor.
2. Do they re-sign any of their free agents?
Turner is the big one here, as in many ways he's been the heart and soul of the Dodgers since 2014. He did hit .307/.400/.460 in 42 games in the regular season, so he's hardly washed up, but he also turns 36 in November and his disregard for the coronavirus protocols after he tested positive in Game 6 clouds the picture as well (he could potentially face a suspension at the beginning of 2021). He's from the L.A. area and obviously loves playing for the Dodgers, and given the uncertainty of the market, maybe he's willing to return on a one- or two-year deal at a bit of a discount. He'd certainly make for a nice fit as a designated hitter/part-time third baseman.
Hernandez has been a valuable utility player for six years and has certainly delivered some big hits in the postseason, and his defense at second base in particular has been excellent. The Dodgers need to clear that position for Gavin Lux on a full-time basis, however, so they probably let Hernandez walk and allocate that money somewhere else. Treinen is another possibility, although I don't see the Dodgers necessarily committing to a multiyear deal with him given some of the younger, cheaper arms in the pen.
Related to this are the free agents after 2021, including Seager, Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Chris Taylor. Do they try to sign Seager to a long-term deal? While the farm system is good, there isn't an obvious replacement on hand in case Seager departs. The Dodgers could also play it out and wait until the 2021-22 offseason, when Seager, Lindor, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story and Javier Baez all hit free agency.
3. Is Jansen the closer?
As we saw throughout the postseason, the ninth inning remains a bit of an issue, not so much for lack of decent choices but the lack of an obvious choice. Jansen has one more year at $20 million, so he'll be back, but the question is whether the Dodgers want to ride him in the regular season and then have the some concerns pop up next October. They could turn the reins over to Brusdar Graterol, who throws 100 but doesn't actually miss many bats. May could pitch out of the pen for a year. Liam Hendriks is the one premium free-agent closer on the market, but he won't come cheap after two dominant seasons.