Shortly after the Dodgers secured their first-ever back-to-back World Series victory, the players were already talking of another World Championship, or three-peat as it is often called, and is the unofficial mantra for 2026.
Three-peat isn’t a euphoric fantasy for the Dodgers. They are a team with an incomparable core group of returning stars: shortstop Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman, starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, the unicorn Shohei Ohtani, catcher Will Smith, and starting pitchers Blake Snell and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. And they are supported by a talented group of position players, pitchers, and an incredibly deep farm system which makes future World Championships well within their grasp.
being named the series MVP. (Chris Young)
Nonetheless, there is work to be done to retool the roster over the next three months.
The bullpen, which was thought to be a strength going into the season, mostly disappointed. Right fielder Teoscar Hernández and left fielder Michael Conforto were statistically amongst the worst fielders in MLB.
By position, we consider what actions the Dodgers operations staff, led by Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, will address during the 2026 hot stove season:
Smith is an All Star who is in the prime of his career (will celebrate his 31st birthday on March 28, 2026). For the 2025 regular season, Smith slashed .296/.404/.497/.901 but a broken bone in his right hand limited him to 110 games. Playing another position, without the wear and tear of catching, Smith would likely be a 30+ home run, 100 RBI, .850 OPS+ threat.
The only ready-now backup catchers are 28-year-old Ben Rortvedt, a glove-first catcher acquired at the 2025 trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays, and previous top prospect Dalton Rushing, a bat-first catcher who will be 25 next February.
Rortvedt is an ideal backup defensive catcher who works effectively with the pitching staff and contributing to the offense on occasion. He is out of minor league options which means he would have to clear waivers if he fails to make the Dodgers 2026 active roster.
Rushing is still a defensive work in progress and it will not be surprising if he competes for the left field position in Spring Training – or included in a trade for outfield help.
53 games he appeared in with the Big club in 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Look for the Dodgers to sign a veteran, backup catcher for their Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets team.