Fansided

Breaking down the best free-agent targets for the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason

ByJoshua Sadlock|
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) laughs with the St. Louis Cardinals third base coach after a foul ball came in between them in the third inning of Game Four of the NLCS between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) laughs with the St. Louis Cardinals third base coach after a foul ball came in between them in the third inning of Game Four of the NLCS between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals hoists the Commissioners Trophy after defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals hoists the Commissioners Trophy after defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

1. Anthony Rendon

The Dodgers have built an all-around solid lineup with no serious weaknesses one through eight. They’ve led the National League in runs and OPS two years in a row and boast the reigning MVP in Cody Bellinger. Something’s just not adding up, however, as the Dodgers continue to come up short in the playoffs. The lineup is built to overpower teams in the regular season but has had a hard time coming up with enough offense to bring home the title.

So, what’s missing, and how can a team that had an .810 OPS last year really improve itself?

The answer, is that the Dodgers need to add a second superstar to carry the load with Bellinger. For as good as their offense has been over the last seven years, the Dodgers need to have a second MVP-caliber bat anchoring the middle of their lineup. Corey Seager just isn’t quite there, despite his initial burst into the league.

It makes sense for the Dodgers to target Josh Donaldson to upgrade at third base, but he is no longer a true, slam-dunk superstar, having missed 159 games in 2017 and 2018. The Dodgers need a guaranteed star, and Anthony Rendon is the right player. His stock is still going up as he enters his age-30 season and he is a proven postseason hero.

The Dodgers can find the money to sign Rendon to a massive deal if they truly want to. Signing Rendon is the type of move that would go against the front office’s way of thinking, but it’s what has to be done to finally win that elusive World Series.

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