Solid Dodgers seek opportunity at Meetings

With much of team returning, GM says LA doesn't 'have any glaring needs'

December 10th, 2017

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- After taking a swing and miss on two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and passing on MVP , the Dodgers could be busy at the Winter Meetings beginning Monday. Or not. Either way, Dodgers.com will be there to cover it.
MLB.com and MLB Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of the 2017 Winter Meetings, with Twitter updates @kengurnick. Fans can watch live streaming of all news conferences and manager availability on MLB.com, including the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday at 6 a.m. PT.

After falling one win short of their first World Series title in 29 years, the Dodgers come to the annual convention not needing anything desperately. They tried for Ohtani, who chose the Angels, and were apparently willing to pick up far less of Stanton's $295 million contract than the Yankees did ($265 million).
"We're fortunate that a lot of the team is going to be coming back," general manager Farhan Zaidi said last month. "We don't feel we have any glaring needs. We'll continue to be opportunistic to improve the roster."
Hot Stove Tracker
To that end during the Winter Meetings, the Dodgers could pursue a trade for a right-handed-hitting outfielder consolation prize, such as Pittsburgh's or Stanton's former Miami teammate, , at a fraction of Stanton's financial cost.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers will be looking to re-sign or replace free agents in the starting rotation, and Tony Watson in the bullpen and as a platoon second baseman.
In three years of the Andrew Friedman regime, the Dodgers have passed on nine-figure marquee free agents while clinging tightly to their most coveted prospects, specifically , and . The untouchable prospect everyone will want this winter is right-handed pitcher .

The Dodgers have filled holes in recent offseasons with affordable free agents and trades -- often complicated ones -- for controllable young players like catcher and pitcher Alex Wood, or veterans with short-term commitments like Utley and .
The Dodgers would like to trade or , but other clubs find outfielders , or more intriguing and less expensive.
Manager Dave Roberts will hold his Winter Meetings media session on Tuesday at 12 p.m. PT. The Rule 5 Draft will take place Thursday morning. The Dodgers' roster is full at 40.