The Los Angeles Dodgers just got swept out of the NLCS by the Milwaukee Brewers, and the ink was barely dry on that series loss before owner Mark Walter was already huddling with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes about their offseason plans. You’d think the sweep would be the biggest drama, right? Think again.
Off-Field Drama: Federal Probes and “Business as Usual”
What’s really wild is the elephant in the room: ongoing federal investigations into Guggenheim’s majority partner, which has already forced the sale of some of Walter’s other big-name franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea FC. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up! Despite all that swirling chaos, Friedman is out here saying the directive he’s gotten is “business as usual.” He claims he hasn’t heard a peep about any plans for a Dodgers sale, nor any indication that the team will suddenly have less cash to throw around. His whole focus, he says, is “How do we put ourselves in the best position to win in ’27?” That’s a bold claim when the financial ground under your feet feels like it’s shifting.
Roster Headaches and a Looming Lockout
So, how exactly do you “put yourselves in the best position” for 2027 when the league itself is facing massive uncertainty? There’s a looming lockout that feels inevitable with MLB owners and the players union still miles apart on a new collective bargaining agreement. If the owners get their way and implement a salary cap, that would absolutely crater the Dodgers’ ability to add talent, especially with eight pending free agents already on their roster. Friedman’s playing it cool, though, saying his approach isn’t changing until the current CBA expires in December. He’s “hard at work trying to figure out the best way to put together our roster,” and will just “adjust to whatever the rules are” when they drop. The biggest name hitting free agency is starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, who became a much-needed steady hand in their rotation. He’s projected to become one of the highest-paid pitchers ever, and even the Dodgers might balk at that price. Friedman was noncommittal on bringing Skubal back, giving him a “wishing him nothing but the best” farewell. Good news though: Shohei Ohtani is expected back in 2027. He won’t need surgery on his knee or bicep injuries and could possibly be ready to go by spring. However, it’s not all sunshine and Ohtani. Friedman also had to address the elephant in the dugout: the Dodgers had the oldest lineup in the big leagues this season, averaging 30.9 years old. Almost all their core guys are over 30, with Freddie Freeman hitting 36.
The Dodgers have a wild offseason ahead, dealing with ownership uncertainty, a league-wide labor dispute, and some massive roster decisions, all while trying to bounce back from an NLCS sweep. What happens next with Skubal and how they navigate the potential lockout will define their 2027 run before it even begins.
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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