Dodgers Roundtable: Offseason review heading into Spring Training

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3. How do you feel about the moves the Dodgers did make? What addition stood out the most to you? How would you grade the overall performance of the Dodgers this offseason?

Sarah:

I love the moves the Dodgers have made this offseason. I think that they could have done more, as the reigning NL Champs I think most people expected them to do more, but I love the moves they’ve made so far. The addition of Scott Alexander has the potential to be one of the greatest moves this offseason.

I expected the Dodgers to re-sign either Brandon Morrow or Tony Watson, if not both, but their absence in the pen won’t be as noticeable with the addition of Alexander. He gives up an incredibly low number of home runs (only 4 over a career 94 IP), and he won’t be a free agent until 2023.

If Spring Training goes well, Alexander will most-likely be the set-up man to Kenley Jansen. Overall, I would give this offseason a B for the Dodgers, but that could definitely change should the Dodgers re-sign Darvish, or make another trade.

Jamaal:

I’d give the Dodgers an incomplete for the off-season. Frankly, the moves they made were more subtraction than addition. They let Morrow, Watson, and for now, Darvish go. The Adrian Gonzalez-Matt Kemp trade was a money move.

They were smart to try to get under the luxury tax so it really wasn’t a player move. I’d be shocked if Matt Kemp plays with the Dodgers this year. I0f he does, I doubt he’ll be an effective part of the team. If the Dodgers don’t move his contract to free more cap space then the off-season is a bust.

Jason:

I liked the moves they did make, however, I think they are playing a really risky game.

If you follow me on Twitter or read anything I write, you know my biggest worry about the Dodgers was being complacent. If they just sat around and twiddle their thumbs they would fail next season. It never works. As good as the Dodgers are, look at the Cubs and Mets from the last two years as an example.

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They stayed complacent and tried to replace their losses with cheaper guys (Daniel Murphy, Dexter Fowler). Both teams failed to get as far as they did the year prior. Were they both still playoff teams? Yes, but still, it is worrisome.

However, I think the replacements they did make were good ones. Scott Alexander should be great and should be better than Tony Watson, in my opinion. I think Tom Koehler may have something to offer and Matt Kemp maybe could play some sort of role.

It is obvious that this offseason was all about the money. And that is fine, if the Dodgers want to be good for years to come then that is the move to make. However, they are pretty much expecting that every player will play as good as last year.

That simply won’t be the case. I would argue that Justin Turner hit his ceiling (although he will still be an all-star), Cody Bellinger is set for a regression and Chris Taylor was a flash in the pan that is anything from a guarantee. That does not mean these guys can’t replicate their 2017 performance, it is just risky to bank on it.

Next: The four obstacles in the Dodgers' way to another World Series

If the Dodgers go out and land Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or any of the big names in 2018, this offseason will be looked back on as a huge win; especially if they can win the World Series this year. If the Dodgers fall short, these breakout players regress and they can’t sign a star; well, Clayton Kershaw may walk away and the Dodgers may return to mediocrity.

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