How the 2026 Champion Los Angeles Dodgers Were Built
Oct 13, 2021 19:00:11 GMT -5
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Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 13, 2021 19:00:11 GMT -5
After winning the title in 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers became the PBA’s first repeat champion in taking home the 2026 championship.
Last year’s entry in this series showed how the Dodgers were one of the most balanced champions in 2025, relying on talent they were defaulted into, as well as several draft picks, traded players, and free agent signings. Their 2026 title featured many of the key players from the 2025 team with one glaring omission. The Dodgers allowed Nomar Mazara to leave in free agency, replacing him with a talented, but injury prone Luis Robert. The Dodgers crossed their fingers that Robert would stay healthy and provide them with the high-end production they needed to win the title.
Players
Defaulted Into
Alex Verdugo (resigned to 7-year $138 million contract in 2025. $18 million in 2026 season)
Willie Calhoun (resigned to a 4-year, $48 million contract in 2026. $12 million contract in 2026 season)
Osiris Ramirez ($2.6 million arbitration contract in 2025 season)
Keibert Ruiz (5.7 million arbitration contract in 2025 season)
While the superstar talent the Dodgers were defaulted into has gradually left the team, there are still four players the Dodgers had when the PBA started who have been key contributors for them.
Willie Calhoun took a small step back last season, producing only 31 home runs after a 47-homer year in 2025. He still bangs out doubles, gets on base, produces in the playoffs, and is one of the key drivers of their offense. The Dodgers finally had to give him a contract, and have him on a bargain deal where he’s being paid only $12 million a year.
Keibert Ruiz struggled in the playoffs, but had his best year of his career during the regular season, hitting 13 home runs, driving in 70 hitters, and earning an All-Star nod. He just turned 28 during the season and was able to help the Dodgers win a ring while on an arbitration contract.
Alex Verdugo took a significant step back offensively, but his defense earned him his second Gold Glove. He’s on a big long contract and his wife wants him to play in a larger market, but the Dodgers’ were able to build a great outfield defense with Verdugo a major part.
The Dodgers greatest element in their 2026 title was their bullpen, with Osiris Ramirez a major part. He was simply outstanding the entire year, both in the regular season and playoffs. He didn’t have a full-time role for the Dodgers until 2021, so the club was able to have him under an arbitration contract before the 2026 season.
None of these players are superstars, but all are key pieces to what the Dodgers want to be. Ben Vincent has done a terrific job identifying what he wants his team to be, and keeping the pieces who keep that identity or come at a discount like Calhoun.
Draft Picks
J.B. Bukauskas (2017, 1st Round Pick, 27th Overall. Minimum contract in 2026)
Ismael Robles (2020, Supplemental Pick, 40th Overall. $5.9 Million arbitration contract in 2026)
Bobby Spong (2023, 2nd Round Pick, 69th Overall. Minimum contract in 2026)
Travis Tyre (2023, 10th Round Pick, 312 Overall. Minimum contract in 2026)
The Dodgers haven’t had premium draft picks over the years, but have really nailed good relievers with the picks they’ve made.
J.B. Bukauskas hasn’t turned into the star many in the 2017 draft turned into, but he’s been a fine depth piece the past two years, keeping the team’s floor competitive with Corey Kluber and Eduardo Rodriguez out with injuries.
Penguin Robles keeps getting better and better, and may be the best postseason pitcher in PBA history. He’s become a sensational regular season closer with 80 saves, 13 wins, and 6.3 WAR the past two years, and his 1.34 playoff ERA is second all-time. He already tops the all time playoff saves leaderboard with 18, a number that’s likely to only increase. The Dodgers got him 40th overall, an absolute steal.
Los Angeles rounded out their pen with a few 2023 picks. Bobby Spong’s been a bit wild in the postseason, but his power arm and brilliant slider have made him a reliable option, while Travis Tyre burst on the scene this year with 99 strikeouts in 66.2 innings, to look like another homegrown relief wiz courtesy of the Dodgers’ developmental system. Spong was more of a premium pick in the second round, but Tyre turned in a strong rookie campaign despite being a 10th rounder.
The Dodgers have used the draft to supply themselves with three major relief arms and a depth starter. Los Angeles doesn’t solely rely on the draft to build their pen—several key free agents helped boost it this season—but they’re not afraid to take relievers with their second selections, knowing that a strong bullpen will be key in the playoffs.
Free Agents
Corey Kluber (1/1/22—5-year, $122 million contract. $22 million in 2026)
Fidel Mejia (12/23/22—Minor League contract with $10K signing bonus. Minimum contract in 2026)
Alex Bregman (2/3/23—6-year, $138 million contract. $30.1 million in 2026)
Austin Hedges (12/19/23—5 year, $53.5 million contract. $9 million in 2026)
Seiya Suzuki (1/2/24—5 year, $76.8 million contract. $16.7 million in 2026)
Steven Matz (12/13/24—6-year, $92 million contract. $16.5 million in 2026)
Giovanny Gallegos (12/26/25—4-Year, $30.5 million contract. $7.2 million in 2026)
Nick Burdi (1/3/26—3-Year, $12 million contract. $4 million in 2026)
Luis Robert (1/11/26) 8-Year, $179.5 million contract. $16.4 million in 2026)
Nick Solak (6/27/26—Minor League contract. Minimum Contract in 2026)
The Dodgers haven’t had a perfect record in Free Agency, especially with some of Ben Vincent’s earlier signings. However, the Dodgers have the financial muscle to sign superstars, and Vincent has an ideology of having a big-time bullpen. The Dodgers used those factors to help mold their team.
