The Dodgers’ 2026 season wrapped up on October 11, and hold onto your hats, because this offseason is about to get absolutely wild. The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on December 1, meaning a potential lockout is looming right over their heads, which would throw a serious wrench into all their roster plans. Before any of that chaos even kicks off, the Dodgers have some massive decisions to make with nine players headed to free agency.
Nine Players Gone, One Retirement, and a Qualifying Offer That’s Insane
Right after the World Series wraps up, the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, which currently has 46 players (six of them on the 60-day injured list, by the way), is going to drop down to 37. That’s a huge shift right out of the gate. Nine guys are hitting the open market: Tarik Skubal, Miguel Rojas, Kiké Hernández, Kris Bubic, Eric Lauer, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and Brusdar Graterol. Skubal, traded midseason, can’t even get a qualifying offer, so the Dodgers won’t snag a draft pick if he signs somewhere else. Same deal for Bubic and Lauer, though they weren’t going to get one anyway. The big news? Miguel Rojas is hanging up his cleats after 13 seasons, but don’t worry, he’s already got a spot waiting for him in the Dodgers’ front office, focused on player development. Meanwhile, the qualifying offer this offseason is a whopping $23.15 million, according to Joel Sherman from the New York Post. That’s a 5.11 percent jump from last year’s $22.025 million. You kidding me? That’s serious cash for a single year.
The Monster Deals and Deferred Dollars That Will Shape Their Future
While those nine free agents are shaking things up, it’s the guys still under contract that really define this roster. The Dodgers have no player or club options to worry about, but they’ve got some absolute monsters on the payroll. We’re talking Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signed through 2035 with a $26 million salary next year. Shohei Ohtani, DH and pitcher, is only getting $2 million in 2027, but that’s because $68 million of his salary is deferred ten years down the road for each season of his contract. That’s a wild move. Will Smith, their catcher, is locked in through 2033 for $8 million next year. Mookie Betts, the shortstop, is signed until 2032 with a $20 million salary in 2027. Kyle Tucker in the outfield? He’s set to make $65 million in 2027, signed through 2029. Blake Snell is another starting pitcher, in for $12.8 million next year through 2029. Tommy Edman, Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow, Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, and Hyeseong Kim also have contracts through at least 2027, with Freeman and Glasnow hitting $15 million and $30 million respectively in 2027. The sheer amount of money tied up here, especially with Ohtani’s deferred cash, is staggering.
What’s next for the Dodgers is pretty clear: navigating that impending collective bargaining agreement expiration. The potential lockout on December 1 changes everything, meaning every single one of those roster decisions, from free agent negotiations to development plans, could be held up in limbo. It’s going to be a tense few months, that’s for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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