The Dodgers partied hard this weekend, and now, they’re looking ahead to the 2026 season. Jack Harris at the Los Angeles Times has four big questions for the team, starting with: Can they keep spending
this much money?
The Dodgers set records this year with $347 million in year-end salary and $415 million in competitive balance tax payroll; according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, they’re projected to spend about $100 million less in both categories. There’s room to make some moves, then, if the Dodgers are willing to take on the 110% surcharge they’ll now be hit with for adding new money to their payroll.
Next question: Who’s coming back to the team? Max Muncy has a $10 million team option, Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas are free agents, and all three are in their mid-30s. But Muncy’s salary is more than affordable for the Dodgers, and there may not have been a parade on Monday without Rojas and Hernández. I’d expect to see all three back on the roster next season.
The Dodgers might use some of that wiggle room to sign Kyle Tucker, an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs. L.A. could use another outfielder—Michael Conforto is in free agency, Alex Call didn’t see too much time in the field this season, and there are no farm league prospects who seem ready to go. So will the Dodgers make a big outfield move? It’s likely, and Tucker is at the top of the list for many teams looking for more defensive support.
And finally, there’s the question of pitching. Oh, the pitching. One year, it’s the rotation, the next, it’s the bullpen, and manager Dave Roberts always seems to make magic out of the chaos. Wouldn’t it be nice to give him a break from all that mental gymnastics? The Dodgers will ideally start 2026 with a deep rotation and bullpen as pitchers like Gavin Stone and Brusdar Graterol return from injuries that sidelined them this year, but the closer spot remains a question mark after Tanner Scott’s rough season. Luckily, there are plenty of options on the market, including Devin Williams and Pete Fairbanks, who have been on the Dodgers’ radar before.
Dodgers Notes
It’s curtains for Clayton Kershaw, one of the greatest Dodgers of all time. From the bad old days of the early 2000s to back-to-back World Series wins, Kershaw has seen it all and left his mark on both the team and the city he’s been part of for 18 years. Alden González at ESPN details Kershaw’s career and legacy as the veteran pitcher heads into retirement.
Who’s the top team to watch in the National League West next season? It’s not the Dodgers or even the Padres, according to Will Leitch at MLB.com. It’s the San Francisco Giants, led by president of baseball operations Buster Posey, who has already made some surprising moves as he tries to build the Giants back into a powerhouse.
TV rights to Dodger games have been a contentious asset for years, so L.A. fans know all about the impact ratings and viewership can have on the sport. After the this year’s World Series hit record numbers thanks to international audiences, are owners really going to lock out players to force a salary cap? Bill Shaikin at the Los Angeles Times breaks it all down.