In terms of the stars, the Dodgers were able to give Alex Bregman a contract back in 2023 that paid out $138 million, and over $30 million last year. Bregman wasn’t great in the postseason—a trend for him—but he was fine and had a huge regular season. His numbers weren’t as great as 2025, but the run environment makes up much of the difference. He played a solid Third Base and accumulated 4.5 WAR despite having some hamstring issues at the beginning of the year that caused him to miss time. Bregman earned his fourth straight All-Star nod as a key piece in both title runs the last two years.
The Dodgers also had a major hole to fill after their 2025 title with Nomar Mazara leaving in Free Agency. The Dodgers took a chance on Luis Robert, who had a checkered injury history, but was largely upright in 2025. Vincent was able to keep the AAV reasonable by signing Robert to an 8-year contract with bonuses for Plate Appearances and All-Star nods to help prevent some downside risk for health. Robert stayed on the field, hit 30 homers, clubbed 30 doubles, drove in 104 runs, and earned his bonuses for 550 Plate Appearances and being an All-Star. He faded down the stretch—perhaps tired from not having his rest while on the IL—but was an approximation of Mazara until September.
Vincent also made sure last offseason to continue to bolster the bullpen. With Kenley Jansen retiring and Clayton Kershaw not resigned, the Dodgers had a couple of roster spots open in the pen. They signed Giovanny Gallegos and Nick Burdi to reasonably pricy deals to make sure their bullpen was one of the best out there. Gallegos was coming off a rough 2025 where he was overworked, and was solid, but unspectacular during the regular season. He shined in the playoffs though, with a 0.73 ERA. Despite being paid a high amount for a non-closer, the deal was worth it. Burdi was someone Vincent managed in Miami, and after fizzling out in Washington last year, had a nice contract in LA. He had a very good regular season, a better playoffs, and is now a champion.
Vincent’s earliest signings haven’t help up as well over time. After strong seasons in 2024 and 2025, Seiya Suzuki’s body appears to be breaking down. His contract will go down the next two seasons, but he’s an albatross making over $15 million. Austin Hedges is also a very expensive backup catcher with a .158 career playoff average. His defense is still strong, but not as elite as it was earlier. He’s a leader in the clubhouse and a fine backup, just one who should be making a third of what he earns.
Vincent’s Steven Matz signing has been fine, even though Matz has been two different pitchers the last two years. In 2025, he was homer-prone despite having good strikeout numbers, and went 4-14 with a 4.43 ERA despite a 3.1 WAR season. Last year, Matz cut his homers and his strikeouts, with a nearly full run drop in ERA to 3.66. He went 9-7 despite a similar 2.6 WAR.
Corey Kluber and Fidel Mejia pre-date Vincent, but both had useful seasons. Kluber was 40-years-old coming off an injury last year, so naturally he wasn’t going to be the ace he was much of his career. He was a serviceable regular season arm though who provided value on his contract when he was healthy earlier in his Dodgers tenure. Mejia, meanwhile, hit .323 as a utility infielder somehow.
International Free Agency
Jorge Ramos (11/10/20—$1.3 million signing bonus. Minimum contract in 2026)
Troy Allenbagh signed Ramos to an inexpensive bonus in 2020. Most top IFA’s sign for $5 million or more. Allenbagh saw potential in the Cuban Ramos, namely for his defensive chops and balanced bat. Ramos exploded in Rookie Ball in 2023 and indicated to Dodgers brass he may be more than a defender. He hit over .300 with 19 steals in Oklahoma City in 2025 and earned his way onto a crowded roster for 2026, earning a starting job once Suzuki fell out of favor. He hit. 288 with an even .500 slugging percentage and played good defense at all three positions. It’s unclear exactly what happens with the expensive Verdugo, but at worst, a defensive alignment with Ramos, Verdugo, and Gold Glover Jeren Kendall will be the best defensive outfield in baseball for the next couple seasons.
The Ramos signing was a cheap investment that has already paid off handsomely for the Dodgers.
Trades
Jeren Kendall (11/30/22—Traded from the Marlins for Dale Messina and Jayden Howell. Signed a 7-year, $94.5 million contract in 2024. $13.5 million contract in 2026)
Eduardo Rodriguez (Signed a 5-year, 90 million contract in 2026. $18 million contract in 2026)
Amin Valdez (12/8/22—Traded from the Braves for Grayson Rodriguez and Rafael Marchan. $9 million arbitration contract in 2026)
Luis Urias (12/28/23—Traded from the Padres for Tetsuo Yamada and John Thacker. $19.7 million contract in 2026)
Tim Schroeder (3/11/24—Traded by the Giants for Bill Trevino. $1 million contract in 2026)
Eric Groves (11/18/24—Traded by the Marlins for a 1st Round Pick [Jeff Alexander]. Minimum contract in 2026.)
