"They were beloved Angelenos. Many of the players are on a first-name basis with the city, and if they aren't, they're identified by a nickname. Players who were once strangers are now extended members of hundreds of thousands of families. Ordinarily, a team as old as the Dodgers would have to consider a roster makeover. Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas will be 37 by the start of the next World Series."
"But under these circumstances, how could the Dodgers think of breaking up their team? How could they unload any of their superstars, regardless of how much they could decline in the next year? How could they not retain their key free agents, regardless of how old they are? They can't, they can't and they can't. The Dodgers have to run this back - again."
"Muncy has a $10-million team option for next season. The Dodgers have to pick it up. Rojas and Kiké Hernández are free agents. The Dodgers have to re-sign them. Freeman won't be making the calls on his teammates, of course. The decisions will be made by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who was characteristically evasive when asked about the efforts the Dodgers would make to keep their out-of"
The Dodgers paraded through downtown and were embraced by fans who know many players by first name or nickname. Several core contributors are entering their mid-30s, including Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and others, creating an aging roster profile. The team faces upcoming free agents and contractual decisions that would normally prompt a roster overhaul, but sentiment and championship continuity push toward retaining the nucleus. Specific moves include picking up Max Muncy's $10-million option and re-signing Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernández. Baseball operations leadership will make the final decisions amid public evasiveness about retention efforts.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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