The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of their 12th straight postseason run.
But even after finishing the regular season with Major League Baseball’s best record and one of its highest payrolls, the Dodgers can’t be counted out from making even more blockbuster roster moves this winter to keep that streak going well into the future.
Projecting the next big move for the Dodgers, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report suggested the team could trade for Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams.
“The two-time Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year can become a free agent after the 2025 season, and if the Brewers don’t expect to re-sign him, they’ll have to consider trading him — just as they did with Corbin Burnes this past spring,” Kelly noted. “Williams’ last appearance as a Brewer may leave a bad taste in the mouths of some, but since entering the league in 2020, his 7.6 WAR trails only Emmanuel Clase. The Dodgers will unquestionably be the World Series favorites if they enter the 2025 season with Williams as their closer.”
The Dodgers likely see the starting rotation as the bigger need for its pitching staff this offseason. After injuries have left the team without Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, Clayton Kershaw and other starters for their playoff run, they will have to see how they can reinforce the rotation this winter.
But additional relief depth can help take some of the burden off of those starters and the team will be relying on their bullpen heavily in the postseason.
Williams gave up a late-game lead to the New York Mets in his most recent appearance for the Brewers, which saw his team eliminated from the postseason. But adding him via trade would reinforce the Dodgers’ relief corps in a big way. In six big-league seasons, Williams has a 1.83 ERA and 68 saves in 97 games finished.
Ultimately, that kind of reinforcement could be seen as a way of boosting the starting rotation as well.
“Los Angeles will surely try to improve its starting rotation this winter, and some of that will come internally with arms like Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Tony Gonsolin returning from injuries,” Kelly added. “Still, it’s unlikely the starting rotation will be the strength of the Dodgers next season, and one of the ways you can mask that is with an elite bullpen.”
More MLB: ‘Realistic’ trade idea brings MLB saves leader to Phillies
