The 2023-24 MLB free-agent class could be one of the most memorable in recent winters, thanks primarily to a pair of Japanese superstars in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Ohtani is on top of almost every headline in the baseball blogosphere right now and already has a prolific career as a 29-year-old two-way player. Despite having his 2023 season cut short by an oblique injury and impending elbow surgery, the 2023 American League MVP put up career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS.
Yamamoto is the lesser-known name, but he’ll probably garner one of the highest-ever salaries for a player posted from a Japanese league. Last year, the 25-year-old righty tallied a 17-6 record with a ridiculous 1.16 ERA and a 0.884 WHIP over 24 appearances and 171 innings of work.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are certainly on the high road for both players. Still, front-office boss Andrew Friedman is notorious for not spending top dollar for talent, instead taking more creative approaches that helped him snag franchise players like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to long-term deals.
What Spots Do the Dodgers Need to Fill?
In theory, Los Angeles needs help in almost every area to at least make a deep run into the 2024 playoffs. No question, injuries have hammered the club in recent years — not just everyday nagging injuries, but instances that have required surgery and kept several big names out for many months. Some of these injuries included players like Gavin Lux, Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May, to name a few.
Also gone are a slew of low-profile players that helped the team in some shape or form last season, including Jason Heyward, David Peralta, Ryan Brasier, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, J.D. Martinez and more. While starting pitching might seem to be the priority, there will likely be signings to fill spots all over the diamond.
Players like Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch, Emmet Sheehan and Ryan Pepiot will have their chances at regular spots, and the club will possibly make strong runs at a few of the lost free agents, including Martinez and Brasier. However, the Dodgers will be among the busiest clubs this winter trying to fill their many roster holes.
How Does Ohtani Fit?
The thing that comes to mind initially is the Dodgers don’t have a legitimate two or three-hole threat in the batting order aside from Betts and Freeman. Will Smith is undoubtedly one of the MLB’s better hitting catchers, but he probably profiles better as a five or six-hole hitter. Max Muncy is also a frequent flyer in the middle of the lineup, but he only hit a meager .212 last year after a paltry .196 in 2022.
Of course, OPS is the name of the game in the majors, and Muncy’s is better than most. But an average around the Medoza line just isn’t productive enough for an effective three or four-hole hitter.
Having a healthy Ohtani in the two or three slot instantly makes the Dodgers one of the top offensive threats in the bigs. Ohtani won’t be pitching until 2025, but if he recovers from his most recent surgery without any hitches and is able to DH regularly next year, his value is almost limitless. If Ohtani ends up calling Los Angeles home, the team will definitely have a solid offensive foundation to build the active roster around.
Additionally, the Dodgers’ run on Ohtani could impact how and when the club pursues a potential return contract for Martinez.
How Much Are the Dodgers Willing to Spend for Ohtani?
It’s tough to throw out a best-case-scenario contract offering because the Dodgers seemingly change their payroll budget philosophy with each passing season. Plus, Freidman rarely wins straight-up bidding wars. For the Dodgers to land Ohtani, the brass will need to get a bit creative with their offer, beginning with selling the idea that the club is a perennial playoff contender, something that seems to be a perquisite for the slugger.
There have been some whispers that Ohtani could sign a short-term deal for two or three years, enabling him to enter the market as a legit two-way player once he’s cleared to pitch. That type of flexibility might be right up Friedman’s alley.
In the meantime, there’s no right or wrong answer for whether Ohtani could be a good fit in Los Angeles, as even the industry’s best sportswriters could make a solid argument either way.
However, landing the righty Yamamoto could be the safest bet in rebuilding the club into another top contender in 2024.