On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent first baseman Freddie Freeman to a six-year deal worth more than $160 million. Freeman's decision to sign with the Dodgers came just days after his former team, the Atlanta Braves, moved on by obtaining and extending Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson.
In addition to giving the Dodgers one of the best and deepest lineups in baseball, again, Freeman's signing is significant as it pertains to money.
Regardless of how Freeman's contract is structured on a year-to-year basis, he'll count for $27 million annually in Competitive Balance Tax calculations. Depending on what happens with Trevor Bauer, the Dodgers could enter the season with a CBT payroll around $280 million, putting them just $10 million underneath the fourth and highest CBT tier. (The New York Mets are the only other team in that bracket, according to Cot's Contracts.)
The long-term fallout of Freeman's deal is also interesting, seeing as how Los Angeles has several key players heading for free agency this winter. That group includes shortstop Trea Turner and pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Heaney, and David Price. Turner is the prize of the four, and it'll be worth monitoring whether or not the Dodgers will be game to hand out a third massive contract to a position player in what amounts to roughly two years' time. (Mookie Betts having received the other.)
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That isn't the only question facing the Dodgers. Rather, here are three others we're paying attention to as spring training gets underway.
1. Will Jansen return?
Longtime Kenley Jansen is one of the top free agents remaining on the open market. There haven't been many rumors connecting him with teams other than the Dodgers, to the extent that it seems reasonable to think he'll find his way back to L.A., and back into his familiar ninth-inning role.
Jansen, 34, is coming off an odd season. He issued a higher rate of walks than he had previously in a full season, yet he still posted a 2.22 ERA (185 ERA+) and suppressed quality contact. It's fair to have reservations about what his control lapse means for his future, but it's hard to deny that he remains a viable high-leverage arm.
The Dodgers would almost certainly have to exceed the highest luxury-tax threshold in order to bring back Jansen. At this point, they should be willing to do just that. It's just money, after all.
2. Could Lux be traded?
For all the talk about the Dodgers adding pieces, it's worth wondering if they'll subtract one. Gavin Lux, formerly one of the top prospects in baseball, is slated to enter the season in a reserve role. He'll likely see action at second base and in the outfield against right-handed pitching, with a chance to carve out more playing time.
The Dodgers do have other talented young infielders nearing the majors, including second baseman Michael Busch and third baseman Miguel Vargas, and it might make sense for rookie general manager Brandon Gomes to survey the marketplace and see what Lux could bring back in trade. Not because Lux has to be moved, but because some team might offer them a deal that's difficult to pass on.
Of course, the Dodgers could just keep Lux and maintain one of the deeper position player groups in the game. Their goal is to win another World Series, not to field the most efficient roster.
3. What is Bauer's status?
Major League Baseball initially placed the aforementioned Trevor Bauer on administrative leave last week, almost a month to the day that it was revealed he would not face criminal charges after being accused of assaulting a woman. That leave was extended to April 16 (nine days into the season) on Thursday, so the Dodgers won't have Bauer on their Opening Day roster. The Los Angeles Times had reported last week that MLB was still expected to suspend Bauer, but it's unclear when or for how long. Manager Dave Roberts, for his part, doesn't expect to have Bauer in his rotation anytime soon, if ever again. He told the Dan Patrick Show as much on Thursday.
Bauer's availability has implications for the Dodgers' rotation and luxury tax number, among other considerations. His administrative leave is currently set to expire over the weekend.
