The Los Angeles Dodgers face a unique set of challenges this offseason, with decisions to make that most teams would envy. Coming off a World Series victory, the team is gearing up for the 2025 season, and they have a roster of star pitchers ready to return to the rotation. Notably, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow will be joining new addition Blake Snell, forming a formidable core of pitchers. With the Dodgers planning a six-man rotation, two slots are still open, and their focus is now on filling those gaps.
The team also faces the question of whether they will bring back any of the free-agent starters from their World Series-winning rotation. Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler, two of the most highly sought-after free agents, remain unsigned, and the Dodgers are expected to compete with other teams for their services. Flaherty, in particular, seems like a possible target for a return to LA. A Southern California native, Flaherty had an impressive season with a 3.17 ERA over 162 innings, striking out 194 batters. His performance in the playoffs, however, was mixed, with a high 7.36 ERA across five starts, though he did pitch brilliantly in two games, one during the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and another in the World Series.
Despite Flaherty’s standout regular season, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts that the Dodgers may be unable to afford him this offseason. Given the team’s budget constraints, it seems unlikely that they will be able to sign a pitcher like Flaherty, who could command a contract exceeding $20 million per year. Instead, Miller forecasts that Flaherty will move across town to the Los Angeles Angels, with a potential three-year, $72 million deal.
Miller suggests that the Angels could be an ideal landing spot for Flaherty, especially since the team has already made some bold moves this offseason in an effort to improve. The Angels have been struggling in recent years, and adding a pitcher of Flaherty’s caliber would significantly enhance their pitching rotation. Miller notes that Flaherty’s return to Southern California would not only allow him to stay close to home but also give him the opportunity to lead a revamped pitching staff. The Angels are hoping for a much better 2025 campaign after a disappointing 2024 season, and Flaherty could be the key to turning things around.
Flaherty’s decision to join the Angels, while it may not be considered as glamorous as a move to the Dodgers, would still provide him with the opportunity to stay in the LA area. He would head up a staff that includes other new additions such as Kikuchi, Kyle Hendricks, Tyler Anderson, and José Soriano. While the Angels are still a few steps away from being contenders, their offseason moves indicate that they are serious about making a push in the competitive AL West division.
For the Dodgers, this situation is a reminder that even with their World Series pedigree, they are not immune to the challenges of roster management. Balancing a star-studded lineup with the financial constraints that come with it will force them to make tough decisions about which players they can retain and which ones they must let go. As it stands, it seems that Flaherty’s market may have outpaced the Dodgers’ available budget, leaving the Angels with a real opportunity to capitalize on the situation and make their own push toward playoff contention.
