The Dodgers have their eyes on several star pitchers, and time will tell whether they’re able to land any of their top picks.
Winter Meetings kick off next week, and there are plenty of expectations tied up along with them. Will the Dodgers make any progress on their starting pitching situation? Shohei Ohtani is expected to sign before meetings conclude on December 6, but there’s plenty more for the Dodgers to consider along the way. Here’s the latest on their offseason goals.
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The Dodgers are apparently among several teams “enamored” with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com. Morosi reports that Burnes will likely be moved before spring training, and since it’s no secret that the Dodgers are in desperate need of starting pitching—and willing to pay for it—it’ll be interesting to see if they can come to an agreement with the Brewers for their star.
L.A. is also keen on Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox, writes R.J. Anderson at CBS Sports. The right-handed pitcher is highly sought after, with the Atlanta Braves also in contention. Cease finished second in the American League Cy Young voting last year, and a deal is possible before Winter Meetings.
Former outfielder Nelson Cruz is now working with the Dodgers as an adviser, writes Alden Gonzalez at ESPN. Cruz spent nearly 20 years in the majors and is expected to work primarily with the team’s baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.
Baseball Prospectus’s Ginny Searle analyzes the re-signing of Jason Heyward, noting that the 1250% increase in his salary from year to year represents a major vote of confidence in the outfielder. The Dodgers were able to revitalize his career last season, as they have with many other players recently, but can those improvements hold up for another round?