While Sasaki made some stellar contributions as reliever, Dodgers GM indicates they are putting him back among starters.
The Roki Sasaki relief appearances appear to be over...for now.
Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes has indicated that Sasaki will rejoin the Dodgers' starting rotation in 2026.
That's not necessarily a bad move as the team needs to get another starter in there now that Clayton Kershaw has hung up his cleats.
It was just some of the news that the Dodgers GM made while attending the General Managers meetings during the week in Las Vegas,
Sasaki proved to be a viable option as a reliever when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts needed it as the 2025 MLB regular season moved into the later months.
In another note, Gomes says that he expects reliever Tanner Scott to have a better season in 2026.
If that's the case, then the Dodgers will not need to get more bullpen help, right?
Not so fast, Dodgers fans.
Los Angeles definitely wants to get back to the World Series next season and pick up that three-peat for the organization.
Scott and Blake Treinen both had struggles last season, making Sasaki's use as a reliever imperative down the stretch.
Gomes, though, and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman are not solely looking to stand pat. The 2025 team finished strong, thanks to Will Smith's 11th-inning solo home run in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
The Dodgers know that other National League West Division teams like the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres are wanting to get back into the playoff conversation. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here and think the Colorado Rockies will be there because, well, they're the Rockies.
Don't be surprised if the Dodgers pull off some kind of big deal at the Winter Meetings, which get underway in early December. The meetings in Las Vegas allowed Dodgers brass to check in with other teams along with big-time player agents as well.
Think of it as a table-setting move by the organization.
But Los Angeles has to be aware of its roster, a bevy of players who pulled it all together for a second straight MLB championship. The Dodgers showed a knack for being able to reach postseason play even with a shaky bullpen.
Roberts doesn't want to be left sitting in the dugout shaking his head at another blown save.
It's imperative that the Dodgers front office avoids that happening at all costs.
Let's see what the team does at the Winter Meetings, though.