Here's a look into the Dodgers 2025 season. Yes it's a bit early, the Dodgers have not won the 2024 World Series yet, but they haven't lost it yet either. Regardless, with a couple of exceptions, the performance in the next week or so will not change the stay or go outcome for some of the current Dodgers on the roster. Here's a very early look into the Dodgers 2025 roster. Basically, my idea for next years roster.

I believe two Dodgers will retire in 2024, Kevin Kermaier and Daniel Hudson. I have enjoyed watching both of them play but it is time for them to move on.

Next we start with what we got to have "PITCHING". Plan A is to find a way to trade for Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. This 27 year old is an ace in hiding with 2 full years of team control. He is on a very friendly contract that pays him less than 10 million over the next 2 years. Why would Detroit trade someone like that who is their best young pitcher? Detroit just got in on the playoffs this year and if they want to be a playoff team every year, they need to make some changes. In order to get value, you must trade value. I would hope a top 100 prospect catcher, a top starting minor league pitcher that is essentially major league ready and an outfielder with major league experience that are all under team control should get the job done. Skubal would pencil in nicely in the 2,3, or 4 spot nicely on this staff. He doesn't have to be the ace in every start so that should take some pressure off of him. If the Tigers respectfully decline you move to plan B.

You target Max Fried in free agency. He won't come cheap or without competition from a large number of clubs. He is a proven commodity that every one would love to have. He's a little older than Skubal but he brings proven experience. I would prefer to spend the free agent money elsewhere but you need a couple lefty's on the starting rotation. As good as Kershaw has been, He will be lucky to pitch the majority of the season and stay healthy. Fried is excellent insurance. Fried is not my first choice but he is a solid choice. Plus he only cost money, not prospects.

So with that being said, Here would be my 2025 starting Rotation. (would love to have it in this years World Series)

!. RH Ohtani (pretty decent hitting pitcher)

2. LH Skubal or Fried

3. RH Glassnow

4. RH Yamamoto

5. LH Kershaw

This is the rotation in April, anybody's guess what it looks like in June or July!

Did you notice a few Starters off of this list? Buehler; Flaherty;Gonsolin and May along with Bobby Miller? All are expected to be healthy enough next year and eligible to play. However since there are only 5 (maybe 6 next year) spots available to start some have got to go. I think Flaherty being a free agent will start on another club next year. He certainly was oppurtune for the Dodgers. I think he will be very motivated to pitch well in this series as many general managers will pay attention to his success or failures. Buehler will also be a free agent end of this season and it will be very interesting to see how he performs. If he pitches well, maybe wins a game or two, maybe the Dodgers bring him back on a short incentive laden contract. If not, I see him leaving and finding a new team, albeit still with a short incentive laden contract. Love Buehler though, wouldn't bet against him. Don't think for a minute he doesn't know that.

As far as Gonsolin and May go, they have spring training to show what their value will be with the Dodgers. Having them both back and healthy is a great problem for the Dodgers to have. If anyone knows you need 15 to 20 pitchers to get through a season, it's the Dodgers. How about Bobby Miller? Great in '23 not so great in '24. You don't know which Bobby Miller will show up. Maybe his trade value is good because he's still young and trying to figure it out. Maybe he comes back, does well and then his trade value is high. Honestly I think you have to move him because it's truly a numbers crunch for a starting spot. You got Ohtani for 10 years? Yamamoto for 12 years? Glassnow an extension for 6 years? Skubal maybe 2 years if you get him but Fried will be a multi year deal. Yes this is Kersh's last year but that's just one spot for May, Gonsolin,River Ryan or Landon Knack. Is Miller better than all of them? And remember Michael Kopech was a starter before he was a reliever in Chicago, and wants to be starter again. Yes he sucked with Chicago but has been awesome with the Dodgers. Maybe his 100+ fastball just feels better in LA. Absolutely a possibility.

One other starter who is intriguing is the Seattle Mariner Logan Gilbert. A 27 year old star who is not the ace of the best starting rotation in all of baseball, but very very good. He als boasts a +100 mph fastball and 4 or 5 elite pitches besides. Best thing about him is he is a horse. Started 33 games this past year and got through the 6th inning in all but three. Over 200 innings and over 200 strike outs. With a staff like the Dodgers have and all the injuries, a young healthy body would be a luxury. He won't come cheap but if you can pry him away for some offensive talent to help Seattle score runs, you got to do it. Oh yea, still a couple years out from free agency.

