The Dodgers are going ALL In...

Okay, so everybody already knows the Dodgers want Tarik Skubal back. That's the easy part. It's like ordering a burger at In-N-Out. It's obvious. But Dodgers Nation just dropped a piece that is basically saying, why stop there? Their headline, two free agents the Dodgers should pursue beyond Tarek Skubal. One of them stole 41 bases this year. The other one throws harder than any lefty in baseball. Those two names, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Adrian Morejon. Skubal plus Jazz plus Morejon. It's not an offseason, that's the Dodgers going all in. In today's show, we're going to tell you exactly why each one of these fits. what it would cost, and the one guy in San Diego who was literally begging his team to not let this happen. Before we get into that, though, a quick reminder of how this season ended, and I'm sorry in advance. Got the 100 wins, got the division title, beat Atlanta in the division series, and then Milwaukee swept them four games, four losses, and we were out. But here's the thing about the Dodgers and Andrew Friedman. When they lose, it's not something that's going to knock them. It's going to push them farther. It's going to force them to go out and shop and be aggressive this offseason. And that's exactly what we heard, because a few days later at the end-of-season press conference, Andrew Friedman said it out loud. We're going to be aggressive. The first step is obvious. Skubal came over from Detroit at the deadline and gave them a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts. Now, however, he is a free agent, but the Dodgers seemingly want him back. Now, across the whole season, when you include the Tigers and Dodgers numbers together, it was a 2.72 ERA, 186 strikeouts, and 158 and two-thirds innings. He's the best arm on the market. Everybody knows it. And CBS Sports said that he's set to become the highest paid pitcher in baseball history. So yeah, bringing Skubal back, obviously. But if all you do is bring back the team that got swept in the NLCS, you might get the same ending. And that's the whole point of going all in this offseason and fixing the holes that you have. But here's the thing. There are still holes on this roster like I mentioned. Now those holes in the roster can be fixed, and Dodgers Nation makes a point that I love. Quote, if there is one thing Andrew Friedman does, it is spend if the right deal comes along. So let's go hole by hole, and the first one is right in the middle of the infield. That middle infield slot is second base, because in 2026, it was just a group project, basically, for the Dodgers. Five different guys ended up playing there, and Alex Freeland ended up having the most games, 80 of them. However, he finished with just a 652 OPS. Now, if you want to see the whole mess on the depth chart at second base, you can go check out our brand new website, DodgersSports.com, and go look at second base and tell me that position is not a hole. Now, that's where Jazz comes in. 28 years old, free agent, and the Dodgers Nation article says that he is, quote, a reliable glove at second base and can move out to the outfield if needed. And that versatility part is real. The big leagues he's played second, shortstop, third base, and center field. The Dodgers love a guy who can move around. Just ask Tommy Edmond, who was playing second base this season some time as well. And all alongside him, Enrique Hernandez, the Dodgers utility man of the past decade. And reliable is somewhat underselling it. He was worth 15 outs above average at second base this year. That's tied for third among every qualified second baseman in all of baseball. Then there's also the legs. 41 stolen bases this year, which was a career high for Jazz. And if you want to say, okay, it's a fluke, well, every season he's played at least 97 games, he's stolen 22 bases or more. Dodgers Nation calls him a guy who can steal 20 to 40 a season, and that's exactly what he's been. And what's funny is the year before that, he actually did something that only three Yankees have ever done. 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases in the same season. A 30-30 year. Alfonso Soriano did it twice, and Bobby Bonds did it once. Then, it's Jazz. And his at-bats are also better than ever as he's walking more, a 10.9% walk rate in 2025 and a 10.5% in 2026, way up from his days in Miami. Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that this is the perfect player, because 2026 actually was a down year for him at the plate. He hit .231 with a 7.11 OPS, and he strikes out a lot, 157 Ks this year. But Dodgers Nation is honest about that part, too. They point out that his best offensive season came at a hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. Fair, but also, we're not expecting for Jazz to be a slugger. You're paying for the glove, the legs, and the energy. But that down year is exactly why this is perfect for the Dodgers to swoop in. John Heyman reported the Yankees are unlikely to give him a qualifying offer, so the price just came down and the Dodgers can pounce on it. And what's funny about it is just a year ago, people were talking about Jazz like a guy who would get one of the biggest deals of the winter. Buster only wrote that he'd seem to be the perfect candidate for the biggest contract among position