Insider insight: seasoned GM believes Dodgers’ path to contention depends on strengthening bullpen and infield. lt

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The Los Angeles Dodgers will enter the 2026 MLB season as the odds-on favorite to win a third straight World Series championship. The Dodgers have done everything possible to put themselves in a position to keep on winning.

Yet even the Dodgers have to realize that some adjustments and tweaks need to be made. When looking at the team right now, it’s obvious that more bullpen and infield support are key.

One veteran MLB general manager keeps his eyes on all of the squads in the big leagues. He’s pretty much clued in to what clubs need to get done.

Jim Bowden offered some coherent thoughts about the Dodgers in a new article for The Athletic. In looking at the Dodgers bullpen, Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen were supposed to be lockdown relievers. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hoped to be able to send them out on a regular basis and pick up saves.

Did that work out last season? Not all the time. Scott and Treinen weren’t always reliable. That’s not a good situation to be in for the Dodgers and the club knows it.

“The Dodgers’ bullpen looked loaded coming into the 2025 season after they added Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott in free agency and brought back Blake Treinen,” Bowden wrote. “Injuries and unexpected underperformance made the bullpen a liability instead of a strength for much of the season.

“Yates is a free agent but much of their current group is set to return for 2026,” Bowden continued. “Given the bullpen’s struggles in 2025 and lingering injuries (Evan Phillips had Tommy John surgery in June, Brock Stewart had shoulder debridement surgery in September, Scott finished the season on the injured list), the bullpen is an area they still need to address.”

Bowden suggests that the Dodgers consider signing Edwin Díaz or Robert Suarez. Additionally, Bowden said that the “Dodgers should be strong on the left side of the pen, especially if Scott can rebound, because Alex Vesia will be back next year, as well as Anthony Banda and Jack Dreyer.”

What about the infield situation? There’s Freddie Freeman at first, Tommy Edman at second, Mookie Betts at shortstop and Max Muncy holding down third base.

“Given Edman’s versatility and Muncy’s contract situation, there is room for improvement in the Dodgers’ infield,” Bowden wrote. “They could sign free-agent infielder Bo Bichette, play him at second and move Edman to the outfield, or they could play Bichette at third base and see if Muncy would be willing to waive his 10-and-5 rights and trade him to a team like the Mariners, who could use Muncy at either corner off the bench.”

Also, Bowden didn’t leave out the Dodgers’ outfield situation. There needs to be some focus on that part of the Dodgers’ roster, too. Teoscar Hernández has proven to be a liability in right field and making a significant upgrade should be a part of the team’s Winter Meetings strategy.

Of course, Kyle Tucker is on the market and, yes, the Dodgers will have some money available. It’s hard to believe, but Los Angeles just might get involved in the Tucker sweepstakes. He’s a World Series champion from his time with the Houston Astros, so Tucker knows about playing in the postseason.

All in all, the Dodgers have a pretty good roster right now. Yet making some additions and adjustments just might be what the team needs in search of another championship.

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