Dodgers Not Done After $169M Closer: Friedman Eyes Elite Position Player

[Mydaily = Reporter Kyung-hyun Kim] The Los Angeles Dodgers have signaled another aggressive offseason, making it clear that the addition of a superstar closer is not the end of their plans.

After signing “flamethrower closer” Edwin Díaz, the Dodgers announced they are looking to add another position player.

U.S. outlet Dodgers Nation reported on the 19th (Korea time) that “President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers are looking to add a position player following the Díaz signing.”

In recent offseasons, the Dodgers have stockpiled talent and built what many call an “Evil Empire,” acquiring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Michael Conforto, Roki Sasaki and Hye-seong Kim.

That aggressive approach has not slowed this year either. On the 11th, the Dodgers signed Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal), setting a new record for the highest average annual value ever for a relief pitcher.

The team is rapidly approaching perfection. Last season, the Dodgers’ weakness was the bullpen. In 2025, their starting rotation ranked fifth in MLB with a 3.69 ERA, but the bullpen ranked just 21st at 4.27. Among postseason teams, only the New York Yankees (4.37, 23rd) were worse.

Díaz, widely regarded as the best closer in baseball today, owns a career record of 28 wins, 36 losses, 253 saves, 23 holds and a 2.82 ERA across 520 appearances. Last season, he dominated with a 1.63 ERA in 62 games, going 6–3 with 28 saves. With his addition, the Dodgers effectively erased their late-inning weakness.

But Díaz is not the final piece. Friedman has made it clear the Dodgers are still targeting more talent, with their next focus on a position player.

“I think adding a position player, and ideally someone that’s really good on both sides of the ball,” Friedman said.

Rather than targeting a specific position, the Dodgers are prioritizing overall quality. Friedman explained, “We have some positional flexibility, so we’re not locked into, ‘It has to be this one specific spot.’ That 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.”

The most obvious need is in the outfield, where Conforto’s departure left a vacancy. One option would be sliding Tommy Hyun-soo Edman into center field, with Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández handling the corner outfield spots.

However, the market features several elite outfielders. Kyle Tucker stands out as a prime target, and the Dodgers have long been linked to him. Former MVP Cody Bellinger is another name that could emerge as a candidate.

Dodgers Nation noted, “The Dodgers have been linked to players across the league in both trades and free agency, with names like Tucker, Bellinger, Jarren Duran and Brendan Donovan surfacing around the rumor mill. These players, along with many others not listed, fit the description of what Friedman is looking for and will keep the Dodgers as one of the heavy favorites for the 2026 World Series.”