Joey Wentz (4/14/25—Traded by the Phillies for Juan Herrera and a 15th Round Pick [Trent Zion]. $5 million arbitration contract in 2026)
Matt Cleveland (11/22/25—Traded by the Mets for Luis Ceja. $7.7 million contract in 2026)
Wuilmer Becerra (7/27/26—Traded by Marlins for Jonathan Holder. $935K contract in 2026)
The trades section for the Dodgers looks a lot different with Nomar Mazara having moved on. However, while not having a Hall-of-Famer on the roster acquired for two players who immediately fell apart, the Dodgers remain a team that has obtained major talent by identifying key pieces and trading for them.
In fact, while Mazara was likely the most important player for the Dodgers last year, their most important player this year could have been Matt Cleveland. With Eduardo Rodriguez and Corey Kluber injured for part of the year with major injuries, plus older, Vincent needed to make sure the Dodgers had a frontline starter. Rebel Ceja was promising, but too young to be a major leaguer. Vincent swapped him to New York for Cleveland, a young ace still on arbitration. Cleveland had a fantastic regular season and a strong postseason and looks to be the Dodgers ace going forward.
Vincent also signed Jonathan Holder last offseason, and after a non-descript season, flipped him when LA’s rotation healed up. The Dodgers needed a bat to hit left-handed pitching so Vincent brought in old friend Becera, whom he managed in Miami. Becerra didn’t do much for the Dodgers, but he was cheaper than Holder at least.
Looking back to older moves—and copy/pasting vigorously from last year’s writeup—Vincent came over from Miami after the 2022 season and immediately traded for his first ever draft pick, Jeren Kendall. Kendall has continued his career as a Hall-of-Fame caliber defender, and an erratic, but powerful offensive player. Kendall’s running game slowed down in the regular season, but he had seven playoff steals walked 14 times, and drove in 15 runs for his second straight huge postseason. Defensively, his talent, combined with Dodger Stadium’s spacious outfield, has made LA one of the toughest places for opponents to hit.
Vincent then dealt Grayson Rodriguez and Rafael Marchan to the Braves for Eduardo Rodriguez and Amin Valdez. Rodriguez is a live arm, while Marchan is a nice backup Catcher. However, Eduardo Rodriguez has been one of the best pitchers in the league with the Dodgers. After a solid regular season and tough start to the playoffs, Rodriguez closed out 2026 with an excellent run. He allowed one run in 6.1 innings to cut Los Angeles’ NLCS deficit to 3-2, and closed out the World Series with 8.1 innings of shutout ball.
Meanwhile, Amin Valdez reverted back to who he was in 2024, as his power gains from 2025 dried up, leaving him with a .336 slugging percentage. His range also took a hit at short and he had an error-filled playoffs. He also stole 28 bases and should rebound going forward.
The Dodgers corrected a mistake in 2023 by swapping out Tetsuo Yamada for Luis Urias. Yamada was a disappointment in Los Angeles and spent most of this past year in El Paso. Urias rebounded off a tough 2025 and hit .310 in the regular season and .310 in the playoffs. The Dodgers took on an extra $5 million in the deal, and to depart with Scruffy Thacker, who looks like a good future arm. However, the Dodgers filled a Second Base need and jettisoned dead money.
Los Angeles needed bullpen help in 2025, and instead of trying to find one on the market, traded their first rounder for Eric Groves. Groves was someone Vincent knew from his Miami days, and his instincts on the lefty were correct. Groves struck out 70 hitters in just 40 innings this year, while putting up a postseason shutout in 4.2 innings. The Marlins didn’t sign the player they got with the 37th overall pick, and while those picks sometimes turn into Pat Cypert, they also sometimes turn into Chase Goldwater. A talented reliever who may become a closer isn’t the worst outcome for a late first round pick.
2025 hero Joey Wentz didn’t have quite as strong a 2026 after saving LA’s season the year prior. He nonetheless was solid in the regular season and postseason and didn’t come at much cost. With Cleveland on board, and Rodriguez healed, there was less pressure on Wentz to be an ace, and he was fine in a mid-rotation role.
Tim Schroeder didn’t have a role in 2025, but was a key piece last year. Acquired for young, oft-injured prosect Bill Trevino, Schroeder was rough as a swingman in 2024 and returned as a key reliever in 2026. Schroeder’s stuff plays up in relief, and his relatively mistake-prone command is minimized in a smaller role. He had a 2.82 ERA in 108.1 regular season innings, and didn’t allow a run in 6 playoff frames.
The moves the Dodgers made showed a team that identified special talent, and was willing to move major assets to acquire it. Dale Messina and Jayden Howell may turn out to be special players for Miami. That first round pick the Marlins got for Eric Groves may turn out to be something. Luis Ceja has ace potential for the Mets. However, the Dodgers identified players who could have helped them win a title and made sure to acquire them. As with their Free Agent Signings, the Dodgers have done a great job at scouting and identifying talent and knowing exactly how those players could work in their ecosystem.
