Dodgers' trek to three-peat will be an endurance test

One of the primary challenges ahead is managing returning talent as WBC looms.

- BY JACK HARRIS

ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times

ROKI SASAKI will return to starting pitching after his stint as a reliever.

Just weeks into the off-season, the Dodgers are already thinking 11 months ahead.

Having just finished yet another grueling October campaign, they are bracing for the long road required to get back.

The team’s central focus right now, of course, is on bolstering its roster and supplementing its star-studded core coming out of last week’s annual MLB general managers' meetings in Las Vegas.

But as they go for a World Series three-peat in 2026, one of their primary challenges will be managing the returning talent — and ensuring the burdensome toll from their previous two title treks doesn’t become a roadblock in their pursuit of another ring.

That thinking was present last week, when general manager Brandon Gomes announced that utilityman Tommy Edman will undergo surgery to address an ankle injury that nagged him for the second half of this past season.

When asked about Edman’s recovery timeline, Gomes said the “goal” is to have him ready for spring training — but that the team was also “gonna be smart” about making sure he isn’t rushed back.

“Obviously, he hasn’t had [the surgery] yet. So we'll look into that as we get into the rehab process,” Gomes said. “And like we do with everything, let’s keep the big picture in mind, with the goal of playing through October.”

Taking such a long view has become an annual practice for the Dodgers. Their collection of star talent and organizational depth means they are almost always in position to make the playoffs. It has afforded them leeway to manage players’ regular-season workloads and recovery from injuries with an eye toward having them at full strength come the fall.