The Dodgers have spent money, and after Noah Syndergaard’s deal they need to be wise with their final moves to finalize the 2023 roster.
The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t made the splashy moves some fans had hoped for going into the offseason. Xander Bogaerts came to California, but he didn’t reunite with Mookie Betts in LA. Trea Turner bounced town and the Dodgers have yet to find a shortstop to replace him.
The biggest moves have been signing Clayton Kershaw back on a one-year deal and adding Noah Syndergaard, also to a one-year deal.
There has to be more coming for the Dodgers, who are perennial contenders in the National League. They still have a bit more room to burn on payroll:
So, what moves do the Dodgers need to make next? Let’s look at an obvious one to make and one that might feel necessary, but avoidable.
1 obvious move the Dodgers have to make after Syndergaard signing: Dansby Swanson
Dansby Swanson could end up being the strongest per-dollar shortstop available in this year’s stacked market. Bogaerts got a massive, lengthy deal from the Padres. Another California team in the Giants got Carlos Correa to an even bigger, longer deal.
It’s only right that a third California team gets in on the shortstop action and brings in Swanson.
While Correa got $350 million and Bogaerts $280 million, Swanson is seeking $140 million, an offer the incumbent Braves have not even come close to. While he’s perhaps not quite as talented as Bogaerts or Correa, he’s not half as talented as Bogaerts and certainly not 40 percent as talented as Correa as those dollars might indicate.
So, clearly, there’s massive “bang for your buck” potential for the Dodgers with Swanson. They can even overpay beyond the $140 million Swanson wants in his next contract by a little and still not even come close to the total value of the other shortstops that were available in the market.
Plus, things have worked out pretty well so far with other Braves-to-Dodgers transplants.
The big question is whether or not Swanson’s contract year will be replicable once he puts pen to paper on his next deal. He had 286 total bases in 2022, the highest yet of his career. Is his peak still to come, or will he be past it?
Still, even if he is past his peak, the lower deal he’ll command should have the Dodgers looking to add him.