Staff
Assistant GM: Kevin Towers
Long time assistant GM Kevin Towers continued his fine work in the league, this time helping Vincent put together a championship staff. There was some turnover after the 2025 title, with the Dodgers replacing their scouting director, trainer, and pitching coach while adding two new base coaches. Towers scouting background helped Vincent and Scouting Director Brian Bridges continue to identify talent. Finally, Towers’ record speaks for itself. He’s never presided over a losing team, despite being fired midway through his first season in San Francisco with 71-37 record to save money.
Hitting Coach: Rick Schu
Schu’s championship ring was his third in four seasons. After helping develop the Twins’ bats into a championship unit, he was signed to be the hitting coach of the Dodgers in 2024. A big proponent of power, he helped Willie Calhoun, Nomar Mazara, Amin Valdez, and Jeren Kendall take big leaps, while facilitating Seiya Suzuki’s adjustment to major league pitching. He notably, also hasn’t gotten his team to sell out for power as the team led the league in average last year. Schu was able to get Luis Urias to hit for average again and continued to do wonders for Alex Bregman.
Some of Schu’s magic wore off last year though, with Valdez coming back to Earth and Suzuki breaking down. Schu commands a large salary and is only average at handling aging. With an older roster, the Dodgers are likely to move on.
Pitching Coach: Tyler Hale
Hale came aboard this year after the team didn’t hold on to last year’s coach, Doug Henry. Hale was very young, 35 most of last year, with the job being his first pro job. Nevertheless, Hale is a savant at teaching pitching even being just 35. He related well to LA’s rotation, even older arms like Corey Kluber who are older than Hale is. He helped some of the Dodgers veterans like Rodriguez and Matz stay sharp, and also helped rookies like Tyre pitch well in the majors. A coach to watch, Hale has a long career ahead of him.
Bench Coach: Arnie Beyeler
Beyeler and Vincent have a long history, with Beyeler being the bench coach for the Marlins club that made the playoffs in 2022. Beyeler’s had a good relationship with many of the Dodgers players, even improving a bad relationship with Joey Wentz to a merely fair one. With a great bullpen, Beyeler’s quick trigger on starters paid off well, and his desire to not pinch hit paid off with a team with a shallow bench and a stellar starting nine, though his decisions to bat Beccera for Calhoun frequently in the postseason were curious. Beyeler also won two titles for the New Orleans Baby Cakes in Miami’s Triple-A system, and success has found him in his career.
1B Coach: Eric Avila
3B Coach: Bill Spiers
Avila and Spiers tag-teamed infield teaching responsibilities with Avila teaching running and infield defense, and Spiers teaching catching and outfield defense. Spiers was largely more successful, as the Dodgers catchers were strong defensively, and their outfield produced two gold gloves. While the Dodgers weren’t great on the bases, Spiers is well-regarded as a good coach of the running game.
Despite a strong relationship with Amin Valdez, Avila wasn’t able to keep him from declining as a fielder last year, and the Dodgers were towards the bottom in wSB. Avila did get Jeren Kendall to be a weapon in the postseason though. For a 36-year-old rookie coach, the expectation is Avila will be better next year.
Scouting Director: Brian Bridges
The Dodgers moved on from Michael Hill after last year’s title, despite excellent work. Vincent was impressed with Brian Bridges’ work in Philadelphia, signing him to a contract worth over $1 million a year. Bridges’ last four seasons have been with teams that have won over 100 games. He did a great job identifying which minor leaguers were worth bringing up to the Dodgers, and which could be traded away. He’s only good at Major League scouting, but with a veteran roster, that’s not as important to LA.
Trainer: Richard L. Bancells
Sincere Knoten retired after a terrible 2025 for Dodgers injuries, and the Dodgers made sure to upgrade the position. With the Dodgers’ biggest injury risk being Luis Robert, and Richard L. Bancells keeping him healthy in Baltimore in 2025, Vincent brought aboard Bancells to repeat the feat. Bancells is only “good” at rehabbing injuries, perhaps a reason why Kluber and Rodriguez struggled to regain their form. Also, the Dodgers did suffer some key injuries throughout the year.
Despite being outstanding at preventing arm and leg injuries, youngsters Travis Tyre and Arthur Price suffered significant injuries during the year, as did Alex Bregman. Matt Cleveland also missed six weeks. Jeren Kendall’s back was a problem, something he’s dealt with at time in his career. The Dodgers didn’t suffer any devastating injuries though, and Robert stayed healthy throughout. That has to be considered a huge win.
Summary: After looking at how the Dodgers roster was constructed, a major takeaway is how balanced they’ve been. They’ve been able to make key trades to acquire big time talent, while showing off their financial muscle to bring aboard several stars. They’ve used the draft to identify relief talent, while also spending on the bullpen in free agency. There hasn’t been a single avenue the Dodgers have travelled down to build their team, but Ben Vincent has largely identified the right talent and made sure to acquire it. That eye for talent has made Vincent and the Dodgers a two-time champ.
