4 Dodgers offseason mistakes so far, and how to fix them

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out during the first inning against the San Diego Padres in game four of the National League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 15, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out during the first inning against the San Diego Padres in game four of the National League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 15, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Dodgers offseason mistakes
The Los Angeles Dodgers might be setting up to win the Shohei Ohtani bidding war. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

2) Dodgers offseason mistake: No superstar additions

The Dodgers love their superstar players. What else would we expect from the nearest team to Hollywood? Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are coming off of awesome seasons and should continue to get paid well and live up to those contracts in 2023 and beyond.

It is still surprising to see this mighty ball club didn’t make any significant splash this offseason. It’s a mistake, but one easily corrected in the future when bigger free agents become available.

Next winter, the Dodgers need to push toward signing Shohei Ohtani. Only a small number of clubs could possibly afford to pay him the expected $500 million he’ll seek. The New York Mets are one of them and the same could be said of other big market clubs like the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs.

The Dodgers, who haven’t been shy about spending big for many years in a row now, need to get involved too.

Los Angeles took a much different approach this offseason than they did in the past. J.D. Martinez was the biggest bat they brought on. Re-signing Clayton Kershaw was arguably the best starting pitcher they signed.

The stars seem to be quietly aligning for the Dodgers to make a grab at Ohtani next winter. The flashiness of adding a superstar is nice for the owners’ pocketbooks. Ohtani will remind everyone they’re the flashiest team around and give them an even better chance of competing for years to come.