The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a previously unthinkable position: down 0-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks as the series shifts to the desert. It's hard to imagine the Dodgers reeling off three straight wins, especially after their performance over the last two games.
With the season dwindling before our eyes, fans will start to look toward the offseason. The Dodgers are prepared to chase splashy free agents like Shohei Ohtani, which could mean a few of the incumbent free agents will soon be in search of new homes.
Los Angeles has never been afraid to pay top dollar, but back-to-back NLDS losses could push the front office in a new direction. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly is the issue with this group — all the pieces are there on paper — but a winter of change feels inevitable.
Here are the players to monitor as potential free agent departees.
4. Kolten Wong's plate struggles mean he won't be back with Dodgers
The Dodgers picked up Kolten Wong midway through the season after the Mariners designated him for minor league assignment. A two-time Gold Glove winner, the 33-year-old Hawaii native has been a useful player at various points in his career. After nearly a decade with the Cardinals and two years with the Brewers, however, it's clear Wong has transitioned out of his prime.
Wong gave the Dodgers faint glimmers of hope with his performance late in the season. After slashing .165/.241/.468 in 67 games with Seattle, he ratcheted his numbers up to .300/.353/.500 in 34 regular season at-bats with LA. A small sample size, but enough for Wong to earn the confidence of LA's coaching staff.
Los Angeles turned to Wong in Game 2 of the NLDS with dire results. The diminutive second baseman trotted to the plate to pinch hit with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning. That was do-or-die time for the Dodgers, and Los Angeles died. Call the ambulance, dead. Wong hit a dinky grounder to first, the side was retired, and the Dodgers fanbase went into a spiral of rage.
One has to imagine Wong's performance in Seattle was more indicative of his current abilities than his brief sample size with the Dodgers. He will hit unrestricted free agency this winter and there's no reason the Dodgers should entertain bringing him back unless it's for a minimal price with no major-league promises.
3. David Peralta's time with Dodgers is coming to a close
The Dodgers signed David Peralta to a reasonable one-year, $6.5 million contract before the season. There were concerns about offseason back surgery and a glut of outfielders on the roster, but Peralta is a former Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner. Sometimes, it's smart to bet on talent thriving under new circumstances.
Well, Peralta's season with the Dodgers offered little to write home about. He slashed .259/.294/.381 at the plate with seven home runs and 55 RBIs in 133 games. Los Angeles went to him regularly. He wasn't terrible, but he certainly wasn't rekindling his 30-home run form from 2018 either. Injuries ravaged the Dodgers' outfield all season, which actually cleared the way for Peralta to establish a regular role, but he simply didn't do enough to garner a long-term investment from the Dodgers.
Peralta is 1-for-4 at the plate across Los Angeles' first two games of the NLDS. He could flip the script with a triumphant Game 3, but short of a truly special rally from LA, it's hard to see any reason for Peralta coming back. There's a good chance his Dodgers stint ends on a low note, with fans remembering that ill-timed celebration after a double in Game 1 with his team trailing 9-0.
Expect Los Angeles to target a few big names in the outfield during free agency and via trade. Those pursuits will all but confirm Peralta's fate. He will have interested suitors around the league, but at 36 years old, expectations should be tempered.
2. Kiké Hernandez's Dodgers reunion could be cut short
After spending 2.5 years with the Boston Red Sox, Enrique Hernandez made his triumphant return to the Dodgers at the trade deadline. Hernandez spent the bulk of his MLB career with Los Angeles and helped bring a championship to the city in 2020. There was understandable excitement to get him back in the locker room.
Unfortunately, Hernandez has not exactly performed at the desired level. Operating in a platoon role, Hernandez has struggled mightily against lefties at the plate. He's a versatile presence in the field, but versatility is only valuable when a player can actually field the positions he is asked to play.
Kiké has 14 errors at shortstop this season. He posted another four errors between third base and second base, making him useful almost exclusively in the outfield. The Dodgers needed extra bodies in the outfield, but it's safe to say Hernandez's production fell flat this season relative to his Swiss Army knife reputation.
His batting numbers perked up slightly after the trade (.262/.308/.423 in 168 regular season at-bats with LA), but Hernandez is, on balance, a 32-year-old veteran who is far past his prime. He's a liability in the infield, a relative non-factor at the plate, and he's a free agent. There's no reason to expect the Dodgers to bring him back. The front office has bigger fish to fry.
Hernandez knocked a run home in Game 2, but it wasn't enough to make the Diamondbacks sweat. So much for that triumphant return.
1. Clayton Kershaw's Dodgers career could end on sour note
Clayton Kershaw has spent his entire Hall of Fame career with the Dodgers. A three-time Cy Young winner, one-time MVP, and 10-time All-Star, few pitchers can claim to match Kershaw's resume. He is a beloved figure in Los Angeles and even at 35 years old, he remains a prolific regular-season arm (13-5 record, 2.46 ERA, 1.063 WHIP).
That said, Kershaw faces a pivotal free agency for a Dodgers team in need of a facelift on the mound. Starting pitching has been a huge issue for LA. On the surface, getting rid of your best pitcher is a strange path to improvement, but Kershaw has also been part of the problem — especially in the postseason. His performance against the Diamondbacks in Game 1 will live in the history books for reasons Kershaw would very much like to forget.
He gave up six hits, a walk, and six earned runs before getting yanked with one out in the first inning. That performance will leave a bad taste in not only Kershaw's mouth but in every front office that considers signing the veteran southpaw — Los Angeles included. If the Dodgers want to throw money at the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, or Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it could come at Kershaw's expense.
It's strange to even think about Kershaw donning a different uniform, but the Dodgers can't let 2024 be a simple rehash of the last two seasons. Something has to change, and it starts with the star nucleus of the roster that continues to fall apart under the bright lights. Do not be shocked if Kershaw is with a new team when spring training rolls around.
