rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
The Los Angeles Dodgers accomplished something that had not happened since 1999 — becoming back-to-back World Series champions.
The Dodgers had to work for that second title. They needed to win the last two games on the road and were two outs away from relinquishing the crown to the Toronto Blue Jays. Two extra-inning games — a marathon 18-inning Game 3 and a thrilling 11-inning Game 7 — proved to be the difference as the Dodgers emerged victorious in both.
The Dodgers are also in impressive shape heading into the offseason. Their core will return intact. A deep farm system, coupled with an ownership group with a willingness to spend as much as it takes to win, will ensure that the Dodgers remain one of the favorites to take home the championship for years to come.
Three questions facing the Los Angeles Dodgers heading into the offseason
1. Is Roki Sasaki the Dodgers closer of the present and future?
Sasaki had been one of the more ballyhood prospects to come from Japan in recent history. Instead, he struggled with his adjustment stateside, posting a 4.72 ERA and a 1.485 WHiP over 34.1 innings as a starter, striking out 24 batters with 22 walks before being shut down with a right shoulder impingement. After making a pair of relief appearances at the end of the season, Sasaki emerged as one of the Dodgers more reliable relievers in the postseason, taking over the closer role as he posted a 0.84 ERA and a 1.031 WHiP over 10.1 innings.
The closer role suited Sasaki well as his fastball velocity returned and his splitter was more effective. Sasaki would be a cost-effective option for the ninth inning should the Dodgers want to take that path. However, with closers such as Edwin Diaz and Pete Fairbanks available in free agency, the Dodgers may look to add a proven commodity and see if Sasaki can succeed stateside as a starter.
2. Will Tarik Skubal be heading to Los Angeles?
The Detroit Tigers ace is under team control for one more year. While the Tigers may want to keep Skubal in Detroit, the two sides may be as far as $300M apart in extension discussions. As such, the expectation is that the Tigers will look to trade their ace during the offseason to maximize their return.
Realistically, the Dodgers do not need Skubal. Their rotation has a formidable quartet in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. However, the Dodgers also have the top-ranked farm system in baseball. They may be able to make the Tigers an offer they cannot refuse, giving the Dodgers the best rotation seen in the majors for years.
3. Will the Dodgers make a run at Kyle Tucker to fix their outfield?
The Dodgers have two of the best outfield prospects in baseball in Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope, ranked 13th and 20th, respectively, by MLB.com. Neither player is close to the majors in terms of development, making the outfield the biggest question mark on the Dodgers.
In theory, the Dodgers have one part of the outfield equation set in Tommy Edman. While valuable as a utility man, Edman could take over as the primary center fielder. Teoscar Hernandez could play either corner spot in the outfield as Ohtani is locked in as the DH.
Adding Tucker, who posted a .266/.377/.464 batting line with 22 homers and 25 doubles with 25 steals over 597 plate appearances, would lengthen the lineup and improve their defense in right. The Dodgers are looking to build a juggernaut and continue their World Series run and Tucker could be the piece to put them back over the top.