Last year’s entry in this series showed how the Dodgers were one of the most balanced champions in 2025, relying on talent they were defaulted into, as well as several draft picks, traded players, and free agent signings. Their 2026 title featured many of the key players from the 2025 team with one glaring omission. The Dodgers allowed Nomar Mazara to leave in free agency, replacing him with a talented, but injury prone Luis Robert. The Dodgers crossed their fingers that Robert would stay healthy and provide them with the high-end production they needed to win the title.
Players
Defaulted Into
Alex Verdugo (resigned to 7-year $138 million contract in 2025. $18 million in 2026 season)
Willie Calhoun (resigned to a 4-year, $48 million contract in 2026. $12 million contract in 2026 season)
Osiris Ramirez ($2.6 million arbitration contract in 2025 season)
Keibert Ruiz (5.7 million arbitration contract in 2025 season)
While the superstar talent the Dodgers were defaulted into has gradually left the team, there are still four players the Dodgers had when the PBA started who have been key contributors for them.
Willie Calhoun took a small step back last season, producing only 31 home runs after a 47-homer year in 2025. He still bangs out doubles, gets on base, produces in the playoffs, and is one of the key drivers of their offense. The Dodgers finally had to give him a contract, and have him on a bargain deal where he’s being paid only $12 million a year.
Keibert Ruiz struggled in the playoffs, but had his best year of his career during the regular season, hitting 13 home runs, driving in 70 hitters, and earning an All-Star nod. He just turned 28 during the season and was able to help the Dodgers win a ring while on an arbitration contract.
Alex Verdugo took a significant step back offensively, but his defense earned him his second Gold Glove. He’s on a big long contract and his wife wants him to play in a larger market, but the Dodgers’ were able to build a great outfield defense with Verdugo a major part.
The Dodgers greatest element in their 2026 title was their bullpen, with Osiris Ramirez a major part. He was simply outstanding the entire year, both in the regular season and playoffs. He didn’t have a full-time role for the Dodgers until 2021, so the club was able to have him under an arbitration contract before the 2026 season.
None of these players are superstars, but all are key pieces to what the Dodgers want to be. Ben Vincent has done a terrific job identifying what he wants his team to be, and keeping the pieces who keep that identity or come at a discount like Calhoun.
Draft Picks
J.B. Bukauskas (2017, 1st Round Pick, 27th Overall. Minimum contract in 2026)
Ismael Robles (2020, Supplemental Pick, 40th Overall. $5.9 Million arbitration contract in 2026)
Bobby Spong (2023, 2nd Round Pick, 69th Overall. Minimum contract in 2026)
Travis Tyre (2023, 10th Round Pick, 312 Overall. Minimum contract in 2026)
The Dodgers haven’t had premium draft picks over the years, but have really nailed good relievers with the picks they’ve made.
J.B. Bukauskas hasn’t turned into the star many in the 2017 draft turned into, but he’s been a fine depth piece the past two years, keeping the team’s floor competitive with Corey Kluber and Eduardo Rodriguez out with injuries.
Penguin Robles keeps getting better and better, and may be the best postseason pitcher in PBA history. He’s become a sensational regular season closer with 80 saves, 13 wins, and 6.3 WAR the past two years, and his 1.34 playoff ERA is second all-time. He already tops the all time playoff saves leaderboard with 18, a number that’s likely to only increase. The Dodgers got him 40th overall, an absolute steal.
Los Angeles rounded out their pen with a few 2023 picks. Bobby Spong’s been a bit wild in the postseason, but his power arm and brilliant slider have made him a reliable option, while Travis Tyre burst on the scene this year with 99 strikeouts in 66.2 innings, to look like another homegrown relief wiz courtesy of the Dodgers’ developmental system. Spong was more of a premium pick in the second round, but Tyre turned in a strong rookie campaign despite being a 10th rounder.
The Dodgers have used the draft to supply themselves with three major relief arms and a depth starter. Los Angeles doesn’t solely rely on the draft to build their pen—several key free agents helped boost it this season—but they’re not afraid to take relievers with their second selections, knowing that a strong bullpen will be key in the playoffs.
Free Agents
Corey Kluber (1/1/22—5-year, $122 million contract. $22 million in 2026)
Fidel Mejia (12/23/22—Minor League contract with $10K signing bonus. Minimum contract in 2026)
Alex Bregman (2/3/23—6-year, $138 million contract. $30.1 million in 2026)
Austin Hedges (12/19/23—5 year, $53.5 million contract. $9 million in 2026)
Seiya Suzuki (1/2/24—5 year, $76.8 million contract. $16.7 million in 2026)
Steven Matz (12/13/24—6-year, $92 million contract. $16.5 million in 2026)
Giovanny Gallegos (12/26/25—4-Year, $30.5 million contract. $7.2 million in 2026)
Nick Burdi (1/3/26—3-Year, $12 million contract. $4 million in 2026)
Luis Robert (1/11/26) 8-Year, $179.5 million contract. $16.4 million in 2026)
Nick Solak (6/27/26—Minor League contract. Minimum Contract in 2026)
The Dodgers haven’t had a perfect record in Free Agency, especially with some of Ben Vincent’s earlier signings. However, the Dodgers have the financial muscle to sign superstars, and Vincent has an ideology of having a big-time bullpen. The Dodgers used those factors to help mold their team.