players. One quiet year at the plate, and now he might be a bargain. Dodgers Nation pitch is simple. Dodgers Nation's pitch, a two- to three-year deal with a big salary, short pricey, and no long-term risk, which is very Dodger-esque. Honestly, I kind of like it. When you think about Dodgers blue on Jazz, you think about the hair, the pizzazz, the Eurostep, Homer celebration. He fits in with kind of that vibe, and I think it'd be a nice little, let's say, pep in the step, a little bit of a pizzazz, might I say. And while we mentioned Jazz, there's two players in this. So on to that second guy. And this one's good because he plays for the San Diego Padres. Dodgers Nation put it perfectly. How about signing the best reliever in free agency and weakening the San Diego Padres' biggest strength, their bullpen? And the Dodgers really need it. Edwin Diaz only pitched 21 games this year after his elbow surgery in April with an 8.68 ERA. Tanner Scott, he basically carried the bullpen. 69 games, 25 saves, and a 2.69 ERA. Meanwhile, Robert Suarez, 27 years old, left-handed, and he throws absolute gas. In fact, his fastball averaged 99.4 miles per hour this year, which no lefty in baseball throws harder than him. And the heat is not all that he brings. Over the last three seasons, he has a 2.58 ERA and 223 and a third innings with 248 strikeouts. And he doesn't give up home runs either. 10 total in those three years, and this year, 58% of his balls hit off of him were on the ground. He also never sits down. 75 appearances in 2025, 76 this year, and he had 28 holds. Dodgers Nation called him a bullpen workhorse, and the numbers back that up. Baseball Savant has his expected ERA in the 99th percentile. Basically, the underlying numbers that Savant gives us say that he is even better than his actual numbers. And the best part about this whole story? Well, remember that guy that I talked about who said that they did not want San Diego to lose Robert Suarez, well, it's Fernando Tatis Jr. You see, in September, AJ Preller was doing a radio interview, and Tatis just walked in and interrupted it with two words, sign Morajon. I mean, just imagine the Padres fans' face when the Dodgers come in and steal the one guy who the Padres' best player is begging for them to keep. That right there is a statement signing. Now, to be fair and to play devil's advocate in this situation, Morajon has said that he'd like to stay in San Diego, so the Dodgers would have to outbid their biggest rival for him, which, if we're being honest, is kind of their thing in a way. There is one part, though, that nobody wants to talk about. The money. The Dodgers already pay two relievers big-time money. Tanner Scott signed for four years and $72 million, and Edwin Diaz signed for a three-year and $69 million contract this past offseason. And according to The Athletic and Bleacher Report, Morajon's not going to get any cheaper. In fact, Bleacher Report predicted five years and $90 million on the contract for Morajon. Even Dodgers Nation admits it. A third reliever making eight figures is a lot to stomach, and it's a luxury spend. And this is all before Shohei as well, who's about to be the highest paid pitcher ever. And if the Dodgers want him, well, they've already paid $387 million that have committed to 2027 by the luxury tax cap. But here's the part about being a Dodgers fan that I love. Because a normal team, they're going to sweat this decision. Jazz, Morajon, you got to pick one. The Dodgers, after getting swept in the NLCS, why not just go out there and press the right buttons and grab both of them. Is it a lot of money? Yeah, absolutely. No one's trying to sell that as it's not. But you don't get swept in the NLCS as a team who had won back-to-back champions and go bargain shopping. You don't have a Shohei Ohtani in his prime and then get cheap on the bullpen again. When your window is open and when your dynasty is still alive, you spend like it is. Now, there is one catch the Dodgers can't control. The labor deal expires December 1st, and a lockout could freeze everything. Dodgers Nation flags it, too. Their willingness to spend is unknown, quote with the collective bargaining agreement ending soon. So if they want these guys, they might have to move fast. But at the end of the day, these guys all fit the right hole. Schwell can lock down your rotation. Jazz fixes the second base problem, brings speed and swagger to the team. And then Morejon is going to fix the bullpen issues and they take him away from San Diego at the same time. But the thing people are going to say is that's a lot of money and with the collective bargaining agreement, we don't even know if this is possible. And I get that, but you don't get swept by Milwaukee and then go out there in the winter and say, oh, well, I guess we'll just try and run it back with what we had. You go out, you make moves. And I fully believe the Dodgers are going to be more aggressive this offseason than ever if they're allowed to be. The question, though, is if they're allowed to. I want to hear from you, though. If the Dodgers can only sign one of these two next to Schwell, who would your choice be? Jazz or Morejon? Let me know in the comment section. And if you want to be here the moment the Dodgers make their move, subscribe, and we'll see you in the next one. For now, peace out.