LOS ANGELES — The sudden shock of elimination in the National League Division Series will lead to calls for massive changes. The Dodgers will be linked with big-name free agents – as they annually are, regardless – such as Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon.
But the truth is the Dodgers’ 2020 roster will probably look a lot like their 2019 roster. Here’s a rundown of where everyone stands heading into an earlier-than-expected winter:
Player ————————— 2019 salary ————————— 2020 status (salary)
LHP Scott Alexander ————– $575,000 ————– Arbitration eligible
He has not lived up to his billing as a ground ball specialist and now has health issues.
RHP Pedro Baez ————– $2.1 million ————– Arbitration eligible
Baez should remain part of the 2020 bullpen – despite another costly postseason home run.
RHP Walker Buehler ————– $570,000 ————– Under club control
The postseason put any doubt to rest – the torch has been passed to a new ace.
LHP Caleb Ferguson ————– $560,000 ————– Under club control
A summer in OKC could be in his future after failing to take a step forward in 2019.
RHP Dylan Floro ————– $565,000 ————– Under club control
A midseason demotion, being left off the postseason roster do not bode well for a future role.
RHP Yimi Garcia ————– $710,000 ————– Arbitration eligible
The homer-prone reliever might have overstayed his usefulness.
RHP Tony Gonsolin ————– $550,000* ————– Under club control
He’s expected to compete for a spot in the Dodgers’ 2020 rotation.
IF Jedd Gyorko ————– $13 million ————– Club option ($13 million)
The Dodgers will buy out his option year for $1 million and bid farewell.
LHP Rich Hill ————– $18 million ————– Free agent
He’ll turn 40 next spring, but Dodgers might be the only team that can afford the luxury of an oft-injured starter.
RHP Kenley Jansen ————– $18 million ————– Under contract through 2021 ($18 million)
He has an opt-out clause this winter, but he is in no position to do better than remaining two years, $38 million.
RHP Joe Kelly ————– $3.3 million ————– Under contract through 2021 ($8.3 million)
The Dodgers got what they paid for – a reliever with electric stuff but sporadic results.
LHP Clayton Kershaw ————– $31 million ————– Under contract through 2021 ($31 million)
He will turn 32 next spring and is still a good pitcher, but his postseason legacy is permanently tarnished.
LHP Adam Kolarek ————– $560,800 ————– Under club control
Hey, look – a trade-deadline bullpen acquisition who proved reliable in his role.
RHP Kenta Maeda ————– $3.125 million (plus bonuses) ————– Under contract through 2023 ($3.125 million)
Another shutdown performance out of the postseason bullpen raises questions about his best role.
RHP Dustin May ————– $550,000 ————– Under club control
A spot in the back of the Dodgers’ 2020 rotation is his for the taking at age 22.
LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu ————– $17.9 million ————– Free agent
Represented by Scott Boras, Ryu will look to cash in on his Cy Young-level season.
RHP Casey Sadler ————– $550,000 ————– Under club control
Pretty effective when given the ball, expect to see Sadler in the 2020 bullpen mix.
RHP Ross Stripling ————– $595,000 ————– Arbitration eligible
The podcast entrepreneur deserves better than the hybrid role that remains in his future.
LHP Julio Urias ————– $565,000 ————– Under club control
After a season pockmarked by suspension and workload management, do restrictions finally come off?
C Austin Barnes ————– $575,000 ————– Arbitration eligible
He flubbed his chance to be more than a backup with back-to-back seasons of offensive regression.
IF-OF Matt Beaty ————– $550,000 ————– Under club control
His ability to provide quality at-bats makes him a candidate for the 2020 bench.
1B-OF Cody Bellinger ————– $605,000 ————– Arbitration eligible
An MVP (maybe) season in his first year of arbitration puts him in line for a significant raise.
1B David Freese ————– $4.5 million ————– Free agent
The well-respected veteran is ready for retirement after 11 big-league seasons.
IF-OF Kiké Hernandez ————– $3.725 million ————– Arbitration eligible
Versatility is key to the Dodgers’ roster-building, which makes Hernandez valuable to them.
2B Gavin Lux ————– $550,000 ————– Under club control
The Dodgers should have seen enough to pencil him in as the starter at second base next year.
C Russell Martin ————– $20 million (only $3.6 million by L.A.) ————– Free agent
At 36, Martin’s career might be over unless he takes a minor-league deal, fights for a spot somewhere.
IF Max Muncy ————– $575,000 ————– Arbitration eligible
Control of the strike zone and big power make him one of the Dodgers’ core players.
IF-OF Kristopher Negron ————– $550,000 ————– Under club control
A year on the OKC shuttle is in the future for another versatile bench player.
OF Joc Pederson ————– $5 million ————– Arbitration eligible
Pederson might become too expensive for a platoon player – but he is productive in that role.
OF A.J. Pollock ————– $4 million ————– Under contract through 2022 ($12 million)
Last winter’s big free-agent signing has the potential to become a five-year albatross.
IF Edwin Rios ————– $550,000 ————– Under club control
The Dodgers like his offensive potential but he will have a hard time finding a roster spot.
SS Corey Seager ————– $4 million ————– Arbitration eligible
A year farther removed from elbow and hip surgeries, will Seager return to All-Star level?
C Will Smith ————– $550,000 ————– Under club control
The “Next Buster Posey” hype was premature, but Smith is the Dodgers’ man behind the plate.
IF-OF Chris Taylor ————– $3.5 million ————– Arbitration eligible
Another part-time player whose versatility might not be worth the arbitration-inflated cost.
3B Justin Turner ————– $18 million ————– Under contract through 2020 ($19 million)
Turns 35 next month and will be entering the final year of his contract; still a valuable player, team leader
OF Alex Verdugo ————– $560,000 ————– Arbitration eligible
An excellent rookie season cut short by back problems – a troublesome development at age 23.
* Some rookie salaries are a pro-rated portion of the big-league minimum.