On November 1st, 2023, the Texas Rangers secured their first World Series victory in franchise history, and the MLB offseason began the following day. This period allows players with no remaining years on their contracts to become free agents and opens the trade market for teams to exchange players and/or money. However, the first five days serve as an opportunity for teams to re-sign impending free agents before they enter the open market.
While this process is standard for every team in the league, no one has capitalized on this time quite like the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following a remarkable regular season with 100 wins and the National League West division title for the 10th time in the last 11 years, they suffered a defeat in the National League Championship Series against the 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks. Lots of people knew, with the money the Dodgers have, they would make a big splash. However, the extent of their actions has exceeded all expectations.
Several prominent names across the league entered free agency. In the Dodger organization, notable players such as Clayton Kershaw, J.D. Martinez, and Julio Urias were among the 12 players who became free agents on November 2nd.
Getting to work right away, they secured their power-hitting first baseman Max Muncy (pictured below) with a two-year contract extension worth $24 million. Muncy, coming off a season with 36 home runs, was a crucial retention. Despite losing a few more players to free agency, the team continued their spending by signing two more players. Ricky Vanasco and Yency Almonte were acquired later in the month for a combined total of almost $3 million. These were the main moves made in November, with spending reaching around $27 million.
Photo Cred: The Athletic
Entering December, the Dodgers had plans that no one knew about, which would transform them into one of the most formidable lineups the game has ever seen on paper. To start off the month, they signed two players: Jason Heyward ($9 million) and Joe Kelly ($8 million). They also completed a trade with the New York Yankees, with Victor Gonzalez and Jorbit Vivas heading to NY for Trey Sweeney. However, these moves were overshadowed by the bombshell that dropped later that week.
On December 9th, 2023, former LA Angel and reigning American League MVP Shohei Ohtani announced on his Instagram that he would be signing with the cross-town Dodgers for a then-unknown amount. It was not until two days later, on the 11th, that the public learned he signed the largest contract in sports history – a 10-year, $700 million deal. Often referred to as a “once-in-a-lifetime talent,” Ohtani is coming off a historic season, leading the AL in home runs with 44 and hitting over .300 in almost 600 plate appearances. On the mound, he held a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts. Despite his second stint with Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers have faith that he can help them win games. However, they were far from done with their moves.
Just five days later, they made another blockbuster deal. Completing a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, LAD got star right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot, along with $2 million. This trade was followed by the news that the team had signed Glasnow to a five-year, $136.5 million extension before he even threw a pitch for them.
Going almost two weeks without making any moves, the already star-studded Dodgers closed out the year by adding another arm to their rotation. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (pictured below), the second-best free agent going into the 2023 offseason, joined the team. The 25-year-old, Japanese-born right-handed pitcher was coming off his third-straight Pacific League MVP season and winning his third-straight triple crown in the Nippon Professional Baseball league (Japan’s equivalent to MLB).
Photo Cred: Dodger Insider
Regarded as the best pitcher in Japan, Yamamoto made a splash on the global baseball stage by aiding Japan in winning the 5th World Baseball Classic. Pitching in two games, he conceded only two earned runs in just over seven innings while recording 12 strikeouts. Following the conclusion of the 2023 NPB season, the Orix Buffaloes announced that Yamamoto would be posted to MLB, paving the way for him to sign with a team. The Dodgers seized this opportunity, signing him to a contract that stands as the largest ever given to a pitcher in MLB history (12 years, $325 million), despite him never having set foot on an MLB mound before.
In the early days of the new year, the Dodgers continued their aggressive approach by securing another formidable bat. Teoscar Hernández is coming off a season where he played 160 of 162 games, accumulated 29 doubles, 26 home runs, and 93 RBIs. The 30-year-old outfielder signed a one-year contract reportedly worth $23.5 million.
Over the past three months, the LA Dodgers have invested an estimated $1.23 billion, reinforcing their lineup already brimming with All-Stars. The team sent six players to the 2023 All-Star Game, tying for the second-most representatives from any team in baseball. With standout players like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Walker Buehler anchoring the rotation and lineup, the 2024 Dodgers appear poised to be one of, if not the most, well-rounded and dominating teams ever assembled on paper in the history of sports!
Photo Cred: X.com
