Could Dodgers fill out roster with these 2021 free agents? - Los Angeles Times
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Could the Dodgers turn to these free agents to fill out their 2022 roster?

Atlanta's Eddie Rosario gestures to the fans during the ninth inning in Game 4 of the NLCS.
Atlanta’s Eddie Rosario, gesturing to fans at Dodger Stadium, was a Dodger killer in the NLCS. Could he be a Dodger next season?
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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There is no guarantee that the Dodgers will retain any of their top five free agents — Max Scherzer, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, Kenley Jansen and Clayton Kershaw — and even if they do re-sign one or two of them, there still could be significant holes to plug next season.

The team’s most pressing areas of need are starting pitching, a middle infielder if Seager signs elsewhere, a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, bench depth and possibly bullpen depth.

A look at some of the top free agents the Dodgers could pursue this winter:

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Robbie Ray (LHP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Robbie Ray pitches to the Tampa Bay Rays
Robbie Ray
(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)

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The 30-year-old is probably the next-best available starter behind Scherzer after going 13-7 with a 2.84 earned-run average in 32 games for the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out a major league-high 248 and walking 52 in 193-1/3 innings. Ray gave up a career-high 33 homers but held hitters to a .210 average and .667 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. The average velocity of his fastball increased to a career-high 94.8 mph, up from 93.7 in 2020.

Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president for baseball operations, said the team is waiting to see what the league does with Trevor Bauer before commenting on pitcher.

Oct. 27, 2021

3

Kevin Gausman (RHP)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kevin Gausman delivers against the San Diego Padres
Kevin Gausman
(D. Ross Cameron / Associated Press)

An increase in the use of his 83.6-mph split-fingered pitch, which he mixes with a 94.6-mph fastball, 82-mph slider and 84-mph changeup, keyed a career-best season in which Gausman went 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA in 33 starts for the San Francisco Giants, striking out 227 and walking 50 in 192 innings. Gausman, who turns 31 in January, limited hitters to a .210 average and .609 OPS.

Ill-timed injuries, an inconsistent offense, a diminished rotation and a red-hot Atlanta Braves team all helped end the Dodgers’ season.

Oct. 26, 2021

4

Marcus Stroman (RHP)

New York Mets' Marcus Stroman (0) pitches against the Miami Marlins
Marcus Stroman
(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)

What Stroman lacks in durability — he averaged 5-1/3 innings in 33 starts for the New York Mets this year — he makes up for in performance. Stroman went 10-13 with a 3.02 ERA, striking out 158 and walking 44 in 179 innings. The 30-year-old’s four-pitch mix consists of a 92-mph fastball, 85.5-mph slider, 90.4-mph cut fastball and 86-mph changeup.

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The Dodgers never got the chance to properly celebrate their 2020 World Series championship. And now their 2021 season is over short of another title.

Oct. 25, 2021

5

Anthony DeSclafani (RHP)

San Francisco Giants' Anthony DeSclafani pitches against the San Diego Padres.
Anthony DeSclafani
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

The Dodgers are plenty familiar with the Giants starter, having faced him six times this season and once in the playoffs. DeSclafani, 31, went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 31 starts, striking out 152 and walking 42 in 167-2/3 innings. He relies on an 88-mph slider, a 94-mph four-seamer and 94-mph sinker and mixes in an 88-mph changeup and 83-mph curve.

The mistakes the Dodgers made with using their pitchers ultimately played a defining role in the team failing to reach the World Series.

Oct. 23, 2021

6

Alex Cobb (RHP)

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Alex Cobb winds up duirng the first inning of the team's baseball game.
Alex Cobb
(Jim Mone / Associated Press)

He was slowed by a wrist injury and a blister, but when the 34-year-old sinker-splitter specialist took the ball for the Angels, he was solid, going 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 18 starts, striking out 98 and walking 33 in 93-1/3 innings. Cobb could be a No. 3 starter for some clubs ora nice back-of-the-rotation pick-up for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers made a hefty financial commitment starting in 2020 to make the Dodgers a perennial World Series contender, but will they continue to pay out?

Oct. 23, 2021

7

Raisel Iglesias (RHP)

Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias points skyward in celebration of a 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers
Raisel Iglesias
(Brandon Wade / Associated Press)

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If the Dodgers don’t re-sign Jansen, who racked up a franchise-record 350 saves in 12 seasons, Iglesias would be a strong closing option. Iglesias, 31, features a 96-mph fastball, an 85-mph slider, 89.5-mph changeup and a 96.7-mph sinker and went 7-5 with a 2.57 ERA and 34 saves in 65 games for the Angels, striking out 103 and walking 12 in 70 innings. He held batters to a .207 average and .610 OPS and recorded four or more outs in 16 games.

