Random Dodgers Roster Thoughts

On a cold, winter morning, thoughts turn to the Dodgers and the current roster – in no particular order:

Pitching

MLB rules restrict teams to a maximum of 13 pitchers on the active roster (two-way players do not count as pitchers). Currently, the team has 10 veteran pitchers who cannot be optioned to the minors (alpha order): Anthony Banda, Edwin Diaz, Tyler Glasnow, Brusdar Graterol, Tanner Scott, Blake Snell, Brock Stewart, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

There are currently eight, young, talented pitchers with roster experience who will be competing for remaining spots: Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, Will Klein, River Ryan, Roki Sasaki, Emmett Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and Justin Wrobleski.

Off-season shoulder surgery will likely keep Stewart on the IL for the entire 2026 season. Ryan, and Stone may begin the season on the IL as they recover from their respective surgeries, rebuilding arm strength as they return to competitive pitching.

Based on 2025 regular and postseason performance, Casparius, Dreyer, Klein, Sasaki, Sheehan, and Wrobleski are pretty much a lock to make the Dodgers Opening Day roster.

Position Players

The Dodgers lineup (Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, Will Smith, Kyle Tucker), and two-way player (Shohei Ohtani) give the 2026 Dodgers one of the most formidable in the 169-year history of Major League Baseball. Barring significant injury, this lineup could exceed the modern day record for runs scored by a team during regular season – 1,067 by the 1931 New York Yankees.

The backup catcher (Dalton Rushing), and two veteran utility players (Andy Ibáñez and Miguel Rojas), leaves room for only one additional player on the roster – two if Edman’s recent ankle surgery places him on the IL at the beginning of the season. Outfielders Alex Call and Ryan Ward, infielders Alex Freeland, and Hyeseong Kim will compete in Spring Training for a place on the bench.

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It wouldn’t be surprising for the Dodgers to:

• Gain roster flexibility by trading a pitcher or two who cannot be optioned to the minors, with left-hander Anthony Banda and right-hander Blake Treinen being primary candidates.
• For the team to trade Emmett Sheehan and prospects for a quality, southpaw starting pitcher; possibly the Detroit Tigers Tarik Skubal or the Washington Nationals Mackenzie Gore.
• For Hyeseong Kim to be the Dodgers regular second baseman. Kim was disappointed in his 2025 performance and has worked hard in the off-season to increase his conditioning, strength, and hitting mechanics. Videos and recent photographs show a much physically-stronger Kim. He came to the team with talent and tools, now he has the strength to use those skills at the MLB level.

With Kim playing second base, Tommy Edman becomes the super utility player, playing as needed on the infield, left field and center field. Edman is well suited for the utility role, playing excellent defense and contributing to the offense with a team oriented approach.

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