Dodgers Considering Signing More Guys Following Bad Years

Michael Conforto, walking back to the dugout after one of his 121 Ks in 2025.

I know the Dodgers need to fill some gaps, but I'm pretty concerned about the rumors that we're chasing injury-prone Kyle Tucker and largely-ineffective reliever Devin Williams.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic had the news on Williams:

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes affirmed Tuesday that the Dodgers could sign a reliever as they ramp up for a potential three-peat. Candidates include at least one familiar target already clear at this week’s annual general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas, sources said: two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams.

The Dodgers had been in the mix to trade for Williams last winter before the Milwaukee Brewers shipped him to the New York Yankees. Williams even said in his introductory news conference with New York, “I kind of thought I’d be going to L.A.”

His Yankees campaign fell off the rails as Williams posted a 4.79 ERA and lost his closer role by the end of the season (though his 2.68 FIP and 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings suggest he was still productive).

Now, there appears to be mutual interest between the two sides early in Williams’ first foray into free agency.

Williams was simply not good for the Yankees, who tried in vain to get him back to form using multiple unsuccessful approaches. And then, there's Tucker, whom ESPN's Jeff Passan says is interesting albeit not 10-years interesting (whew!). At least MLB Trade Rumors' Anthony Franco wisely reminds us there are other options:

The balance could be to turn to the trade market. Steven Kwan, Lars Nootbaar (recovering from heel surgeries), Brendan Donovan and Wilyer Abreu are among the outfield-capable players who might be available. The Dodgers were tied to Kwan and Donovan at last summer’s deadline. They certainly have the farm system to make a strong offer for a controllable outfielder. Rushing could be a trade chip if the Dodgers don’t feel he’d be an above-average regular in left field, for instance.

The Dodgers obviously have the spending capacity to make a run at any free agent as well. They’ve generally preferred making shorter-term commitments at huge annual rates to offering decade-long deals, though. They’ve broken that precedent for Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but both were special cases. Ohtani is the best player in the world and Yamamoto was a 25-year-old ace. Tucker is an excellent player but not that kind of unique free agent. The Dodgers would probably be more amenable to a five- or six-year deal at a premium AAV if Tucker winds up going that route, but it stands to reason his camp will try to pull a ten-plus year commitment in the early part of the offseason.

Look, we saw the disaster that was The Michael Conforto Reclamation Project in 2025 (thankfully, not in the regular season). -0.7 WAR, 418 AB, .199 BA, OPS+ of 79. And then, after trotting his sorry ass out to left field all year long, we didn't even consider him in the postseason.

We can't do this again.

(photo by Getty Images, unfortunately I can't credit the specific photographer because the OC Register's stupid paywall blocks the text)