A difficult World Series title defense that included the Dodgers chasing the rival Giants ended up costing the Dodgers vs. the Atlanta Braves.

Oct. 23, 2021

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Kendall Graveman (RHP)

Houston Astros relief pitcher Kendall Graveman throws during the ninth inning in Game 2 of the World Series
Kendall Graveman
(Eric Gay / Associated Press)

If Blake Treinen slides into the closing role, Graveman, who turns 31 in December, would be an attractive setup option. With a lively 96.6-mph sinking fastball and an 87.4-mph slider, Graveman went 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA and 10 saves in 53 games for the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros, striking out 61, walking 20 and giving up 35 hits in 56 innings. He held batters to a .180 average and .536 OPS.

The Atlanta Braves’ recent October success can be attributed to Angels GM Perry Minasian’s involvement when he was recently with the club.

Oct. 28, 2021

9

Eddie Rosario (OF)

]Atlanta Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario catches a line drive hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner ]
Eddie Rosario
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The left-handed-hitting Rosario, 30, won National League Championship Series most valuable player by batting .560 (14 for 25) with a 1.647 OPS, three homers and nine RBIs in Atlanta‘s six-game series win over the Dodgers. He hit .259 with a .740 OPS, 14 homers and 62 RBIs in 111 games for Cleveland and Atlanta and would be a nice complement to right-handed-hitting outfielders AJ Pollock and Mookie Betts.

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Angels’ Shohei Ohtani was honored with the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award for his unprecedented two-way performance this season.

Oct. 26, 2021

10

Javier Baez (SS/2B/3B)

New York Mets' Javier Baez (23) runs the bases after hitting a home run.
Javier Baez
(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)

If Seager departs, the flashy-fielding, free-swinging Baez would be a capable replacement at shortstop or second base if the Dodgers move Trea Turner from second to short. Baez, the NL MVP runner-up in 2018, hit .265 with an .813 OPS, 31 homers and 87 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs and Mets this year but had an NL-high 184 strikeouts and only 28 walks in 547 plate appearances.

Major League Baseball says its owners have agreed to begin providing housing to certain minor league players beginning in the 2022 season.

Oct. 17, 2021

11

Kris Bryant (3B/OF/1B)

San Francisco Giants center fielder Kris Bryant catches a fly out hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner
Kris Bryant
(Jed Jacobsohn / Associated Press)

The right-handed-hitting Bryant, who turns 30 on Jan. 4, would be an attractive utility option if the Dodgers are unable to retain Taylor. Bryant hit .265 with an .835 OPS, 25 homers, 73 RBIs, 62 walks and 10 stolen bases for the Cubs and Giants and can play all three outfield spots and the two corner-infield spots.

Thirty-five years later, Al Michaels says Game 5 of the 1986 Red Sox-Angels ALCS is second only to the “Miracle on Ice” as the greatest game he’s called.

Oct. 12, 2021

12

Marcus Semien (SS/2B)

Toronto Blue Jays' Marcus Semien bats during a baseball game in Detroit
Marcus Semien
(Carlos Osorio / Associated Press)

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The shortstop’s unselfish move to second base to accommodate 23-year-old Blue Jays star Bo Bichette did not impact Semien at the plate. He had a career year, batting .265 with an .873 OPS, 45 homers, 102 RBIs and 15 stolen bases and played in all 162 games. Semien, 31, ranked sixth among second basemen with seven outs above average, according to Baseball Savant.

13

Donovan Solano (2B)

San Francisco Giants second baseman Donovan Solano throws to first base.
Donovan Solano
(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

If Turner moves to shortstop and the Dodgers don’t pursue a high-profile middle infielder, the right-handed-hitting Solano would be a perfect platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Gavin Lux at second. Solano, 33, filled a similar role for the Giants, batting .280 with a .748 OPS, seven homers and 31 RBIs in 101 games, and he is a solid defender.

Evan Phillips played a key role in the Dodgers overcoming a potential disaster when Joe Kelly was injured. He also did something special for Andy Burns.

Oct. 21, 2021

14

Eduardo Escobar (3B/2B)

Arizona Diamondbacks Eduardo Escobar celebrates after hitting a home run off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly
Eduardo Escobar
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

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The switch-hitter, who turns 33 in January, has considerable power from both sides of the plate, as he has shown in his last two full seasons, batting .269 with an .831 OPS, 35 homers, 10 triples and 118 RBIs for Arizona in 2019 and .253 with a .786 OPS, 28 homers, five triples and 90 RBIs this year for Arizona and Milwaukee. He also can play shortstop in a pinch.

Dodgers center fielder Gavin Lux is taking a crash course at a new position in the heat of the playoffs.

Oct. 20, 2021

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