The Los Angeles Dodgers wasted little time addressing one of their most obvious needs this offseason, signing former New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal. The move stabilized the back end of the bullpen and reinforced the organization’s continued willingness to strike decisively when the fit is right.
With the relief market largely handled, attention inside and outside the organization has shifted toward the Dodgers’ next priority: adding a position player who can meaningfully impact both sides of the ball.
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Andrew Friedman Signals Confidence — and Patience
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman made it clear this week that the Dodgers are actively pursuing a more substantial addition, even if it requires waiting for the market to cooperate.
“I think adding a position player, and ideally someone that’s really good on both sides of the ball,” Friedman said on SportsNet LA. “We have some positional flexibility, so we’re not locked into, ‘It has to be this one specific spot,’ which just increases the chances. There are a lot of interesting guys, both on the free agent market and trade market, that we’re having a lot of active conversations on. We feel good about something lining up, but we may have to be a little bit patient.”
That last line — we feel good about something lining up — stood out. Friedman didn’t guarantee a move, but he also didn’t sound like someone hoping opportunity eventually presents itself. The tone suggested expectation, not speculation.
That search has already begun at the margins. Los Angeles recently claimed outfielder Michael Siani off waivers from the Atlanta Braves, a glove-first depth move that offers defensive insurance but little clarity about the club’s ultimate plan. Siani profiles as an organizational cover rather than a finished answer, and the Dodgers have made little effort to frame him otherwise.
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Why the Outfield Still Makes the Most Sense
Although Friedman avoided boxing the Dodgers into a specific position, the roster reality points most directly to the outfield.
Mookie Betts remains entrenched at shortstop, Freddie Freeman at first base, and Max Muncy at third. Second base projects as a rotation of Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas, and Hyeseong Kim. That leaves the outfield as the clearest path to adding impact without disrupting the infield’s balance.
As a result, Los Angeles has been consistently linked to outfielders capable of contributing defensively while lengthening the lineup — names such as Kyle Tucker, Steven Kwan, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Cody Bellinger.
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The Bellinger Connection Lingers — Quietly
Friedman’s emphasis on versatility and two-way value inevitably revives speculation about a potential Cody Bellinger reunion. Bellinger checks nearly every box Friedman described: elite defense across all three outfield spots, first-base flexibility, and a bat that rebounded significantly after leaving Los Angeles.
Bellinger’s free agency has been defined by patience, largely driven by agent Scott Boras’ preference to let the market settle — particularly once Kyle Tucker signs. That timeline aligns neatly with Friedman’s own messaging.
There are understandable questions about whether Bellinger would want to return to the organization that moved on from him in 2022. But time, opportunity, and championship odds tend to soften old edges. The Dodgers offer all three.
Trade Market Alternatives Still in Play
Bellinger isn’t the only fit. Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan have both drawn interest, though Donovan may be trending elsewhere, with recent reports suggesting the Giants and Mariners are leading that pursuit.
What matters most is that Friedman has positioned the Dodgers with optionality. They aren’t chasing desperation. They aren’t locked into a profile. And they aren’t signaling hesitation — only discipline.
For a front office that already made the loudest bullpen move of the offseason, that confidence may be the strongest indicator yet that another meaningful addition is still coming — just not rushed.