In terms of the stars, the Dodgers were able to give Alex Bregman a contract back in 2023 that paid out $138 million, and over $30 million last year. Bregman wasn’t great in the postseason—a trend for him—but he was fine and had a huge regular season. His numbers weren’t as great as 2025, but the run environment makes up much of the difference. He played a solid Third Base and accumulated 4.5 WAR despite having some hamstring issues at the beginning of the year that caused him to miss time. Bregman earned his fourth straight All-Star nod as a key piece in both title runs the last two years.
The Dodgers also had a major hole to fill after their 2025 title with Nomar Mazara leaving in Free Agency. The Dodgers took a chance on Luis Robert, who had a checkered injury history, but was largely upright in 2025. Vincent was able to keep the AAV reasonable by signing Robert to an 8-year contract with bonuses for Plate Appearances and All-Star nods to help prevent some downside risk for health. Robert stayed on the field, hit 30 homers, clubbed 30 doubles, drove in 104 runs, and earned his bonuses for 550 Plate Appearances and being an All-Star. He faded down the stretch—perhaps tired from not having his rest while on the IL—but was an approximation of Mazara until September.
Vincent also made sure last offseason to continue to bolster the bullpen. With Kenley Jansen retiring and Clayton Kershaw not resigned, the Dodgers had a couple of roster spots open in the pen. They signed Giovanny Gallegos and Nick Burdi to reasonably pricy deals to make sure their bullpen was one of the best out there. Gallegos was coming off a rough 2025 where he was overworked, and was solid, but unspectacular during the regular season. He shined in the playoffs though, with a 0.73 ERA. Despite being paid a high amount for a non-closer, the deal was worth it. Burdi was someone Vincent managed in Miami, and after fizzling out in Washington last year, had a nice contract in LA. He had a very good regular season, a better playoffs, and is now a champion.
Vincent’s earliest signings haven’t help up as well over time. After strong seasons in 2024 and 2025, Seiya Suzuki’s body appears to be breaking down. His contract will go down the next two seasons, but he’s an albatross making over $15 million. Austin Hedges is also a very expensive backup catcher with a .158 career playoff average. His defense is still strong, but not as elite as it was earlier. He’s a leader in the clubhouse and a fine backup, just one who should be making a third of what he earns.
Vincent’s Steven Matz signing has been fine, even though Matz has been two different pitchers the last two years. In 2025, he was homer-prone despite having good strikeout numbers, and went 4-14 with a 4.43 ERA despite a 3.1 WAR season. Last year, Matz cut his homers and his strikeouts, with a nearly full run drop in ERA to 3.66. He went 9-7 despite a similar 2.6 WAR.
Corey Kluber and Fidel Mejia pre-date Vincent, but both had useful seasons. Kluber was 40-years-old coming off an injury last year, so naturally he wasn’t going to be the ace he was much of his career. He was a serviceable regular season arm though who provided value on his contract when he was healthy earlier in his Dodgers tenure. Mejia, meanwhile, hit .323 as a utility infielder somehow.
International Free Agency
Jorge Ramos (11/10/20—$1.3 million signing bonus. Minimum contract in 2026)
Troy Allenbagh signed Ramos to an inexpensive bonus in 2020. Most top IFA’s sign for $5 million or more. Allenbagh saw potential in the Cuban Ramos, namely for his defensive chops and balanced bat. Ramos exploded in Rookie Ball in 2023 and indicated to Dodgers brass he may be more than a defender. He hit over .300 with 19 steals in Oklahoma City in 2025 and earned his way onto a crowded roster for 2026, earning a starting job once Suzuki fell out of favor. He hit. 288 with an even .500 slugging percentage and played good defense at all three positions. It’s unclear exactly what happens with the expensive Verdugo, but at worst, a defensive alignment with Ramos, Verdugo, and Gold Glover Jeren Kendall will be the best defensive outfield in baseball for the next couple seasons.
The Ramos signing was a cheap investment that has already paid off handsomely for the Dodgers.
Trades
Jeren Kendall (11/30/22—Traded from the Marlins for Dale Messina and Jayden Howell. Signed a 7-year, $94.5 million contract in 2024. $13.5 million contract in 2026)
Eduardo Rodriguez (Signed a 5-year, 90 million contract in 2026. $18 million contract in 2026)
Amin Valdez (12/8/22—Traded from the Braves for Grayson Rodriguez and Rafael Marchan. $9 million arbitration contract in 2026)
Luis Urias (12/28/23—Traded from the Padres for Tetsuo Yamada and John Thacker. $19.7 million contract in 2026)
Tim Schroeder (3/11/24—Traded by the Giants for Bill Trevino. $1 million contract in 2026)
Eric Groves (11/18/24—Traded by the Marlins for a 1st Round Pick [Jeff Alexander]. Minimum contract in 2026.)