Ok, enough about starting pitching, let's talk bullpen.

Obviously you keep Kopech, starter or reliever he stays. Blake Treinen is a beast! lost a little off his fastball but his off speed breaking balls are video game quality. Stays. Evan Phillips is another high end trusted reliever. He was the closer for a long stretch but had a few clunker innings. Still trust him in high level situations. Stays. Ryan Brassier has done a very good job filling in on this bullpen while guys were getting healthy. He was very much appreciated but there are better relievers available. Gone. Hudson as I said before is set to retire. Was a good high leverage arm.Gone. Landon Knack was a good find to give you length in the pen. He has options and will probably pitch in the minors until needed again. Good season though. Gone. Joe Kelly is probably one of the most beloved Dodgers. Throws hard and wiil definately let you know how He feels. No holes barred. But he is on the IL too much and not enough value in return. Gone. Ben Casparius was a breath of fresh air. No spot seemed to big for this kid. Did a great job and could very well stick with the big club. Only problem is he has options and could be sent down to make room for another. I say Stays. Brusdal Graterol is a keeper with his heavy hard stuff. Stay healthy!! Stays. Brent Honeywell did an excellent job this year. May not have gotten this far without his clutch work. Someone will be getting a nice piece to their bullpen but not the Dodgers. Numbers crunch. Gone. Now we address the lefty's in the pen. Alex Vesia is maybe the top guy in the pen, lefty or righty. He's an intense high leverage machine.Stays. Anthony Banda surprised me a lot this year. He gives you everything he's got every outing. Did an excellent job but it's a nubers crunsh. He will be an excellent pick up for someone but not the Dodgers. Gone. Now that being said, you can not have only one lefty in your bull pen. we now spend more of the free agent money on lefty reliever Tanner Scott. Top of the line lefty out of the pen. maybe the only arm in a bull pen I would trust more than Vesia. He also does exceptional against Ohtani so get him on our team. He's a high priced free agent but we need him. Get him. So maybe your 2025 bull pen looks like this; LH Tanner Scott LH Alex Vesia RH Michael Kopech RH Brusdar Graterol RH Blake Treinen RH Evan Phillips RH Dustin May RH Tony Gonsolin RH Ben Casparius. That's a 9 man bullpen and a good one.

Catchers Will Smith is one of the three best catchers in all of baseball. Unfortunately catching takes a toll on you,day in and day out ,pretty much every day for a long season. He needs help and Austin Barnes is not the help he needs. You need a catcher who can split time with Smith maybe 70/30. You don't want a big drop off but Will needs to catch less during the year. Fortunately the Dodgers are deep in catching. Would love to see Dalton Rushing brought up and given a real shot at back up. Great prospect who can hit and hit from the left side. Gives Will a break from the nasty righties when Rushing and his fresh legs could help out. Give him a shot.

Infield is set except for one spot, Short stop. The Dodgers have been after Willy Adames for the last couple of years. This year he is a free agent and they finally get their man!

infeld for 2025 1b Freeman 2b Lux (if he is not invoved in a trade) 3b Max Muncy SS Willy Adames Utility bring back Kike Hernandez. Need him for morale/ club house leader and October baseball

Outfield 2025 Betts RF Edman CF Teo HernandezLF (yes bring him back do not need Soto) utility Outman and Pages if neither are traded for pitching. I saved the Dh spot because you only have one when Ohtani is pitching but I don't know who they may bring in. Not that important, Ohtani is DH most of the time.

So in a perfect 2025 world here is the roster

Ohtani DH and right handed pitcher Betts of Freeman 1B Teo Hernandez of Muncy 3B Smith C Edman CF Lux 2B

Starters RH Ohtani LH Skubal or Fried RH Glassnow RH Yamamoto LH Kershaw

Relievers LH Scott LH Vesia RH Kopech RH Graterol RH Treinen RH Phillips RH May RH Gonsolin RH Casparius

Utility K. Hernandez IF Pages OF Outman OF

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Old Tymer