Breaking down the five most likely landing spots for Anthony Rendon in free agency

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have a well-earned reputation as the biggest spenders in baseball, but their push well north of $200 million in yearly payroll hasn’t actually featured many blockbuster free agent signings. Under Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers have preferred to use their money to keep their in-house free agents. Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner have all received big contracts to stay put in Los Angeles.

What the Dodgers have been willing to do is spend money to ensure that every position on the diamond and every slot in the starting rotation is held by a borderline All-Star – at worst. With the exception of Kershaw, the Dodgers have not paid more than $25 million for a single player since Adrian Gonzalez, who was acquired by a previous front office.

If the team’s 30-year World Series drought is going to end before Kershaw’s career in Los Angeles comes to an end, the Dodgers may have to change their status-quo approach and make a big splash this winter. That means trading for Francisco Lindor or signing Anthony Rendon or Gerrit Cole. The Dodgers need to add a second premier hitter to their lineup to complement Cody Bellinger.

Friedman has the prospects necessary to pull off a trade for Lindor (or even Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant or Boston Red Sox MVP Mookie Betts if they are actually available) or the cash to sign Rendon or Cole. The Dodgers haven’t made any screaming win-now moves during their long run of division titles, but that needs to change this winter.