Aging core may have Dodgers exploring trade

The market suits their short- and long-term goals as they try to set up a run at three-peat.

- By Jack HarRIs

DEVIN WILLIAMS of the Yankees is a possible target for the Dodgers' bullpen.

(YUKI IWAMURA Associated Press)

After back-to-back winters in which they aggressively pursued the free-agent market, the early signs this offseason suggest the Dodgers could explore a different path.

They have not materialized as the kind of clear-cut front-runner for top free-agent prize Kyle Tucker, as many around the industry had expected over the summer.

They have downplayed their few areas of potential roster “need,” touting their returning talent and internal depth instead.

While they have staked out a few early targets in free agency — specifically in the bullpen, where back-end relievers Devin Williams and Raisel Iglesias have emerged as two names of interest, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly — they could nonetheless be hesitant to add another longer-term contract to their already aging core.

Even with more than $60 million coming off the books from last year’s payroll, their focus “is less about how do we just spend money,” general manager Brandon Gomes said at this week’s annual general managers’ meetings, “and it’s much more about who’s available in the market, whether that’s free agency or otherwise, to make this team as good as possible to try to win a third [World Series] in a row.”

That “otherwise” might be where the Dodgers best line up to make significant moves this winter.

The trade market, given the current state of their roster, could better suit both their nearand long-term goals.