Joey Wentz (4/14/25—Traded by the Phillies for Juan Herrera and a 15th Round Pick [Trent Zion]. $5 million arbitration contract in 2026)
Matt Cleveland (11/22/25—Traded by the Mets for Luis Ceja. $7.7 million contract in 2026)
Wuilmer Becerra (7/27/26—Traded by Marlins for Jonathan Holder. $935K contract in 2026)
The trades section for the Dodgers looks a lot different with Nomar Mazara having moved on. However, while not having a Hall-of-Famer on the roster acquired for two players who immediately fell apart, the Dodgers remain a team that has obtained major talent by identifying key pieces and trading for them.
In fact, while Mazara was likely the most important player for the Dodgers last year, their most important player this year could have been Matt Cleveland. With Eduardo Rodriguez and Corey Kluber injured for part of the year with major injuries, plus older, Vincent needed to make sure the Dodgers had a frontline starter. Rebel Ceja was promising, but too young to be a major leaguer. Vincent swapped him to New York for Cleveland, a young ace still on arbitration. Cleveland had a fantastic regular season and a strong postseason and looks to be the Dodgers ace going forward.
Vincent also signed Jonathan Holder last offseason, and after a non-descript season, flipped him when LA’s rotation healed up. The Dodgers needed a bat to hit left-handed pitching so Vincent brought in old friend Becera, whom he managed in Miami. Becerra didn’t do much for the Dodgers, but he was cheaper than Holder at least.
Looking back to older moves—and copy/pasting vigorously from last year’s writeup—Vincent came over from Miami after the 2022 season and immediately traded for his first ever draft pick, Jeren Kendall. Kendall has continued his career as a Hall-of-Fame caliber defender, and an erratic, but powerful offensive player. Kendall’s running game slowed down in the regular season, but he had seven playoff steals walked 14 times, and drove in 15 runs for his second straight huge postseason. Defensively, his talent, combined with Dodger Stadium’s spacious outfield, has made LA one of the toughest places for opponents to hit.
Vincent then dealt Grayson Rodriguez and Rafael Marchan to the Braves for Eduardo Rodriguez and Amin Valdez. Rodriguez is a live arm, while Marchan is a nice backup Catcher. However, Eduardo Rodriguez has been one of the best pitchers in the league with the Dodgers. After a solid regular season and tough start to the playoffs, Rodriguez closed out 2026 with an excellent run. He allowed one run in 6.1 innings to cut Los Angeles’ NLCS deficit to 3-2, and closed out the World Series with 8.1 innings of shutout ball.
Meanwhile, Amin Valdez reverted back to who he was in 2024, as his power gains from 2025 dried up, leaving him with a .336 slugging percentage. His range also took a hit at short and he had an error-filled playoffs. He also stole 28 bases and should rebound going forward.
The Dodgers corrected a mistake in 2023 by swapping out Tetsuo Yamada for Luis Urias. Yamada was a disappointment in Los Angeles and spent most of this past year in El Paso. Urias rebounded off a tough 2025 and hit .310 in the regular season and .310 in the playoffs. The Dodgers took on an extra $5 million in the deal, and to depart with Scruffy Thacker, who looks like a good future arm. However, the Dodgers filled a Second Base need and jettisoned dead money.
Los Angeles needed bullpen help in 2025, and instead of trying to find one on the market, traded their first rounder for Eric Groves. Groves was someone Vincent knew from his Miami days, and his instincts on the lefty were correct. Groves struck out 70 hitters in just 40 innings this year, while putting up a postseason shutout in 4.2 innings. The Marlins didn’t sign the player they got with the 37th overall pick, and while those picks sometimes turn into Pat Cypert, they also sometimes turn into Chase Goldwater. A talented reliever who may become a closer isn’t the worst outcome for a late first round pick.
2025 hero Joey Wentz didn’t have quite as strong a 2026 after saving LA’s season the year prior. He nonetheless was solid in the regular season and postseason and didn’t come at much cost. With Cleveland on board, and Rodriguez healed, there was less pressure on Wentz to be an ace, and he was fine in a mid-rotation role.
Tim Schroeder didn’t have a role in 2025, but was a key piece last year. Acquired for young, oft-injured prosect Bill Trevino, Schroeder was rough as a swingman in 2024 and returned as a key reliever in 2026. Schroeder’s stuff plays up in relief, and his relatively mistake-prone command is minimized in a smaller role. He had a 2.82 ERA in 108.1 regular season innings, and didn’t allow a run in 6 playoff frames.
The moves the Dodgers made showed a team that identified special talent, and was willing to move major assets to acquire it. Dale Messina and Jayden Howell may turn out to be special players for Miami. That first round pick the Marlins got for Eric Groves may turn out to be something. Luis Ceja has ace potential for the Mets. However, the Dodgers identified players who could have helped them win a title and made sure to acquire them. As with their Free Agent Signings, the Dodgers have done a great job at scouting and identifying talent and knowing exactly how those players could work in their ecosystem.
