Who needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to avoid the Rule 5 Draft, and do the Dodgers have a crunch for roster spots?
In order to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft, players who signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to the 40-man roster within five seasons, and players who signed at age 19 or older need to be added within four seasons. That only applies to one Dodgers prospect on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 list, shortstop Noah Miller (No. 25).
The team selected two Rule 5-eligible players to the 40-man roster on Thursday: outfielder Ryan Ward and left-hander Robinson Ortiz. Last year, the Dodgers only protected lefty Jack Dreyer -- then an unranked prospect -- and he wound up becoming a huge part of the big league bullpen.
What kind of help do the Dodgers need, and will they be active in free agency?
After experiencing peak bullpen volatility this past season, the Dodgers could look to bolster this group. They'll have some interesting decisions on their hands, as several pitchers who missed the 2025 season due to injury should be ready in time for Spring Training. There will be a surplus of starters -- could any of them shift to relief?
With the departure of Conforto, there is also a need in the outfield. In theory, the Dodgers have the pieces they need there, but this group has some uncertainty after 2025. Teoscar Hernández regressed. Andy Pages started cold, got red-hot, then finished cold. Tommy Edman's ankle didn't hold up well enough for him to play center field. Call didn't receive a lot of playing time after being traded from the Nationals.
Even on the heels of their previous two offseasons, the Dodgers wouldn't seem to be restricted in free-agent spending. But given the state of their 40-man roster, it could make sense to look for upgrades on the trade market.
Who might the Dodgers be willing to trade?
The Dodgers have a lot of pitching depth floating between Triple-A and the Majors. One problem here: They ended up needing just about every pitcher they had to win back-to-back championships because of the injuries they dealt with during the regular season.
Still, MLB-ready pitching is a valuable commodity and would appear to be some of the team's best potential trade chips. The farm system is also rich in outfielders, most of whom are a couple years away from the Majors.
