The Dodgers are heading into the offseason with their entire planned 2026 lineup already signed up for 2027, which sounds awesome on paper. But here’s the kicker: those nine players, the guys they were counting on, only started a game together *three times* all season. Think about that: three games out of a whole year! Those were September 23 against the Padres, NLDS Game 1 versus the Braves, and NLCS Game 2 against the Brewers. Seriously, what gives?
The Injury Bug That Just Wouldn’t Quit
It all boils down to injuries, plain and simple. Tommy Edman, still recovering from ankle surgery, didn’t even see the field until June 17. By then, Will Smith, their catcher, was already two weeks into what would become a brutal three-month stint on the injured list. He finally got back in September, only for Shohei Ohtani to start resting up before his *own* IL trip. It’s a brutal cycle! Teoscar Hernández, before they even celebrated their Division Series triumph, jokingly called the squad “dinosaurs.” And honestly, he’s not wrong. Eight of those nine regular starters are going to be in their thirties in 2027. We’re talking Shohei Ohtani at 32, Will Smith at 32, Freddie Freeman hitting 37, Tommy Edman at 32, Mookie Betts at 34, Max Muncy at 36, Teoscar Hernández himself at 34, and Kyle Tucker at 30. The only regular escaping the “dinosaur” label? Center fielder Andy Pages, who’ll be 26.
Can Josue De Paula Force His Way In?
With a core that’s getting up there in years, you’d think the Dodgers would be looking hard at their younger talent. Enter Josue De Paula, a 22-year-old outfielder who looked stellar in the minors. He got a shot in the majors when Ohtani went on the injured list, primarily as a designated hitter. But here’s the rub: in his first 11-game stint up with the big club, he only played two games and six innings total in left field. Dodgers president of operations Andrew Friedman didn’t sugarcoat it back on September 23, when De Paula got optioned back to the minors. Friedman said, “He handled himself and did as well as he could possibly do. Right now we view him as a DH, and Shohei’s back and going to take the DH at-bats.” Friedman did acknowledge De Paula’s “real” improvement in the outfield from 2025 to 2026, noting he “worked really hard” and that his time up in the majors “connected some dots for him.” Ideally, the team wants De Paula in left field. But he’s still got to make those defensive improvements, and the front office has to clear some playing time for him. It’s not as simple as just plugging him in.
So, heading into 2027, the big question for the Dodgers is whether their “dinosaur” lineup can stay healthy enough to actually play together. And how quickly can guys like Josue De Paula make the necessary strides to crack that veteran-heavy roster? It’s going to be a fascinating offseason and start to next season, watching how they manage their aging core versus the promising young talent.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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