Staff
Assistant GM: Kevin Towers
Long time assistant GM Kevin Towers continued his fine work in the league, this time helping Vincent put together a championship staff. There was some turnover after the 2025 title, with the Dodgers replacing their scouting director, trainer, and pitching coach while adding two new base coaches. Towers scouting background helped Vincent and Scouting Director Brian Bridges continue to identify talent. Finally, Towers’ record speaks for itself. He’s never presided over a losing team, despite being fired midway through his first season in San Francisco with 71-37 record to save money.
Hitting Coach: Rick Schu
Schu’s championship ring was his third in four seasons. After helping develop the Twins’ bats into a championship unit, he was signed to be the hitting coach of the Dodgers in 2024. A big proponent of power, he helped Willie Calhoun, Nomar Mazara, Amin Valdez, and Jeren Kendall take big leaps, while facilitating Seiya Suzuki’s adjustment to major league pitching. He notably, also hasn’t gotten his team to sell out for power as the team led the league in average last year. Schu was able to get Luis Urias to hit for average again and continued to do wonders for Alex Bregman.
Some of Schu’s magic wore off last year though, with Valdez coming back to Earth and Suzuki breaking down. Schu commands a large salary and is only average at handling aging. With an older roster, the Dodgers are likely to move on.
Pitching Coach: Tyler Hale
Hale came aboard this year after the team didn’t hold on to last year’s coach, Doug Henry. Hale was very young, 35 most of last year, with the job being his first pro job. Nevertheless, Hale is a savant at teaching pitching even being just 35. He related well to LA’s rotation, even older arms like Corey Kluber who are older than Hale is. He helped some of the Dodgers veterans like Rodriguez and Matz stay sharp, and also helped rookies like Tyre pitch well in the majors. A coach to watch, Hale has a long career ahead of him.
Bench Coach: Arnie Beyeler
Beyeler and Vincent have a long history, with Beyeler being the bench coach for the Marlins club that made the playoffs in 2022. Beyeler’s had a good relationship with many of the Dodgers players, even improving a bad relationship with Joey Wentz to a merely fair one. With a great bullpen, Beyeler’s quick trigger on starters paid off well, and his desire to not pinch hit paid off with a team with a shallow bench and a stellar starting nine, though his decisions to bat Beccera for Calhoun frequently in the postseason were curious. Beyeler also won two titles for the New Orleans Baby Cakes in Miami’s Triple-A system, and success has found him in his career.
1B Coach: Eric Avila
3B Coach: Bill Spiers
Avila and Spiers tag-teamed infield teaching responsibilities with Avila teaching running and infield defense, and Spiers teaching catching and outfield defense. Spiers was largely more successful, as the Dodgers catchers were strong defensively, and their outfield produced two gold gloves. While the Dodgers weren’t great on the bases, Spiers is well-regarded as a good coach of the running game.
Despite a strong relationship with Amin Valdez, Avila wasn’t able to keep him from declining as a fielder last year, and the Dodgers were towards the bottom in wSB. Avila did get Jeren Kendall to be a weapon in the postseason though. For a 36-year-old rookie coach, the expectation is Avila will be better next year.
Scouting Director: Brian Bridges
The Dodgers moved on from Michael Hill after last year’s title, despite excellent work. Vincent was impressed with Brian Bridges’ work in Philadelphia, signing him to a contract worth over $1 million a year. Bridges’ last four seasons have been with teams that have won over 100 games. He did a great job identifying which minor leaguers were worth bringing up to the Dodgers, and which could be traded away. He’s only good at Major League scouting, but with a veteran roster, that’s not as important to LA.
Trainer: Richard L. Bancells
Sincere Knoten retired after a terrible 2025 for Dodgers injuries, and the Dodgers made sure to upgrade the position. With the Dodgers’ biggest injury risk being Luis Robert, and Richard L. Bancells keeping him healthy in Baltimore in 2025, Vincent brought aboard Bancells to repeat the feat. Bancells is only “good” at rehabbing injuries, perhaps a reason why Kluber and Rodriguez struggled to regain their form. Also, the Dodgers did suffer some key injuries throughout the year.
Despite being outstanding at preventing arm and leg injuries, youngsters Travis Tyre and Arthur Price suffered significant injuries during the year, as did Alex Bregman. Matt Cleveland also missed six weeks. Jeren Kendall’s back was a problem, something he’s dealt with at time in his career. The Dodgers didn’t suffer any devastating injuries though, and Robert stayed healthy throughout. That has to be considered a huge win.
Summary: After looking at how the Dodgers roster was constructed, a major takeaway is how balanced they’ve been. They’ve been able to make key trades to acquire big time talent, while showing off their financial muscle to bring aboard several stars. They’ve used the draft to identify relief talent, while also spending on the bullpen in free agency. There hasn’t been a single avenue the Dodgers have travelled down to build their team, but Ben Vincent has largely identified the right talent and made sure to acquire it. That eye for talent has made Vincent and the Dodgers a two-time champ.